Hughenden Valley’s story
2 listed buildings
Historic England lists them inside Hughenden Valley’s built-up area.
11% of its homes were built before 1919, against 15% in the typical UK town.
Explore the history →
Hughenden ValleyBuckinghamshire
Population 1,814: a village in Buckinghamshire, South East.
7 places within 12 milesMap →
Photo: Andrew Smith · CC BY-SA 2.0
Population
1,814
Census 2021 · Buckinghamshire council
Median home
£700K
63 sales in 3 years
Median age
51.6
28% are 65+ · Buckinghamshire 17%
Degree level
48%
of residents 16+ · England 34%
Walk, cycle, bus
8%
of commuters · England 27%
Is Hughenden Valley a good place to live?
Hughenden Valley’s strongest is health: life expectancy 84.4 for men, 86.8 for women. Safety is another plus: police record 5.2 violent and sexual offences per 1,000 residents a year, and 2.6 home and vehicle crimes. The weak point is walkability — 8% of commuters get to work on foot, by bike or by public transport. Homes are dear: the median home sold for £700,000, 10 years of area income.
Figures: life expectancy, ONS · crime, police.uk, averaged Sep 2023 to Aug 2026 · commuting, Census 2021 · prices, HM Land Registry, the last three years. Hughenden Valley is graded on each subject, but towns under 2,500 get no overall grade.
How Hughenden Valley grades
Each subject compared with the 2,160 UK towns with an overall grade (schools within England), ordered by how far Hughenden Valley is from typical. American towns are graded separately.
Hughenden Valley is graded on each subject, but towns under 2,500 get no overall grade.
HealthAmong the healthiest places comparedA+Open →SafetyAmong the best of the towns comparedA+Open →Jobs & income1.3% of 16 to 64s claim unemployment benefitsA+Open →WalkabilityBased on walking, cycling and transit to everyday placesDOpen →SchoolsPrimary results beat 64% of towns in England; secondary results beat 91% of towns in EnglandA−Open →Cost of livingRent £1,475 a monthC−Open →Hazard risk0% of homes at high or medium risk of flooding from rivers or the seaB+Open →
Character Graded, but not part of the overall grade.
History2 listed buildingsDOpen →Outdoors32% live within 400 m of a park; 76% of land within 5 km is National Park or National LandscapeB−Open →Civic life4.4 local charities per 1,000 residents; 0% live within 1 km of a libraryBOpen →
How TownRatings grades towns →
What makes Hughenden Valley stand out
The 3 things Hughenden Valley does most differently from other towns.
Walk, cycle or public transport
Getting around
8% leave the car
of commuters walk, cycle or take public transport (England’s towns 27%)
33% of commuters travel under 5 km.
Median sale, £ thousands
Housing
2.5 times the typical UK town’s £277K
Standard sales, September 2023 to August 2026.
99%of UK towns of 1,000 to 2,500 people
Safety
of UK towns of 1,000 to 2,500 people
Per resident, police.uk, 3 years.
The data
Data highlights are ordered by what stands out in Hughenden Valley.
Health
Lifespans in Hughenden Valley run longer than in 96% of UK towns
88%good or very good healthA+Health Grade
2.5% of residents report bad or very bad health; what’s more, at the census, 13% of people here had a disability, below Buckinghamshire’s towns (14%) and England’s towns (17%) alike. Asked at the census, 88% of residents of Hughenden Valley said they were in good or very good health. The nearest A&E to Hughenden Valley is Stoke Mandeville Hospital, 9.2 miles away.
General health, self-reported
Good or very good 88%Fair 9%Bad or very bad 3%
| Census 2021 | Hughenden Valley | Buckinghamshire | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Good or very good health | 88% | 86% | 82% |
| Bad or very bad health | 2.5% | 3.6% | 5.2% |
| Disabled (Equality Act) | 13% | 14% | 17% |
84.4
life expectancy at birth, men (2019–23)
86.8
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.
SchoolsA−
Results at Hughenden Valley’s schools beat 82% of towns in England
A−School Grade
At the town’s 2 primary schools, 64% of pupils reach the expected standard in reading, writing and maths (three-year average). GCSE results at the 2 secondary schools within 3 km: 61% of pupils get a strong pass (grade 5+) in English and maths, and the Attainment 8 average is 54.3. Hughenden Valley’s two primaries have 652 pupils between them.
| School | Level | Pupils | Letter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Great Kingshill Church of England Combined SchoolLargest primary schoolPrimary | Primary | 451 | B− |
Department for Education · GIAS, Key Stage 2 and GCSE resultsSee all 2 schools →
Safety
Crime per resident in Hughenden Valley is lower than in 99% of UK towns
5.2violent and sexual offences per 1,000 a yearA+Safety Grade
Police figures for Hughenden Valley’s built-up area: 16 crimes and 4 anti-social behaviour reports in the 12 months to August 2026. Anti-social behaviour, shown but not graded, came to 1.3 reports per 1,000, lower than both Buckinghamshire’s towns (4.2) and England’s towns (7.8). Violence and sexual offences made up 63% of the total.
Compared with UK towns its sizeLess crime per resident than 99% 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 & sexual10
Damage & arson2
Public order1
Burglary1
Drugs1
Vehicle crime1
Shoplifting0
Other theft0
Anti-social4
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.
5.2
violent and sexual offences per 1,000 residents a year, averaged Sep 2023 to Aug 2026
2.6
burglary, vehicle crime and damage per 1,000 a year, averaged Sep 2023 to Aug 2026
1.3
anti-social behaviour reports per 1,000 (not graded)
16
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.
