Daylight through the yearLongest day (Jun 21): 17 h 19 min4:27 am – 9:47 pmShortest day (Dec 21): 7 h 13 min8:26 am – 3:40 pm
Sun todaySunrise –Sunset –
People7,186 residentsin the Thornley & Wheatley Hill census areaMedian age 43.93,259 households61% of homes owner-occupied33% owned outright24% social rented, 15% private rentedSource: Office for National Statistics, Census 2021
Work and commuting5.4% unemployment rate54% of adults are economically active, 3,025 in work, 25% retiredMain industries: health and social work 16%, retail and wholesale 15%, manufacturing 13%Getting to work: 20% work from home, 71% go by car, 3% take public transport, 5% walk or cycle44% of those who travel work within 10 km of homeSource: Office for National Statistics, Census 2021
Education and languages20% of adults hold a degree or higher28% 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 January: highs 7°C, lows 1°C730 mm of rain a year, 19 days with 10 mm or morewettest month November54 days of air frost, 4 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 spacesThornley Crossings Picnic Areapark · 1.3 miWoodhouse Parkpark · 2.6 mi · 5 haThe Greenpark · 3.3 miSource: Ordnance Survey Open Greenspace
Earthquakes35 of magnitude 2 or more within 50 miles since 19705 of magnitude 3+, 1 of magnitude 4+Largest: magnitude 4.0 on 9 Aug 197046 mi away, Kirkby StephenMost recent: magnitude 2.0 on 13 Sep 202649 mi away, Sedbergh, CumbriaSource: British Geological Survey earthquake database
Flood riskRivers and sea: areas at Medium risk within 500 m of the centrebetween a 1 in 100 and a 1 in 30 chance in any yearAlso low risk areas nearbySource: Environment Agency, Risk of Flooding from Rivers and Sea
Air qualityNO2 5.0 · PM2.5 5.4 · PM10 9.9 µg/m³annual mean concentrations, 2024Within UK limits, above the WHO guideline for PM2.5Source: DEFRA modelled background pollution maps 2024, 1 km grid
Broadband95% of premises can get gigabit-capable broadband99% can get superfast (30 Mbit/s or more)Every premises can get at least 10 Mbit/s (the universal service obligation)3,517 residential premises in the census areaSource: Ofcom Connected Nations, July 2025
Elevation127 m417 ft above sea levelLand within 1 km ranges from 122 to 162 mSource: Ordnance Survey, OS Terrain 50
Local servicesHospitalPch - Peterlee Community Hospital3.4 miGP surgeryThe Surgery - Wheatley Hill8 surgeries within 2 milesunder a milePharmacyM Whitfield LTD3 pharmacies within 2 milesunder a mileDentistDental Surgeryunder a mileSource: NHS Organisation Data Service
SchoolsWithin 2 mi9 schools7 primary, 1 secondary, 1 nurseryPrimarySt Godrics Catholic Primary School, Thornleyages 4-11, 75 pupilsunder a milePrimaryWheatley Hill Community Primary Schoolages 2-11, 445 pupilsunder a mileSecondaryWellfield Schoolages 11-16, 862 pupils2.0 miCollegeEast Durham College2.9 miUniversityUniversity of Durham6.3 miSource: Department for Education, Get Information about Schools
Getting aroundAirportTeesside International Airport MME17 miMajor airportNewcastle International Airport NCL23 miRailway stationHorden4.5 miBus stationCemetery Road AllotmentsWheatley Hillunder a mileFerryTransporter Bridge North SidePort Clarence14 miBus stops35 within a mileSources: Department for Transport NaPTAN; OurAirports
Distances in these cards are measured from the centre of the DH6 postcode district.
