Springwell’s story
3 listed buildings
Historic England lists them inside Springwell’s built-up area, along with 1 scheduled monument.
22% of its homes were built before 1919, against 15% in the typical UK town.
Explore the history →
SpringwellTyne and Wear
2,141 people live in this village in Tyne and Wear, North East. People aged 65 and over make up 24% of residents.
7 places within 12 milesMap →
Photo: Oliver Dixon · CC BY-SA 2.0
Population
2,141
Census 2021 · Sunderland council
Median home
£183K
128 sales in 3 years
Median age
46.7
24% are 65+ · Tyne and Wear 19%
Degree level
31%
of residents 16+ · England 34%
Walk, cycle, bus
16%
of commuters · England 27%
Is Springwell a good place to live?
Housing is within reach: the median home sold for £182,500, 4.3 years of area income. It also does well on jobs & income — the mean household earns £49,203 a year. Health outcomes fall short of most towns: life expectancy 78.5 for men, 83.2 for women. The rest of its grades are middling: C+ for schools and B for walkability.
Figures: prices, HM Land Registry, the last three years · income and life expectancy, ONS · claimants, DWP · commuting, Census 2021. With fewer than 2,500 residents, Springwell has subject grades but no overall one.
Northumbria Police published 34 of the 36 months; rates are per year over the months published.
StrongestAHazard risk
What makes Springwell stand out
The 3 things Springwell does most differently from other towns.
Median sale, £ thousands
Housing
34% below the typical UK town’s £277K
Standard sales, September 2023 to August 2026.
Residents 65 and over
Who lives here
24% are 65 or over
Against 18% across England’s towns
Own outright
Housing
43% own outright
of households own their home with no mortgage (England’s towns 32%)
How Springwell grades
Each subject compared with the 2,160 UK towns with an overall grade (schools within England), ordered by how far Springwell is from typical. American towns are graded separately.
With fewer than 2,500 residents, Springwell has subject grades but no overall one.
Hazard risk0% of homes at high or medium risk of flooding from rivers or the seaAOpen →Jobs & incomeBetter than most of the towns comparedB+Open →Cost of livingRent £707 a monthB+Open →SafetyBased on crimes reported per residentB+Open →HealthResidents’ health trails most townsCOpen →WalkabilityGraded on how easily people get around without a carBOpen →SchoolsPrimary results beat 52% of towns in England; secondary results beat 39% of towns in EnglandC+Open →
Character Graded, but not part of the overall grade.
History3 listed buildingsC+Open →Outdoors100% live within 400 m of a park; 5 ha of public green space per 1,000 residentsAOpen →Civic life1.9 local charities per 1,000 residents; 0% live within 1 km of a libraryC−Open →
How TownRatings grades towns →
The data
Data highlights are ordered by what stands out in Springwell.
Who lives here
Few people in Springwell are 15 to 24: 8.8%, fewer than in Tyne and Wear’s towns and across England’s towns
Over-65s are nearly a quarter of the population. Residents of Springwell have a median age of 46.7. 31% of adults hold a degree.
46.7median age
SpringwellTyne and WearEngland
Ages · share of residents
24%
Qualifications · residents 16 and older
No qualifications16%
Apprenticeship8%
A levels or similar18%
Degree level31%
Women and men · all residents
51% women, 49% men
About an even split. Across England, 51% of residents are women.
| Springwell | Tyne and Wear | England | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 15 | 15% | 17% | 18% |
| 15–24 | 8.8% | 13% | 12% |
| 25–44 | 24% | 26% | 27% |
| 45–64 | 29% | 26% | 25% |
| 65+ | 24% | 19% | 18% |
| No qualifications | 16% | 20% | 18% |
| Apprenticeship | 8% | 6.6% | 5.3% |
| A levels or similar | 18% | 18% | 17% |
| Degree level | 31% | 30% | 34% |
ONS Census 2021 · Tyne and Wear and England: all residents of their built-up areas · OGL
SchoolsC+
Springwell’s schools fall behind 55% of towns in England on results
Its one school is below. GCSE results at the 7 secondary schools within 3 km: 42% of pupils get a strong pass (grade 5+) in English and maths, and the Attainment 8 average is 44.3. At the 35 primary schools within 3 km, 62% of pupils reach the expected standard in reading, writing and maths (three-year average).
C+School Grade
| School | Level | Pupils | Letter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Springwell Village Primary SchoolLargest primary schoolPrimary | Primary | 207 | C |
Department for Education · GIAS, Key Stage 2 and GCSE resultsThe Schools page →
HousingCost of living grade B+
Springwell is a town of owners: 80% of households own their home, above Tyne and Wear’s towns and England’s towns
Private renters make up 12% of households, below both Tyne and Wear’s towns (17%) and England’s towns (21%). 8% of households live in social housing. Also worth knowing: the median sale, £182,500, comes from 128 standard sales inside Springwell’s built-up area from September 2023 to August 2026.
