Daylight through the yearLongest day (Jun 21): 17 h 20 min4:27 am – 9:47 pmShortest day (Dec 21): 7 h 12 min8:27 am – 3:40 pm
Sun todaySunrise –Sunset –
People8,539 residentsin the Houghton Town census areaMedian age 45.33,903 households62% of homes owner-occupied37% owned outright26% social rented, 11% private rentedSource: Office for National Statistics, Census 2021
Work and commuting7.1% unemployment rate53% of adults are economically active, 3,476 in work, 29% retiredMain industries: health and social work 15%, retail and wholesale 15%, manufacturing 11%Getting to work: 25% work from home, 61% go by car, 6% take public transport, 6% walk or cycle69% of those who travel work within 10 km of homeSource: Office for National Statistics, Census 2021
Education and languages25% of adults hold a degree or higher22% have no qualifications, 8% an apprenticeshipMain language: English 99%Source: Office for National Statistics, Census 2021
ClimateWarmest month July: highs 19°C, lows 11°CColdest month January: highs 7°C, lows 1°C716 mm of rain a year, 17 days with 10 mm or morewettest month November43 days of air frost, 3 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)
Nearby landmarksHoughton Collieryhistoric site · under a milePhiladelphia Power Stationhistoric site · 1.5 miLyons Lakelake · 1.7 miStephenson Lakelake · 2.0 miHoughton Hillhill · under a mileLambton Castlecastle · 3.3 miCopt Hillhill · under a mileJoe's Pondpond · 1.1 miSources: Ordnance Survey Open Names; Overture Maps
Parks and green spacesRectory Parkpark · under a mile · 4 haHetton Lyons Country Parkpark · 1.5 mi · 54 haHetton Parkpark · under a mile · 17 haHoughton-le-Spring Golf Coursegolf course · under a mile · 37 haHoughton Sports Complexsports ground · under a mile · 3 haRussell Foster Football Centreplaying field · 1.1 mi · 8 haSource: Ordnance Survey Open Greenspace
Earthquakes30 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 9 Mar 202326 mi away, Hilton, North YorkshireSource: British Geological Survey earthquake database
Flood riskRivers and sea: no mapped risk within 500 m of the centreSource: Environment Agency, Risk of Flooding from Rivers and Sea
Air qualityNO2 8.2 · PM2.5 5.8 · PM10 9.6 µg/m³annual mean concentrations, 2024Within UK limits, above the WHO guideline for PM2.5Source: DEFRA modelled background pollution maps 2024, 1 km grid
Broadband97% of premises can get gigabit-capable broadband100% can get superfast (30 Mbit/s or more)Every premises can get at least 10 Mbit/s (the universal service obligation)4,124 residential premises in the census areaSource: Ofcom Connected Nations, July 2025
Elevation67 m220 ft above sea levelLand within 1 km ranges from 42 to 111 mSource: Ordnance Survey, OS Terrain 50
Local servicesHospitalCherry Knowle Hospital4.3 miGP surgeryHoughton Medical Group,12 surgeries within 2 milesright herePharmacyG Whitfield Limited9 pharmacies within 2 milesright hereDentistDental Surgeryright herePolice stationHoughton le Spring Police Stationunder a mileCash machineThandi Food Market - Houghton Le Springunder a mileSources: NHS Organisation Data Service; Overture Maps
SchoolsWithin 2 mi17 schools12 primary, 2 secondary, 1 special, 2 nurseryPrimaryBernard Gilpin Primary Schoolages 5-11, 417 pupilsright hereSecondaryKepierages 11-16, 1,131 pupilsunder a milePrimarySt Michael's Catholic Primary School, Houghtonages 4-11, 193 pupilsunder a mileCollegeCity of Sunderland College4.3 miUniversityUniversity of Sunderland5.4 miSource: Department for Education, Get Information about Schools
Getting aroundAirportNewcastle International Airport NCL16 miRailway stationChester-le-Street4.5 miMetroSouth Hylton (Tyne and Wear Metro Station)4.4 miBus stationInterchangeHetton-le-Hole1.5 miFerryNewcastle International Ferry TerminalRoyal Quays11 miBus stops108 within a mileCar parkMorrisons Car park-Sunderland2.8 miEV chargingImperial Buildings2 charging points within a mileunder a mileSources: Department for Transport NaPTAN; OurAirports; Overture Maps
Distances in these cards are measured from the centre of the DH4 postcode district.
