Daylight through the yearLongest day (Jun 21): 17 h 21 min4:28 am – 9:49 pmShortest day (Dec 21): 7 h 12 min8:29 am – 3:41 pm
Sun todaySunrise –Sunset –
People9,956 residentsin the Benfieldside, Hamsterley & Medomsley census areaMedian age 48.64,455 households75% of homes owner-occupied42% owned outright12% social rented, 13% private rentedSource: Office for National Statistics, Census 2021
Work and commuting3.7% unemployment rate56% of adults are economically active, 4,540 in work, 30% retiredMain industries: health and social work 16%, retail and wholesale 13%, education 12%Getting to work: 30% work from home, 63% go by car, 3% take public transport, 4% walk or cycle40% of those who travel work within 10 km of homeSource: Office for National Statistics, Census 2021
Education and languages37% of adults hold a degree or higher15% have no qualifications, 6% an apprenticeshipMain language: English 99%Source: Office for National Statistics, Census 2021
ClimateWarmest month July: highs 20°C, lows 11°CColdest month December: highs 7°C, lows 2°C759 mm of rain a year, 19 days with 10 mm or morewettest month November42 days of air frost, 5 summer days above 25°C in a typical yearSource: Met Office HadUK-Grid 1991-2020 averages, 2 km grid (highs and lows from the 12 km grid)
Parks and green spacesShotley Bridge Station Picnic Areapark · under a mileConsett and District Golf Coursegolf course · under a mile · 40 haConsett Parkpark · 1.2 mi · 8 haFawcett Parkpark · 1.4 miConsett Rugby Football Clubplaying field · 1.5 miSherburn Parkplaying field · 1.6 miSource: Ordnance Survey Open Greenspace
Earthquakes48 of magnitude 2 or more within 50 miles since 197010 of magnitude 3+, 2 of magnitude 4+Largest: magnitude 4.0 on 26 Dec 197942 mi away, Longtown, CumbriaMost recent: magnitude 2.0 on 13 Sep 202643 mi away, Sedbergh, CumbriaSource: British Geological Survey earthquake database
Flood riskRivers and sea: areas at High risk within 500 m of the centrea 1 in 30 chance of flooding in any year, or greaterAlso medium, low risk areas nearbySource: Environment Agency, Risk of Flooding from Rivers and Sea
Air qualityNO2 3.6 · PM2.5 4.9 · PM10 7.5 µg/m³annual mean concentrations, 2024Within the WHO guidelines for all threeSource: DEFRA modelled background pollution maps 2024, 1 km grid
Broadband47% of premises can get gigabit-capable broadband97% can get superfast (30 Mbit/s or more)Every premises can get at least 10 Mbit/s (the universal service obligation)4,577 residential premises in the census areaSource: Ofcom Connected Nations, July 2025
Elevation83 m272 ft above sea levelLand within 1 km ranges from 76 to 205 mSource: Ordnance Survey, OS Terrain 50
Local servicesHospitalShotley Bridge Hospitalunder a mileGP surgeryOut Of Hours Centre6 surgeries within 2 milesunder a milePharmacyJohn Low LTD6 pharmacies within 2 milesunder a mileDentistShotley Bridge Dental Careunder a mileSource: NHS Organisation Data Service
SchoolsWithin 2 mi15 schools9 primary, 1 secondary, 1 independent, 2 special, 1 nursery, 1 otherPrimaryShotley Bridge Primary Schoolages 2-11, 344 pupilsunder a milePrimaryBenfieldside Primary Schoolages 3-11under a mileSecondaryConsett Academyages 11-18, 1,493 pupils1.6 miCollegeDerwentside College1.8 miUniversityUniversity of Newcastle Upon Tyne12.2 miSource: Department for Education, Get Information about Schools
Getting aroundAirportNewcastle International Airport NCL13 miRailway stationStocksfield5.6 miBus stationConsett Bus Station Stand C1.8 miFerryNewcastle International Ferry TerminalRoyal Quays18 miBus stops62 within a mileSources: Department for Transport NaPTAN; OurAirports
Distances in these cards are measured from the centre of the DH8 postcode district.
