Hermitage’s story
1 listed building
Historic England lists them inside Hermitage’s built-up area.
14% of its homes were built before 1919, against 15% in the typical UK town.
Explore the history →
HermitageBerkshire
2,224 residents make their home in this village in Berkshire, South East.
7 places within 12 milesMap →
Photo: Pam Brophy · CC BY-SA 2.0
Population
2,224
Census 2021 · West Berkshire council
Median home
£608K
70 sales in 3 years
Median age
38.9
14% are 65+ · Berkshire 15%
Degree level
44%
of residents 16+ · England 34%
Walk, cycle, bus
17%
of commuters · England 27%
Is Hermitage a good place to live?
Hermitage’s strongest is health: men here can expect to live to 86.5, women to 87.3. It is strong on safety as well (A): police record 11.1 violent and sexual offences per 1,000 residents a year, and 6.9 home and vehicle crimes. Housing is expensive: a typical home costs £607,500 and rent runs £1,338 a month. Natural hazards are less of a worry than in most UK towns (A).
Figures: life expectancy, ONS · crime, police.uk, averaged Sep 2023 to Aug 2026 · prices, HM Land Registry, the last three years · flood risk, Environment Agency. An overall grade needs 2,500 residents, so Hermitage is graded subject by subject only.
What makes Hermitage stand out
The 3 things Hermitage does most differently from other towns.
Median sale, £ thousands
Housing
2.2 times the typical UK town’s £277K
Standard sales, September 2023 to August 2026.
Life expectancy, against UK towns
Health
87.3 and 86.5 years
Life expectancy at birth, women and men: longer than in 98% of UK towns
OHID Fingertips, 2019–23.
Household income, against UK towns
Work
Mean, before tax: higher than in 99% of UK towns
ONS small-area income estimates.
How Hermitage grades
Each subject compared with the 2,160 UK towns with an overall grade (schools within England), ordered by how far Hermitage is from typical. American towns are graded separately.
HealthGraded on how healthy residents areA+Open →Jobs & incomeIncomes and work are among the strongest comparedAOpen →SafetyNear the top of the towns comparedAOpen →Hazard risk0% of homes at high or medium risk of flooding from rivers or the seaAOpen →Cost of livingMedian sale £607,500, 9 years of area incomeCOpen →WalkabilityBased on walking, cycling and transit to everyday placesB+Open →SchoolsPrimary results beat 53% of towns in EnglandB−Open →
Character Graded, but not part of the overall grade.
History1 listed buildingDOpen →Outdoors58% live within 400 m of a park; 82% of land within 5 km is National Park or National LandscapeC+Open →Civic life3.6 local charities per 1,000 residents; 0% live within 1 km of a libraryB−Open →
How TownRatings grades towns →
The data
Data highlights are ordered by what stands out in Hermitage.
Health
91% of people in Hermitage say their health is good or very good, more than in both Berkshire’s towns and England’s towns
1.7% of residents report bad or very bad health. At the census, 11% of people here had a disability, lower than both Berkshire’s towns (13%) and England’s towns (17%). Hermitage has no GP practice of its own; the nearest is 2 miles away.
91%good or very good healthA+Health Grade
General health, self-reported
Good or very good 91%Fair 8%Bad or very bad 2%
| Census 2021 | Hermitage | Berkshire | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Good or very good health | 91% | 87% | 82% |
| Bad or very bad health | 1.7% | 3.3% | 5.2% |
| Disabled (Equality Act) | 11% | 13% | 17% |
86.5
life expectancy at birth, men (2019–23)
87.3
life expectancy at birth, women
ONS Census 2021, general health and disability · OHID Fingertips, life expectancy 2019–23 · OGL · The census answers take no account of age, so a young town looks healthier; the Health Grade relies on age-adjusted measures, life expectancy and early deaths among them.
SchoolsB−
Results at Hermitage’s schools beat 55% of towns in England
Key Stage 2 results at the 5 primary schools within 3 km: 62% of pupils meet the expected standard in reading, writing and maths (three-year average). Below is its only school. Its one primary school teaches 186 pupils.
B−School Grade
| School | Level | Pupils | Letter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hermitage Primary SchoolLargest primary schoolPrimary | Primary | 186 | C |
Department for Education · GIAS, Key Stage 2 and GCSE resultsThe Schools page →
History
Hermitage’s one listed building is Grade II
The heritage lists give each building’s grade but not its age, so we don’t say which is oldest.
For its size, Hermitage has 5 listed buildings per 10,000 residents, lower than both Berkshire’s towns (34) and England’s towns (39). 14% of homes were built before 1919.
