GeraRent · Area head-to-head
Gateshead vs Middlesbrough: which is the better place to live?
Is Gateshead or Middlesbrough a better place to live?
As of June 2026, comparing Gateshead and Middlesbrough across house prices, crime, schools, broadband and GP access, Middlesbrough wins overall with a Gera Liveability Score of 73.8/100 versus 73.2/100. Gera computes this head-to-head from six UK government open datasets and re-runs it quarterly.
| Measure | Gateshead | Middlesbrough | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gera Liveability Score | 73.2/100 | 73.8/100 | Middlesbrough |
| Better value | 59.6 | 64.5 | Middlesbrough |
| For families | 95.2 | 92.4 | Gateshead |
| For commuters | 46.4 | 50.4 | Middlesbrough |
| For healthcare access | 75 | 75 | Level |
| Avg house price | £158,885 | £139,005 | Middlesbrough (cheaper) |
| Band D council tax | £2,716 | £2,549 | Middlesbrough (lower) |
| Schools Good/Outstanding | 96.9% | 95.8% | Gateshead |
| Crime per 1,000 | 90.6 | 119 | Gateshead (safer) |
| Gigabit broadband | 87.7% | 96.4% | Middlesbrough |
| Gera GP Access score | 75 | 75 | Level |
Compare any two areas
Swap in any two of the 130 covered local authorities for a live head-to-head.
Compare any two areas
Pick two UK local authorities and Gera computes the head-to-head live from the joined government data.
Middlesbrough wins overall: Gera Liveability Score 73.8/100 vs 73.2/100.
| Verdict | Gateshead | Middlesbrough | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 73.2 | 73.8 | Middlesbrough (+0.6) |
| Better value | 59.6 | 64.5 | Middlesbrough (+4.9) |
| For families | 95.2 | 92.4 | Gateshead (+2.8) |
| For commuters | 46.4 | 50.4 | Middlesbrough (+4) |
| For healthcare access | 75 | 75 | Level |
| Measure | Gateshead | Middlesbrough |
|---|---|---|
| Avg house price | £158,885 | £139,005 |
| Band D council tax | £2,716 | £2,549 |
| Schools Good/Outstanding | 96.9% | 95.8% |
| Crime per 1,000 | 90.6 | 119 |
| Gigabit broadband | 87.7% | 96.4% |
| Gera GP Access score | 75 | 75 |
Frequently asked questions
- Is Gateshead or Middlesbrough a better place to live overall?
- Middlesbrough scores higher overall: a Gera Liveability Score of 73.8/100 versus 73.2/100 (Gera, June 2026), a gap of 0.6 points.
- Which is cheaper to rent and buy, Gateshead or Middlesbrough?
- On affordability — average house price plus Band D council tax — Middlesbrough is better value. Average house prices are £158,885 in Gateshead and £139,005 in Middlesbrough; Band D council tax is £2,716 versus £2,549 (HM Land Registry + MHCLG, June 2026).
- Is Gateshead or Middlesbrough better for families?
- Weighting schools (60%) and safety (40%), Gateshead comes out ahead for families. Gateshead has 96.9% of schools rated Good or Outstanding and a crime rate of 90.6 per 1,000; Middlesbrough has 95.8% and 119 per 1,000 (Ofsted + Home Office, June 2026).
- Which has better broadband, Gateshead or Middlesbrough?
- For connectivity, Gateshead has 87.7% gigabit-capable premises and Middlesbrough has 96.4% (Ofcom, June 2026). Middlesbrough leads on the commuter blend of broadband (70%) and affordability (30%).
- Is GP access better in Gateshead or Middlesbrough?
- On the Gera GP Access score, Gateshead scores 75 (North East and North Cumbria ICB) and Middlesbrough scores 75 (North East and North Cumbria ICB). The two are level for GP access (NHS England, June 2026).
Renting in Gateshead or Middlesbrough?
Browse verified GeraRent listings in either area and shortlist your next home.
Contains public sector information published by GeraRent and licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Source: Gera Liveability Index — joined UK government open data (June 2026, published 2026-06-19).