£183Kmedian sale
Median sale price · Sep 2023 to Aug 2026
Springwell£183K
Typical UK town£277K
| By type | Median | Sales |
|---|---|---|
| Detached | £369,995 | 45 |
| Semi-detached | £179,793 | 31 |
| Terraced | £149,950 | 49 |
80%
of households own their home · England 61%
12%
rent privately · England 21%
£707
average private rent a month, Sunderland council area
£2,196
council tax, Band D, 2026–27
HM Land Registry Price Paid · ONS private rents · MHCLG / Welsh Government council tax · ONS Census 2021 tenure · OGL
Safety
Violent crime runs low in Springwell: 12.4 per 1,000 residents a year, under Tyne and Wear’s towns and England’s towns
Homes saw 12.7 burglaries and acts of damage per 1,000 residents a year, below Tyne and Wear’s towns (17.2) but above England’s towns (9.4). The 12 months to August 2026 brought 65 recorded crimes inside Springwell’s built-up area, and 11 reports of anti-social behaviour. 28% of the crimes fell under violence and sexual offences.
12.4violent and sexual offences per 1,000 a yearB+Safety Grade
Compared with UK towns its sizeLess crime per resident than 50% of the 1,541 UK towns of 1,000 to 2,500 people: about the middle for its size. Context only, not part of the grade.
Reports by type · Sep 2025 to Aug 2026
Violence & sexual18
Vehicle crime13
Burglary12
Other crime7
Damage & arson5
Public order4
Other theft4
Shoplifting2
Anti-social11
Not gradedAnti-social behaviour, shoplifting and other theft are shown but left out of the Safety Grade, which counts violence and crimes against homes and vehicles per resident.
12.4
violent and sexual offences per 1,000 residents a year, averaged Sep 2023 to Aug 2026
12.7
burglary, vehicle crime and damage per 1,000 a year, averaged Sep 2023 to Aug 2026
8.4
anti-social behaviour reports per 1,000 (not graded)
65
crimes recorded in the 12 months to August 2026
data.police.uk street-level crime · points inside the ONS built-up-area boundary · OGL · The police category of violence and sexual offences includes harassment and stalking.
Health
Most people in Springwell (82%) report good or very good health
Women here live to 83.2 on average and men to 78.5 (2019–23). There is no GP practice in Springwell: the nearest is 0.8 miles off. 18% of residents have a disability, lower than Tyne and Wear’s towns (21%) and near England’s towns (17%).
82%good or very good healthCHealth Grade
General health, self-reported
Good or very good 82%Fair 13%Bad or very bad 6%
| Census 2021 | Springwell | Tyne and Wear | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Good or very good health | 82% | 78% | 82% |
| Bad or very bad health | 5.6% | 7.1% | 5.2% |
| Disabled (Equality Act) | 18% | 21% | 17% |
78.5
life expectancy at birth, men (2019–23)
83.2
life expectancy at birth, women
ONS Census 2021, general health and disability · OHID Fingertips, life expectancy 2019–23 · OGL · Because the census answers ignore age, a younger population lifts them; that is why the Health Grade is built on age-adjusted measures like life expectancy and early deaths.
Work & commuteJobs & income grade B+
More commuters in Springwell drive than in Tyne and Wear’s towns or England’s towns: 82%
The Census was taken on 21 March 2021, in lockdown, so 30% of workers were mainly at home; shares here are of those who travelled.
36% of commuters travelled under 5 km, below both Tyne and Wear’s towns (48%) and England’s towns (45%). The census found 16% of commuters going to work on foot, by bike or by public transport. Of the commuters living in Springwell, 1% work in the town itself. In 2026, 1.7% of 16 to 64s were claiming unemployment benefits.
16%walk, cycle or ride
How commuters got to work · March 2021
Driving82%
Bus10%
On foot4%
Bicycle1%
Train1%
36%
of commuters travel under 5 km · England 45%
30%
worked mainly from home in March 2021
£49K
mean household income, before tax
1.7%
of 16 to 64s claim unemployment benefits (2026)
B
Walkability: more walkable than 63% of UK towns
ONS Census 2021, method of travel and distance to work · ONS small-area income · DWP claimant count · OGL
History
Old homes shape Springwell: 22% were built before 1919, more than in Tyne and Wear’s towns and across England’s towns
The heritage lists give each building’s grade but not its age, so we don’t say which is oldest.
Springwell has 3 listed buildings on Historic England’s list, all Grade II. One scheduled monument lies in the town. Relative to its size, Springwell keeps 14 listed buildings per 10,000 residents, above Tyne and Wear’s towns (7) but below England’s towns (39).
3listed buildingsC+History Grade
Listed buildings by grade · Historic England
Grade I0
Grade II*0
Grade II3
1
scheduled monument
0
registered parks and gardens
22%
of homes built before 1919 · typical UK town 15%
14
listed buildings per 10,000 residents · typical UK town 24
Historic England list, October 2026 · Valuation Office Agency, homes by build period · OGL
Nearby attractions
All attractions →Bowes Railway and 6 more in and around Springwell
Museums, castles, gardens and days out in and near Springwell. Best known first.
MuseumBowes Railwayin town
Museum · National TrustWashington Old Hall2.6 km outside town, to the southeast
CastleRavensworth Castle5 km outside town, to the west
Art galleryShipley Art Gallery3.7 km outside town, to the northwestMuseumMuseumNorth East Land, Sea and Air Museums4.6 km outside town, to the eastMuseumMuseumWashington F Pit Museum1.4 km outside town, to the southeastPlaces: © OpenStreetMap contributors · Wikidata
Photos: each place’s Wikidata image, from Wikimedia Commons under the licence below (our copy, resized).
Photo credits (4)
- Bowes Railway: Chris Heaton, CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Washington Old Hall: PJMarriott, CC BY 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Ravensworth Castle: john tollitt, CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Shipley Art Gallery: Dposte46, Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
Keep exploring
Everything we know about Springwell
15pages on Springwell
The big questions
SafetyB+12.4 violent and sexual offences per 1,000 residents a year, averaged Sep 2023 to Aug 2026Cost of livingB+Median home £183K · rent £707 a monthHousing22 sold in 12 months · busiest street Nightingale WyndSchoolsC+1 state schoolHealthCLife expectancy 78.5 (men), 83.2 (women)Work & commuteB+43% of working residents work in the townFlood & hazardsA0% of homes at high or medium flood risk
Out and about
Famous people from Springwell
3 notable people were born in Springwell.
Springwell’s neighbours
The nearest built-up areas, from ONS’s 2022 boundaries. See them on the map →
BirtleyWashingtonGatesheadKibblesworthUrpethPelton and OustonHebburnSpringwell
How the neighbours grade
| Town | People | Miles | Overall | Cost | Safety | Health |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Springwell | 2,141 | — | — | B+ | B+ | C |
| Birtley | 13,840 | 1.7 | C | C+ | C− | D |
| Washington | 51,318 | 1.7 | B− | A− | C− | D |
| Gateshead | 115,278 | 2.2 | C− | B− | D | D |
| Kibblesworth | 1,500 | 2.8 | — | B− | B− | D |
| Urpeth | 2,048 | 3.2 | — | A− | A | B |
| Pelton and Ouston | 7,305 | 3.5 | C | B+ | C− | C− |
| Hebburn | 21,341 | 4 | C− | B | D | D |
Kibblesworth and Urpeth have fewer than 2,500 residents, so they get subject grades but no overall grade. People: Census 2021. Miles: centre to centre.
Questions about Springwell
Is Springwell expensive to live in?
Homes cost less than in most UK towns: the median sale over three years was £182,500, against £277,000 in the typical UK town. By type: terraced houses £149,950, semi-detached houses £179,793 and detached houses £369,995.
Does Springwell flood?
Surface water isn’t included. Check a specific address on GOV.UK’s flood risk service.
About Springwell
Village in Tyne and Wear, England
Springwell is a built-up area of 2,141 people, in the Sunderland council area. TownRatings uses ONS’s 2022 built-up areas as towns: the physical town, as people mean the word, rather than a council district, so its figures cover the town itself.
Built from ONS geography and Census 2021
- Population
- 2,141 (Census 2021)
- Council
- Sunderland
- County
- Tyne and Wear
- Region
- North East
- Area
- 0.3 sq mi (0.7 km²)
- ONS code
- E63000119
Sources: ONS Census 2021, output areas summed to the ONS 2022 built-up area · HM Land Registry Price Paid (standard sales, September 2023 to August 2026) · ONS Price Index of Private Rents (August 2026, by council) · MHCLG and Welsh Government council tax, Band D 2026–27 (with parish precepts in England) · data.police.uk street-level crime, 36 months to August 2026, points inside the built-up-area boundary · ONS small-area life expectancy and healthy life expectancy, 2019 to 2023 (England and Wales), OHID Fingertips small-area indicators (England) and Census 2021 health, adjusted for age · ONS small-area income estimates (financial year ending 2023) · DWP claimant count via Nomis (January to August 2026) · Historic England, National Heritage List for England (listed buildings, scheduled monuments, registered parks and gardens, battlefields, World Heritage Sites), October 2026, inside the ONS 2022 built-up-area boundary · Valuation Office Agency, Council Tax: stock of properties by build period (31 March 2025) · TownRatings grades: our own summary of the data, ranked against UK towns only. All under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Contains HM Land Registry data © Crown copyright and database right 2026. Contains OS data © Crown copyright and database right 2026 (ONS boundaries). Northern Ireland: Source: NISRA; contains Land & Property Services data and Ordnance Survey of Northern Ireland information, © Crown copyright, licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Scotland: contains National Records of Scotland data, Registers of Scotland data and SEPA data, © Crown copyright / © SEPA 2025, licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.