AskBart
About usGet free advice

Care homes in Houghton-le-Spring

15 homes

There are 15 care homes in and around Houghton-le-Spring on AskBart. 100% of those rated by the CQC are Good or Outstanding, against 79% nationally (CQC data, September 2026). Published fees average about £979 a week, while Sunderland usually pays £919. The largest is Pavillion Care Home, with 68 beds.

care homes
15
rated Good or Outstanding by CQC
100%
typical residential fee
£979/wkbelow the UK average of £1,716
what Sunderland council pays
£919/wk

Free, independent advice from Janet, Claire and the AskBart teamHow we check our information

Houghton-le-Spring

Care homes in Houghton-le-Spring (15)

★ With family reviews

11 in Houghton-le-Spring, 4 more within 3 miles · nearest first · updated October 2026

  • Good

Overwhelmed by choice?

Ask Bart anything now, or leave your number and a person calls you back within one working day. Free.

Talk to an adviser
Compare every home in Houghton-le-Spring in one table
Distance
Dairy Lane Care CentreGood · Oct 2023On request224.9 mi—0.3 mi
Elizabeth Fleming Care HomeGood · Nov 2022On request365.6 mi—1.4 mi
Grangewood Care CentreGood · Mar 2026On request504.3 mi—2.1 mi
Lambton HouseGood · Jul 2022On request575.2 mi—1.7 mi
Paddock Stile ManorGood · Jul 2019On request404.1 mi—1.2 mi
Pavillion Care HomeGood£979685.3 mi—0.9 mi
Pavillion Residential and Nursing HomeGood · Jun 2022On request685.3 mi—0.9 mi
Primrose Care HomeGood · Jul 2022On request226.0 mi—1.8 mi
Regents View Care HomeGood£1,086505.6 mi—1.3 mi
Springfield Care HomeGood · Oct 2025On request504.0 mi—1.7 mi
Springfield Lodge Care HomeGood · May 2026On request404.1 mi—2.2 mi
The Grange Care HomeGood · Dec 2024On request353.7 mi—1.9 mi
The LaurelsGood · Aug 2019On request505.5 mi—1.3 mi
The Mews Care HomeGood · Dec 2023On request473.7 mi—1.9 mi
Valley View and Penshaw HouseGood · May 2020On request443.5 mi—2.7 mi

Fees are the home’s published “from” figure, or an indicative one; “on request” where none is published. Ratings are the regulator’s. Click a heading to sort.

Run a care home or business in Houghton-le-Spring that’s missing or out of date? Add or update a listing

Houghton-le-Spring in numbers

100% of Houghton-le-Spring’s CQC-rated care homes are rated Good or Outstanding, above the England average of 79%. Based on 15 rated homes; England figure from CQC State of Care (2024/25).

The average residential care home in Houghton-le-Spring costs about £979/week, while Sunderland’s published usual rate is around £919/week (2025). If the council funds care, expect a likely top-up of about £60/week (about £3,120/year), usually paid by a relative or friend. An estimate: councils fund care only below the means-test threshold, and fees vary by home, room and needs.

What Sunderland council pays care homes, and whether it will help with your fees

Care homes listed15
Rated Good or Outstanding15 of 15 (100%)
Rated Outstanding0
Rated Requires improvement or Inadequate0
Average published weekly fee£979
Sunderland usual weekly rate (2025)£919
LargestPavillion Care Home (68 beds)
Most recently inspectedThe Mews Care Home (November 2023)
Homes by care typeResidential 7 · Nursing 3 · Dementia 8 · Respite 3
Average house price, Sunderland (HM Land Registry, June 2026)£143,216
Good15
Average weekly fees
  • Residential, Houghton-le-Spring£979/wk
  • Nursing, Houghton-le-Spring£1,033/wk
  • Dementia, Houghton-le-Spring£1,033/wk
  • Sunderland average£984/wk
  • UK average£1,716/wk
  • Sunderland usual rate£919/wk

Fees: averages of the weekly fees published by the homes listed here and across Sunderland. UK average: published residential fees across all homes on AskBart. Council rate: Sunderland's usual cost of residential care (2025). Actual costs vary with care needs and room.

See how care is funded or compare a care home with care at home.

Guides: Residential care homes · Nursing homes · Dementia care homes · Respite care

Data: CQC register, updated September 2026. Figures are for the homes listed on this page.