1listed buildingsDHistory Grade
Listed buildings by grade · Historic England
Grade I0
Grade II*0
Grade II1
0
scheduled monuments
0
registered parks and gardens
14%
of homes built before 1919 · typical UK town 15%
4
listed buildings per 10,000 residents · typical UK town 24
Historic England list, October 2026 · Valuation Office Agency, homes by build period · OGL
Safety
Per resident, Hermitage sees less crime than 88% of UK towns
A year of reports to August 2026 adds up to 52 offences in Hermitage and 9 cases of nuisance behaviour. For its size, Hermitage records less crime per resident than just over three quarters of the 1,541 UK towns of 1,000 to 2,500 people. Anti-social behaviour, shown but not graded, came to 2.7 reports per 1,000, below Berkshire’s towns (6.5) and England’s towns (7.8) alike. 37% of the crimes fell under violence and sexual offences.
11.1violent and sexual offences per 1,000 a yearASafety Grade
Compared with UK towns its sizeLess crime per resident than 76% of the 1,541 UK towns of 1,000 to 2,500 people: less crime than most for its size. Context only, not part of the grade.
Reports by type · Sep 2025 to Aug 2026
Violence & sexual19
Burglary8
Public order6
Shoplifting5
Damage & arson4
Other theft4
Other crime4
Robbery1
Anti-social9
Not gradedAnti-social behaviour, shoplifting and other theft are shown but left out of the Safety Grade, which counts violence and crimes against homes and vehicles per resident.
11.1
violent and sexual offences per 1,000 residents a year, averaged Sep 2023 to Aug 2026
6.9
burglary, vehicle crime and damage per 1,000 a year, averaged Sep 2023 to Aug 2026
2.7
anti-social behaviour reports per 1,000 (not graded)
52
crimes recorded in the 12 months to August 2026
data.police.uk street-level crime · points inside the ONS built-up-area boundary · OGL · The police category of violence and sexual offences includes harassment and stalking.
HousingCost of living grade C
More households own their home in Hermitage than in Berkshire’s towns or across England’s towns: 69%
Social housing holds 9% of households, lower than both Berkshire’s towns (14%) and England’s towns (18%). Behind the median of £607,500: 70 standard sales inside Hermitage’s built-up area, September 2023 to August 2026.
£608Kmedian sale
Median sale price · Sep 2023 to Aug 2026
Hermitage£608K
Typical UK town£277K
| By type | Median | Sales |
|---|---|---|
| Detached | £690,000 | 43 |
| Semi-detached | £479,000 | 13 |
| Terraced | £282,500 | 11 |
69%
of households own their home · England 61%
18%
rent privately · England 21%
£1,338
average private rent a month, West Berkshire council area
£2,473
council tax, Band D, 2026–27
HM Land Registry Price Paid · ONS private rents · MHCLG / Welsh Government council tax · ONS Census 2021 tenure · OGL
Work & commuteJobs & income grade A
Households in Hermitage earn more than in both Berkshire’s towns and England’s towns: £80K a year
The Census was taken on 21 March 2021, in lockdown, so 45% of workers were mainly at home; shares here are of those who travelled.
1.5% of 16 to 64s claimed unemployment benefits in 2026, below Berkshire’s towns (2.1%) and England’s towns (2.3%) alike. For 29% of commuters, work was under 5 km away. Walking, cycling and public transport carried 17% of commuters at the census.
17%walk, cycle or ride
How commuters got to work · March 2021
Driving80%
On foot14%
Bicycle2%
Train1%
29%
of commuters travel under 5 km · England 45%
45%
worked mainly from home in March 2021
£80K
mean household income, before tax
1.5%
of 16 to 64s claim unemployment benefits (2026)
B+
Walkability: more walkable than 67% of UK towns
ONS Census 2021, method of travel and distance to work · ONS small-area income · DWP claimant count · OGL
Who lives here
Children make up 21% of Hermitage, above Berkshire’s towns and England’s towns
44% of adults hold a degree, higher than both Berkshire’s towns (40%) and England’s towns (34%). The 65-and-over age group makes up 14% of residents. Half of Hermitage is older than 38.9, half younger.
38.9median age
HermitageBerkshireEngland
Ages · share of residents
12%
Qualifications · residents 16 and older
No qualifications8%
Apprenticeship4%
A levels or similar19%
Degree level44%
Women and men · all residents
49% women, 51% men
About 105 men for every 100 women. Across England, 51% of residents are women.
| Hermitage | Berkshire | England | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 15 | 21% | 19% | 18% |
| 15–24 | 12% | 11% | 12% |
| 25–44 | 27% | 29% | 27% |
| 45–64 | 26% | 25% | 25% |
| 65+ | 14% | 15% | 18% |
| No qualifications | 7.9% | 14% | 18% |
| Apprenticeship | 3.6% | 4.5% | 5.3% |
| A levels or similar | 19% | 16% | 17% |
| Degree level | 44% | 40% | 34% |
ONS Census 2021 · Berkshire and England: all residents of their built-up areas · OGL
Nearby attractions
All attractions →Donnington Castle and 2 more in and around Hermitage
Museums, castles, gardens and days out in and near Hermitage. Best known first.
CastleCastle · English HeritageDonnington Castle4.9 km outside town, to the southwest
ZooThe Living Rain Forest3.7 km outside town, to the northeast
Historic houseShaw House4.7 km outside town, to the southwest
ZooThe Living Rain Forest3.7 km outside town, to the northeastHistoric houseShaw House4.7 km outside town, to the southwestPlaces: © OpenStreetMap contributors · Wikidata
Photos: each place’s Wikidata image, from Wikimedia Commons under the licence below (our copy, resized).
Photo credits (2)
- The Living Rain Forest: Tsl09, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Shaw House: Simon Burchell, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
Keep exploring
Everything we know about Hermitage
15pages on Hermitage
The big questions
SafetyA11.1 violent and sexual offences per 1,000 residents a year, averaged Sep 2023 to Aug 2026Cost of livingCMedian home £608K · rent £1,338 a monthHousing24 sold in 12 months · busiest street Deacons LaneSchoolsB−1 state schoolHealthA+Life expectancy 86.5 (men), 87.3 (women)Work & commuteA63% of working residents work in the townFlood & hazardsA0% of homes at high or medium flood risk
Out and about
Hermitage’s neighbours
The nearest built-up areas, from ONS’s 2022 boundaries. See them on the map →
Cold AshUpper BuckleburyThatchamComptonNewburyUpper BasildonGoringHermitage
How the neighbours grade
| Town | People | Miles | Overall | Cost | Safety | Health |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hermitage | 2,224 | — | — | C | A | A+ |
| Cold Ash | 2,267 | 1.7 | — | C | A+ | A+ |
| Upper Bucklebury | 1,036 | 3.3 | — | C | B− | A |
| Thatcham | 25,537 | 3.6 | B | B+ | C+ | B− |
| Compton | 1,789 | 4.2 | — | C+ | B+ | A+ |
| Newbury | 42,262 | 4.7 | B | B | C− | B− |
| Upper Basildon | 1,074 | 5.7 | — | C | A | A+ |
| Goring | 3,434 | 7.6 | A+ | C | A | A+ |
Cold Ash, Upper Bucklebury, Compton and Upper Basildon have fewer than 2,500 residents, so they get subject grades but no overall grade. People: Census 2021. Miles: centre to centre.
Questions about Hermitage
Is Hermitage expensive to live in?
Homes cost more than in most UK towns: the median sale over three years was £607,500, against £277,000 in the typical UK town. By type: terraced houses £282,500, semi-detached houses £479,000 and detached houses £690,000.
Does Hermitage flood?
Surface water isn’t included. Check a specific address on GOV.UK’s flood risk service.
About Hermitage
Village in Berkshire, England
Hermitage is a built-up area of 2,224 people, in the West Berkshire council area. TownRatings uses ONS’s 2022 built-up areas as towns: the physical town, as people mean the word, rather than a council district, so its figures cover the town itself.
Built from ONS geography and Census 2021
- Population
- 2,224 (Census 2021)
- Council
- West Berkshire
- County
- Berkshire
- Region
- South East
- Area
- 0.4 sq mi (0.9 km²)
- ONS code
- E63005046
Sources: ONS Census 2021, output areas summed to the ONS 2022 built-up area · HM Land Registry Price Paid (standard sales, September 2023 to August 2026) · ONS Price Index of Private Rents (August 2026, by council) · MHCLG and Welsh Government council tax, Band D 2026–27 (with parish precepts in England) · data.police.uk street-level crime, 36 months to August 2026, points inside the built-up-area boundary · ONS small-area life expectancy and healthy life expectancy, 2019 to 2023 (England and Wales), OHID Fingertips small-area indicators (England) and Census 2021 health, adjusted for age · ONS small-area income estimates (financial year ending 2023) · DWP claimant count via Nomis (January to August 2026) · Historic England, National Heritage List for England (listed buildings, scheduled monuments, registered parks and gardens, battlefields, World Heritage Sites), October 2026, inside the ONS 2022 built-up-area boundary · Valuation Office Agency, Council Tax: stock of properties by build period (31 March 2025) · TownRatings grades: our own summary of the data, ranked against UK towns only. All under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Contains HM Land Registry data © Crown copyright and database right 2026. Contains OS data © Crown copyright and database right 2026 (ONS boundaries). Northern Ireland: Source: NISRA; contains Land & Property Services data and Ordnance Survey of Northern Ireland information, © Crown copyright, licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Scotland: contains National Records of Scotland data, Registers of Scotland data and SEPA data, © Crown copyright / © SEPA 2025, licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.