Waterhouses on the map

Location in County DurhamWaterhouses sits where the marker shows within the county.

42,589
Population
18,549
Households
4 / 10
Deprivation decile
Around average
12
Schools nearby
£45,695
Avg. household income
1,132
Businesses
241
People per km²
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About Waterhouses

Waterhouses is a village located in County Durham, England, with the postcode area DH7. It is situated near the River Wear, providing a natural setting for residents and visitors alike. The village is primarily residential, with a small number of local amenities including a few shops and a pub. The surrounding countryside offers opportunities for walking and enjoying the outdoors.

The area is well-connected by road, making it accessible for those travelling to nearby towns and cities. Waterhouses is close to the larger village of Wolsingham, which provides additional facilities and services. The village is also within reach of the North Pennines Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, allowing for further exploration of the scenic landscape that defines this part of England.

School Ratings in Waterhouses

There are 39 schools in and around Waterhouses. Langley Moor Nursery School is rated Outstanding by Ofsted. A further 9 schools hold a Good rating.

House Prices in Waterhouses

The average property price is £160K, with terraced houses making up the majority of the housing stock at around £100K.

Crime and Anti-Social Behaviour in Waterhouses

Recorded crime levels are lower than the national average. Anti-social behaviour is prevalent across Waterhouses, with 26 recorded incidents in April 2026.

Deprivation and Employment in Waterhouses

Waterhouses sits around the middle of the national deprivation scale, according to the 2025 Index of Multiple Deprivation. Employment levels are broadly typical for the area, sitting close to the national average. Household incomes are broadly in line with the national average.

Healthcare in Waterhouses

There is 1 GP surgery within three miles of Waterhouses, the nearest being Browney House Surgery (2.8 miles away).

Local Data for Waterhouses

Dig deeper into the area around Waterhouses with our free postcode tools.

Food Hygiene Ratings Hygiene scores for cafes, takeaways and shops Nearest GP Surgery Find the GP surgeries closest to a postcode Compare Areas Put two areas head to head House Prices Recent sale prices and trends

Property Prices 6,166 sales

Average Price £160K
£660 , £8.25M
Detached £260K 1,531
Semi £124K 1,956
Terraced £100K 2,278
Flat £90K 133

Schools & Education 12 nearby View all schools

30 Primary
4 Secondary
5 Other
Outstanding 1
Good 9
Requires improvement 4

Ofsted ratings for schools in the DH7 postcode area.

Esh Winning Academy Primary 0.3 miles The Independent Grammar School:Durham Not applicable Good 0.5 miles St Michael's Catholic Primary School, Esh Village Primary Good 1.7 miles Esh CofE (Aided) Primary School Primary Good 1.8 miles Stanley (Crook) Primary School Primary Good 2.4 miles New Brancepeth Primary Academy Primary 2.5 miles Langley Park Primary School Primary Requires Improvement 2.6 miles Silver Tree Primary School and Nursery Primary Good 2.9 miles Our Lady & St Joseph's Catholic Primary School, Ushaw Moor Primary Requires Improvement 2.9 miles St Joseph's Catholic Primary School, Ushaw Moor Primary Requires Improvement 2.9 miles Peases West Academy Primary 3.1 miles Durham Academy Secondary 3.2 miles

Household Income in Waterhouses ONS 2023

The average total household income in Waterhouses is approximately £45,695 a year before tax, 17% below the national average of £55,302. After tax and benefits, the average disposable (net) household income is around £35,708. These are modelled estimates from the Office for National Statistics for the financial year ending 2023.

Waterhouses £45,695
England & Wales avg. £55,302

Net (after tax) household income averages £35,708.

Businesses in Waterhouses ONS 2025

There are approximately 1,132 active businesses based in Waterhouses, around 27 for every 1,000 residents. The local economy is dominated by small firms: about 91% are micro-businesses employing fewer than 10 people, while 14 are larger employers with 50 or more staff. Figures are from the Office for National Statistics UK Business Counts.

1,132 Total businesses
27 Per 1,000 residents
Micro, 0-9 91%
Small, 10-49 8%
Medium, 50-249 1%
Large, 250+ 0%

Deprivation and Employment in Waterhouses IMD 2025

Waterhouses sits around the national average for deprivation according to the 2025 Index of Multiple Deprivation. Employment and income levels are broadly typical, reflecting a mixed local economy. The area offers a balance of residential and commercial activity common to most parts of England.

Overall Deprivation
4/10
Income
5/10
Employment
4/10
Education
5/10
Health
3/10
Housing
5/10
Living Environment
6/10
Children 0-15 18%
Working age 61%
Older 65+ 21%
7,487 Children (0-15) 18%
26,101 Working Age 61%
9,006 Older (65+) 21%
Average Child Poverty (IDACI) 35.1% of children in income-deprived families
Average Older Person Poverty (IDAOPI) 19.7% of over-60s in income-deprived households
Data from English Indices of Deprivation 2025 · Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0

Crime in Waterhouses 140 crimes · April 2026

Low Crime Area

Waterhouses records relatively low levels of reported crime compared to national averages. Violence & sexual offences is the most commonly logged offence type, though overall numbers remain modest. The area is generally considered a safe and settled town with a strong sense of community.

Violence & Sexual Offences 57
Anti-Social Behaviour 26
Shoplifting 15
Criminal Damage & Arson 13
Other Crime 9
Public Order 8
Other Theft 4
Vehicle Crime 4
Burglary 3
Weapons 1
Local Policing
Durham Durham (Ushaw Moor) Visit force website →
Data from data.police.uk · Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0
Crime figures depend on reporting by individual police forces and may not reflect the full picture in all areas.

Nearest Train Stations 2 stations

Bishop Auckland Train Station 7.7 miles
Chester-Le-Street Train Station 8.1 miles

Location

Nearby Towns & Villages 12 found

Esh Winning 0.6 miles Quebec 1.2 miles Cornsay Colliery 1.8 miles Hedley Hill 1.9 miles East Hedleyhope 2 miles Esh 2 miles Stanley Crook 2.2 miles New Brancepeth 2.5 miles Ushaw Moor 2.6 miles Hill Top 2.6 miles Langley Park 2.6 miles Cornsay 2.8 miles

Local Government

District County Durham
Ward Lanchester
Constituency North West Durham
Parish Burnhope
Region North East

Home Ownership in Waterhouses

Of the 19,708 households in and around Waterhouses, 63% are owned, 22% are socially rented and 15% are privately rented. Home ownership here is in line with the England and Wales average of 63%.

Owned 63% Social rented 22% Private rented 15%

Tenure from the 2021 Census (ONS), for the postcode districts covering Waterhouses.

Frequently Asked Questions about Waterhouses

What is the population of Waterhouses?
Waterhouses has a population of approximately 42,589 residents, based on the latest census figures for the surrounding postcode area.
What is the average house price in Waterhouses?
The average property in and around Waterhouses sold for about £160,316, based on HM Land Registry Price Paid records. That is around 54% below the England and Wales average of £349,091.
Is Waterhouses a deprived area?
Waterhouses sits around the national average for deprivation, with an Index of Multiple Deprivation decile of 4 out of 10, where 1 is the most deprived and 10 the least deprived.
What postcodes cover Waterhouses?
Waterhouses is covered by the DH7 postcode district.
How many schools are there in Waterhouses?
There are 12 schools within easy reach of Waterhouses, spanning primary, secondary and other phases.
Where is the nearest train station to Waterhouses?
The nearest railway station to Waterhouses is Bishop Auckland Train Station, about 7.7 miles away.

Streets in DH7 30 shown View all streets

(Not a good way through!) 1 A690 11 A691 7 Acorn Close 2 Acorn Croft 1 Acorn Place 1 Acorn Walk 1 Acornclose Lane 1 Acton Road 5 Aden Court 1 Aged Miners' Homes 1 Albert Street 1 Alder Park 2 Alderdene 1 Alderdene Close 1 Alderside Crescent 2 Aldin Grange Terrace 1 Aldin Rise 1 Aldridge Court 3 Allendale Road 1 Almoners Gardens 1 Alston Way 1 Angel View 3 Angus Square 1 Angus Street 1 Appledore Gardens 1 Arbourcourt Avenue 1 Arthur Street 1 Arundel Way 1 Ash Avenue 1

Postcodes in DH7 50 shown View all postcodes

DH7 0AA DH7 0AB DH7 0AD DH7 0AE DH7 0AF DH7 0AG DH7 0AH DH7 0AJ DH7 0AL DH7 0AN DH7 0AP DH7 0AQ DH7 0AR DH7 0AS DH7 0AT DH7 0AU DH7 0AW DH7 0AX DH7 0AY DH7 0AZ DH7 0BA DH7 0BB DH7 0BD DH7 0BE DH7 0BF DH7 0BG DH7 0BH DH7 0BJ DH7 0BL DH7 0BP DH7 0BQ DH7 0BT DH7 0BW DH7 0DA DH7 0DB DH7 0DD DH7 0DE DH7 0DJ DH7 0DL DH7 0DN DH7 0DP DH7 0DQ DH7 0DR DH7 0DS DH7 0DT DH7 0DU DH7 0DY DH7 0DZ DH7 0EA DH7 0EB