House prices in Sunderland

The average house price in Sunderland is £143,216, based on HM Land Registry data. The graph shows sold-price trends by property type over the last 30 years.

Average price by property type

All property types
£143,216
Detached
£258,891
Semi-detached
£153,166
Terraced
£123,902
Flats & maisonettes
£79,565

Source: HM Land Registry UK House Price Index, to Jun 2026 (Open Government Licence v3.0). Figures are area averages for the wider local authority, not retirement properties specifically.

Living in Houghton-le-Spring

Houghton-le-Spring is a working-class North East town with a solid base of parks and green space, a modest local high street, and a growing care sector. It suits families looking for affordable later-life living close to Sunderland, though you'll want to check family proximity and travel needs carefully.

Safety & PeaceB

Good — quieter than 30% of similar areas for anti-social behaviour & public disorder

Green SpacesB

Good — parks, playing fields & outdoor space nearby

Daily ConveniencesC

Limited — shops, supermarkets & places to eat nearby

Culture & CommunityC

Limited — libraries, galleries, museums & community venues nearby

159 crimes reported in April 2026, Police.uk.

  • Anti-social behaviour42
  • Violent crime32
  • Shoplifting21
  • Burglary19
How we grade areas

Grades are relative, comparing this area against others of the same type across the UK. Amenity grades are based on OpenStreetMap counts within a fixed radius. The Safety & Peace grade ranks recorded anti-social behaviour and public-disorder incidents (the offences most relevant to a quiet neighbourhood) — per head of population where ONS figures are available, otherwise by count. Scottish towns are graded against other Scottish towns, from Police Scotland’s 12-month figures for the council wards they sit in, per head of those wards’ population (National Records of Scotland). Figures are estimates to aid research, not a substitute for visiting an area.

Sources — crime: Police.uk, Apr 2026; amenities: OpenStreetMap, updated September 2026.

Community & connection in Houghton-le-Spring

Local clubs, charities and support groups that help older residents stay active and connected.

Charity

Hops

HOPS supports people to deal with stress, reduce social isolation and improve wellbeing. Offering holistic therapies and therapeutic activities we support unpaid carers, older people, individuals…

0.1 miles away · Source: Charity Commission (1137794)
Charity

Compass Community Transport Ltd

Provision of community transport facilities to the Disabled,old,infirm and socially excluded

4.5 miles away · Source: Charity Commission (1099220)
Charity

Age Concern Durham County

Provision of services and activities to promote the wellbeing of all older people mainly in and around County Durham and help make later life a fulfilling and enjoyable experience.

4.7 miles away · Source: Charity Commission (1122008)
Charity

Age Concern Durham County

Age Concern Durham County incorporated & commenced trading as a charitable company limited by guarantee (Age Concern Durham County trading as Age UK County Durham charity number 1122008) on 1st…

4.7 miles away · Source: Charity Commission (501537)
Charity

Age UK Sunderland

Age UK Sunderland promotes the well-being of all older people throughout the City of Sunderland to improve their quality of life and maintain independence. For further details our web site is…

5.3 miles away · Source: Charity Commission (1086995)
Charity

Sunderland Carers' Centre

The charity works directly with carers to provide information, advice and a listening ear and support at formal and informal meetings, encouragement and support to carers' groups, opportunities…

6.5 miles away · Source: Charity Commission (1118502)

Houghton-le-Spring: health, services and environment

Official open data. Distances are straight-line from the town centre. Updated October 2026.

People aged 85+
+35.2%
Projected change in Sunderland, 2025 to 2035 (7,227 to 9,769). England: +46.2%.
People aged 65+
+13.4%
Projected change in Sunderland, 2025 to 2035 (60,190 to 68,247). England: +20.3%.
Pharmacies within 1 mile
4
Nearest: G Whitfield Limited (0.1 miles).
NHS dental practices within 3 miles
9
This doesn’t show whether they’re taking new NHS patients.
Air quality (NO₂)
7 µg/m³
Modelled background level for the town centre, 2026. England average 5.6; WHO guideline 10; legal limit 40.
Air quality (PM2.5)
5.9 µg/m³
Modelled background level, 2026. England average 5.8; WHO guideline 5; legal limit 20 (2040 target 10).
Deprivation ranking
1–9 out of 10
Where the 17 neighbourhoods around the centre rank in England, in tenths (10 = least deprived).

