DL3 area guide
Who lives in DL3, what homes sell for, and how it compares on crime, schools and transport.
- Council
- Darlington
- Region
- North East
- Population
- 56,987 (2024)
DL3Postcode district · Darlington
What DL3 is like
The DL3 postcode district in Darlington covers 1,152 live postcodes and is home to about 56,987 people in 25,499 households. 63.6% of households own their home, 23.5% rent privately and 12.5% are in social housing. The largest age group is 50–54, and 54.5% of adults are in work. On deprivation, it sits near the middle of the scale for England. Higher-harm crime is above the England and Wales average. Homes in DL3 sold for a median of £170,000 over the year to August 2026.
How DL3 compares
Headline figures for DL3, set against England as a whole.
Around the middle. Scored from 1 (most deprived in England) to 10 (least deprived).
Around the middle: 35.7 higher-harm crimes per 1,000 people a year vs 31.1 nationally.
Average annual income before tax, higher than 35% of neighbourhoods in England and Wales.
Worth knowing before you invest
Where DL3 differs most from the national average.
- 01A big private rental marketPositive
23.5% of households rent privately, against 20.5% across England. Tenant demand is established here.
- 02An older population
21.1% of residents are 65 or over, against 18.4% across England.
- 03Well-rated schoolsPositive
96% of the inspected schools nearby are rated good or better.
DL3 FAQs
01Is DL3 a good place to live?Deprivation, crime, schools and transport at a glance.
Deprivation, crime, schools and transport at a glance.
02How much does a house cost in DL3?The median sale price over the last year was £170,000.
The median sale price over the last year was £170,000.
03Is DL3 safe?How recorded crime here compares with the national average.
How recorded crime here compares with the national average.
04Who lives in DL3?Age, home ownership and housing from the census.
Age, home ownership and housing from the census.
05Which council covers DL3?The local authority for DL3 is Darlington.
The local authority for DL3 is Darlington.
06How well connected is DL3?Connectivity scores 5.0 out of 10.
Connectivity scores 5.0 out of 10.
Sources: Census 2021 (ONS); ONS mid-year population estimates; police recorded crime; the English, Welsh and Scottish indices of deprivation; ONS small area income estimates; ONS private rents; DfE, Welsh and Scottish school registers and Ofsted; DfT NaPTAN; ORR estimates of station usage; HM Land Registry Price Paid Data. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Contains OS data © Crown copyright and database right.