Care Homes in Durham: compare residential care, nursing homes and dementia support
Compare residential care, nursing homes and dementia support across Durham, then pressure-test costs, quality, inspection freshness and local risk before you shortlist.
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Durham Care Home Market
Key figures for the local care home market, drawn from regulatory, financial, and food safety data
Above the national average — most families here have strong options
More affordable than many areas — good value may be available
What the local care home market looks like in Durham
Across Durham and surrounding areas
Homes trending upward based on recent official inspections
Based on public financial records found for 17 homes
18 homes currently lack a registered manager
Official Rating Breakdown
CQC Quality by Domain
Average scores across Durham care homes
Durham homes rate strongest on Caring and weakest on Effective.
Inspection Freshness
How recently homes were inspected by the national regulator
100% of homes have ratings over 3 years old. Our reports verify against multiple data sources to give you a more current picture.
Public Financial Risk
Public company filing signals across company-backed care homes in Durham
Based on public financial records · 17 homes analysed
Durham Market Analysis 2026
Registered care homes for older adults across Durham and surrounding areas.
Of homes meet the quality standard — giving your family strong choice in Durham.
Of homes currently lack a registered manager — ask about this during your visit, as it affects day-to-day oversight.
Show signs of financial stress — worth checking before you commit. 59% of 17 analysed homes are financially stable.
Average inspection age. 0% of homes inspected within the last 2 years.
Care Standards in Durham
Specialist care coverage and food safety ratings across 19 homes
Overall quality
100%
Good or Outstanding
Largest specialist signal
14 homes
Physical Disability support (74%)
Food hygiene
4.8/5
16 homes with FSA data
Financial resilience
59%
show no financial risk indicators
Specialist Care Coverage
14 (74%)
Physical Disability
13 (68%)
Dementia
8 (42%)
Learning Disability
8 (42%)
Sensory Impairment
7 (37%)
Mental Health
Food Hygiene
16 of Durham homes assessed
Financial Health
17 of 19 homes assessed
Show low public financial risk
Care Homes by Durham Area
Care homes across Durham's neighbourhoods, analysed and organised by location
DH1
DH1 gives families one of the more active pockets of the Durham care market, with around 8 nearby homes to compare. Pricing varies by provider here, so families usually need to compare individual homes rather than assume one town-wide rate. Around 100% of homes in this pocket are rated Good or Outstanding, giving a useful first quality signal before you shortlist visits. Current local signals point to 3 nursing homes, dementia specialists, 1 outstanding-rated as the clearest practical differentiators in this area.
8 care homes available
DH7
DH7 gives families one of the more active pockets of the Durham care market, with around 7 nearby homes to compare. Pricing varies by provider here, so families usually need to compare individual homes rather than assume one town-wide rate. Around 100% of homes in this pocket are rated Good or Outstanding, giving a useful first quality signal before you shortlist visits. Current local signals point to 4 nursing homes, dementia specialists, 90%+ rated good/outstanding as the clearest practical differentiators in this area.
7 care homes available
County Durham 027
County Durham 027 gives families one of the more active pockets of the Durham care market, with around 4 nearby homes to compare. Pricing varies by provider here, so families usually need to compare individual homes rather than assume one town-wide rate. Around 100% of homes in this pocket are rated Good or Outstanding, giving a useful first quality signal before you shortlist visits. Current local signals point to 1 nursing homes, dementia specialists, 90%+ rated good/outstanding as the clearest practical differentiators in this area.
4 care homes available
All 19 Homes Analysed
Every care home in our Durham database has been checked against CQC records, with current inspection reports and pricing information.
Why families in Durham use RightCareHome
Why this is more useful than a directory when the decision is serious
Without independent analysis
- 19 homes to compare manually
- Outdated directory data from years ago
- Commission-driven recommendations
- Hidden quality and safety issues
With RightCareHome
- A clearer view of where quality, cost and risk differ before you check any one home
- Independent scoring built from regulatory, review and financial evidence
- 100% independent, zero commissions
- A better starting point before you verify or compare specific homes
Frequently Asked Questions About Care Homes in Durham
Practical answers based on available local data and typical family concerns.
Still have questions?
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Get a shortlist for DurhamBased on official inspections, company accounts, and food hygiene records. Source update timings vary across inspection, pricing, and public records.
More Care Homes Near Durham
Compare care options in neighbouring areas
Care type, cost and postcode signals in Durham
Use these local signals to compare nursing, residential and dementia care in Durham, then narrow the directory to the homes that best match your family's needs.
Nursing homes in Durham
Clinical nursing care is listed across 8 homes in Durham.
Residential care homes in Durham
Residential care is the broadest local comparison set, with 12 homes tracked.
Dementia care in Durham
13 homes publish specialist dementia care signals in Durham.
Local evidence summary
CQC quality mix
100% Good+
1 Outstanding, 16 Good, 0 Requires Improvement, and 0 Inadequate homes in the current CQC mix.
Inspection freshness
0% recent
Average latest inspection age is 61 months, so older CQC results need extra checking.
Care home costs
£867/week
Average listed weekly cost is £867, before room type, nursing needs and top-up negotiations.
Funding gap
£17/week
Typical private fees sit above the council benchmark by about £884 per year.
Financial resilience
59% low risk
17 homes have usable company-risk data; 7 show medium, high or critical risk signals.
Postcode and neighbourhood coverage
RCH Score methodology
How we rank care homes in Durham
Score 0–10 · updated monthly
CQC inspections can be 2–4 years old. Our RCH Score combines the official inspection result with live signals — real reviews, quality trajectory, and financial stability — to surface homes that are performing well today, not just at the last inspection.
CQC inspection rating
40%The official Care Quality Commission rating — Outstanding, Good, Requires Improvement, or Inadequate. The primary quality signal, but can be up to 4 years old.
Online reviews
30%Average star rating from verified public reviews across the web, weighted by volume. Reflects the day-to-day experience of residents and families. Only counted when 10+ reviews exist.
CQC trend
15%Whether the home's rating has been improving, stable, or declining across its last three inspections. An improving trajectory can offset an older rating.
Financial stability
15%Operational risk derived from Companies House filings — profit/loss trend, debt levels, and director changes. Financially stressed homes face higher closure and quality risk.
Rankings are calculated from public data only. We do not accept referral fees or paid placements from care homes.
The RCH Score is a decision-support tool, not a definitive ranking. Always visit a home in person and ask for the latest CQC inspection report before making a decision.
Durham homes that look strongest on current public evidence
Not a sponsored listing. These homes rise to the top on current CQC, review, trend and financial signals.
Hawthorn House, Durham
Nevilles Court, Durham
Bowburn Care Centre, Durham
St Aiden's Cottage, Durham
Kingsway Nursing Home, Durham
St Margaret's Care Home, Durham
Belmont Grange Nursing and Residential Home, Durham
Rushyfields Residential and Nursing Home, Durham
St Aidan Lodge Residential Care Home, Durham
When one Durham home stands out, verify it properly
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All Care Homes in Durham
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Choose the right next step for care in Durham
You’ve seen the market. Now choose the next step that fits your decision: verify one specific home, compare a few in depth, or check affordability.
Not sure which route is right? If one home already looks promising, start with Care Home Check. If you still need to compare options, use the deeper comparison route.
With 19 homes across Durham, independent analysis helps families compare options more clearly.