Hospices near Houghton-le-Spring

  • St Benedict's Hospice · 4.3 milesCQC Outstanding (report published June 2020). CQC page
  • St Cuthbert's Hospice · 7.3 milesCQC Requires improvement (report published January 2024). CQC page
  • Willow Burn · 10.5 milesCQC Good (report published April 2026). CQC page

Hospitals near Houghton-le-Spring

Sources: ONS 2022-based subnational population projections; NHS organisation data (ODS); Defra background pollution maps; English Indices of Deprivation 2025; CQC.

Is Houghton-le-Spring a good retirement location?

Read our guide to living in Houghton-le-Spring

Houghton-le-Spring offers straightforward care home provision in a quieter, more affordable part of the North East. It's a practical choice if you value green space and lower fees, and if you're happy with a smaller town feel rather than city amenities. Suit yourself if you're tied to the area by family, want a modest cost of living, or prefer a settled, less built-up backdrop.

Health & support

  • Medical access: GP surgeries and a pharmacy are present locally; Sunderland Royal Hospital is nearby for emergency and specialist care.
  • Safety: Recorded crime in 2026–04 was 159 offences. The most common were anti-social behaviour, violent crime and shoplifting; weigh this against your own confidence living in the area.
  • Family & connection: Consider how close your family or informal carers are. Sunderland is the main nearby city; if your support network is further away, factor in travel time and frequency of visits.

Finances & daily life

  • Cost of care: Check current care-home fees with local providers; the North East is generally one of the more affordable regions for care, though confirm rates for the specific home you're interested in.
  • Transport: Local buses connect Houghton-le-Spring to Sunderland and surrounding areas; rail links are within reach. The town is moderately walkable for everyday services, though a car or reliable transport helps for wider travel.
  • Housing options: Several care homes operate in the area, offering a range of placements. Visit local providers to compare size, facilities and occupancy.

Lifestyle & environment

  • Green space & hobbies: Five parks and fifteen allotments are well established locally, giving good scope for outdoor interests and gardening. Walking routes and quiet spaces are a real strength of the town.
  • Community: Seven pubs and bars and four restaurants and cafes provide social gathering points. Check with local care homes about memory cafés, hobby groups and organised activities they run or link to.
  • Climate: North East England winters are cold and damp; expect plenty of grey weather, but summers are mild. Standard UK heating and dressing applies.

Things to weigh up

  • Crime on the higher side: Violent crime and anti-social behaviour are among the recorded offences; if personal safety and a quiet neighbourhood are priorities, visit at different times and talk to existing residents and staff.
  • Distance from major cities: Whilst Sunderland is nearby, London and other major hubs are several hours away; if frequent travel or specialist services in larger centres matter to you, plan accordingly.
  • Smaller social and leisure offer: Only four restaurants and cafes and seven pubs means fewer eating and entertainment venues than larger towns; if a wide choice of dining and nightlife is important, you may find it limited.

Questions about care homes in Houghton-le-Spring

How many care homes are there in Houghton-le-Spring?

There are 15 care homes listed in and around Houghton-le-Spring on AskBart. You can filter them by care type, CQC rating and facilities to find the right fit.

How much does a care home in Houghton-le-Spring cost?

Care homes in Houghton-le-Spring range from around £979 to around £1,086 per week, with averages of £979 for residential, £1,033 for dementia, £1,033 for nursing care. Fees vary by home, care type and the level of support required.

How do care home fees in Houghton-le-Spring compare to the national average?

The average residential care fee around Houghton-le-Spring is about £979 per week — below the UK average of £1,716. Individual fees depend on the home, room and level of care.

Which care homes in Houghton-le-Spring are rated Outstanding or Good by the CQC?

15 of the 15 care homes in and around Houghton-le-Spring are rated Good or Outstanding by the Care Quality Commission. Ratings are published by the CQC following regular inspections.

What types of care are available in Houghton-le-Spring?

Homes in and around Houghton-le-Spring offer dementia (8), residential (7), nursing (3), respite (3). Availability varies by home — use the filters above to find homes offering the specific care type you need.

Weighing up your options in Houghton Le Spring?

Care needs change over time. Compare the other kinds of later-life care in Houghton Le Spring:

Prefer to stay in your own home with visiting carers?See home care in Houghton Le Spring

Near Houghton-le-Spring

Paying for care? See how care is funded and check what the council may pay.

Guides for families

More in our choosing a care home guides.

Header photo: Robert Graham, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons