HeyKettle

Cheapest and best areas to buy in Darlington. All 3 postcode districts compared.

Typical 3-bed house£178kacross Darlington
Cheapest districtDL13-bed house £149k
Sold last year908homes in Darlington
Prices in Darlington+2.9%on a year ago

A typical 3-bedroom house in Darlington sold for £178,000 over the last five years, in today's money. The same home costs £149k in DL1 and £222k in DL2, so where you look matters more than almost anything else.

For the most space for your money, look at DL1: about 86 m² for a typical £149k. DL3 is the busiest market, with 391 sales last year.

Prices in Darlington are up 2.9% on a year ago. Renting a 3-bedroom home costs about £766 a month; a 90% mortgage on the typical 3-bed house would be around £812 a month at 4.5% over 30 years.

Plan your purchase in DarlingtonFilter by budget, bedrooms and schools, then compare the homes you like. Free.
Start your plan

Cheapest areas to buy in Darlington

1DL13-bed house £149kabout 86 m² · 350 sold last year2DL33-bed house £189kabout 90 m² · 391 sold last year3DL23-bed house £222kabout 91 m² · 167 sold last year

For a flat, the cheapest is DL1: a typical 2-bedroom flat sells for £79k.

Best areas in Darlington for families

Districts where the best state schools nearby beat the England average, cheapest first.

DL13-bed house £149k
Primary St Teresa's Catholic Primary School · 85% England 64%Secondary Hummersknott Academy · 58.1% England 43.8%
DL33-bed house £189k
Primary Abbey Junior School · 77% England 64%Secondary Hummersknott Academy · 58.1% England 43.8%
DL23-bed house £222k
Primary Abbey Junior School · 77% England 64%Secondary Hummersknott Academy · 58.1% England 43.8%

Best state primary within 2 km (pupils meeting the expected standard at 11) and secondary within 5 km (grade 5+ in English and maths). DfE performance tables.

Darlington postcode districts

District3-bed houseSize2-bed flatHouses per m²Best primarySold last year
DL1£149k86 m²£79k£1,84685%350
DL2£222k91 m²£98k£2,62077%167
DL3£189k90 m²£107k£2,10677%391

Typical prices from sales in the last five years, in today's money. A dash means too few sales to say.

Questions about buying in Darlington

How much is a 3-bedroom house in Darlington?

About £178,000 across Darlington, from sales in the last five years in today's money. It ranges from £149k in DL1 to £222k in DL2.

What is the cheapest area of Darlington to buy a house?

For a 3-bedroom house: DL1 (£149k), DL3 (£189k), DL2 (£222k).

Are house prices going up in Darlington?

In Darlington, prices are up 2.9% on a year ago and up 15.7% over five years, according to the UK House Price Index (July 2026).

Which postcode in Darlington is best for families?

On school results and price together: DL1 (3-bed house £149k, best primary nearby 85% at the expected standard against 64% across England); DL3 (3-bed house £189k, best primary nearby 77% at the expected standard against 64% across England); DL2 (3-bed house £222k, best primary nearby 77% at the expected standard against 64% across England).

Is Darlington a good place to buy a house?

What the numbers say: a typical 3-bedroom house costs £178,000, prices are up 2.9% on a year ago, renting a 3-bedroom home costs about £766 a month against roughly £812 for a 90% mortgage, and 908 homes sold last year, so there is a real choice. Prices vary from £149k to £222k between districts, so the area you pick matters most.

How many homes sell in Darlington each year?

908 homes sold across its 3 postcode districts in the last year, the most in DL3.

Sources: HM Land Registry price paid data matched to the EPC register, UK House Price Index (July 2026), ONS private rents (August 2026). The mortgage figure is an illustration, not advice.