Work & commuteJobs & income grade A+
Hughenden Valley is better off than Buckinghamshire’s towns or England’s towns: households earn £82K a year
8%walk, cycle or ride
The Census was taken on 21 March 2021, in lockdown, so 51% of workers were mainly at home; shares here are of those who travelled.
91% of commuters drove to work at the census. Working mainly from home: 51% of workers, above Buckinghamshire’s towns (39%) and England’s towns (31%) alike. The 2026 claimant rate among 16 to 64s was 1.3%. Work in town: 7% of resident commuters.
How commuters got to work · March 2021
Driving91%
On foot5%
Train1%
Bicycle1%
33%
of commuters travel under 5 km · England 45%
51%
worked mainly from home in March 2021
£82K
mean household income, before tax
1.3%
of 16 to 64s claim unemployment benefits (2026)
D
Walkability: more walkable than 9% of UK towns
ONS Census 2021, method of travel and distance to work · ONS small-area income · DWP claimant count · OGL
History
All 2 of Hughenden Valley’s listed buildings are Grade II
2listed buildingsDHistory Grade
The heritage lists give each building’s grade but not its age, so we don’t say which is oldest.
Inside Hughenden Valley’s built-up area, Historic England lists 2 listed buildings, . 11% of its homes are older than 1919.
Listed buildings by grade · Historic England
Grade I0
Grade II*0
Grade II2
0
scheduled monuments
0
registered parks and gardens
11%
of homes built before 1919 · typical UK town 15%
11
listed buildings per 10,000 residents · typical UK town 24
Historic England list, October 2026 · Valuation Office Agency, homes by build period · OGL
HousingCost of living grade C−
Few households rent privately in Hughenden Valley: 5%, fewer than in Buckinghamshire’s towns and England’s towns
£700Kmedian sale
Owners make up 93% of households, above Buckinghamshire’s towns (64%) and England’s towns (61%) alike. 1% of households live in social housing. Behind the median of £700,000: 63 standard sales inside Hughenden Valley’s built-up area, September 2023 to August 2026.
Median sale price · Sep 2023 to Aug 2026
Hughenden Valley£700K
Typical UK town£277K
| By type | Median | Sales |
|---|---|---|
| Detached | £711,250 | 48 |
| Semi-detached | £540,000 | 13 |
93%
of households own their home · England 61%
5%
rent privately · England 21%
£1,475
average private rent a month, Buckinghamshire council area
£2,522
council tax, Band D, 2026–27
HM Land Registry Price Paid · ONS private rents · MHCLG / Welsh Government council tax · ONS Census 2021 tenure · OGL
Who lives here
Older residents shape Hughenden Valley: 28% are 65 or over, above Buckinghamshire’s towns and England’s towns
51.6median age
Graduates make up 48% of adults. Children under 15 make up 15%, lower than both Buckinghamshire’s towns (19%) and England’s towns (18%). What’s more, the 15-to-24 age group makes up one in ten residents. Half of Hughenden Valley is older than 51.6, half younger.
Hughenden ValleyBuckinghamshireEngland
Ages · share of residents
28%
Qualifications · residents 16 and older
No qualifications9%
Apprenticeship5%
A levels or similar17%
Degree level48%
Women and men · all residents
50% women, 50% men
About an even split. Across England, 51% of residents are women.
| Hughenden Valley | Buckinghamshire | England | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 15 | 15% | 19% | 18% |
| 15–24 | 9.8% | 11% | 12% |
| 25–44 | 16% | 27% | 27% |
| 45–64 | 32% | 26% | 25% |
| 65+ | 28% | 17% | 18% |
| No qualifications | 8.6% | 15% | 18% |
| Apprenticeship | 4.9% | 4.8% | 5.3% |
| A levels or similar | 17% | 16% | 17% |
| Degree level | 48% | 39% | 34% |
ONS Census 2021 · Buckinghamshire and England: all residents of their built-up areas · OGL
Keep exploring
Everything we know about Hughenden Valley
14pages on Hughenden Valley
The big questions
SafetyA+5.2 violent and sexual offences per 1,000 residents a year, averaged Sep 2023 to Aug 2026Cost of livingC−Median home £700K · rent £1,475 a monthHousing21 sold in 12 months · busiest street Valley RoadSchoolsA−2 state schoolsHealthA+Life expectancy 84.4 (men), 86.8 (women)Work & commuteA+66% of working residents work in the townFlood & hazardsB+0% of homes at high or medium flood risk
Out and about
Nearby attractions
All attractions →West Wycombe House and 16 more in and around Hughenden Valley
Museums, castles, gardens and days out in and near Hughenden Valley. Best known first.
Historic house · National TrustWest Wycombe House3.8 km outside town, to the southwest
Historic house · National TrustHughenden Manor1.1 km outside town, to the south
MuseumThe Roald Dahl Museum and Story Centre4.2 km outside town, to the northeast
MuseumWycombe Museum3.1 km outside town, to the south
AttractionThe Hellfire Caves3.5 km outside town, to the southwest
Abbey or prioryMissenden Abbey4.3 km outside town, to the northeastPlaces: © OpenStreetMap contributors · Wikidata
Photos: each place’s Wikidata image, from Wikimedia Commons under the licence below (our copy, resized).
Photo credits (6)
- West Wycombe House: Original author was Giano, converted to PNG format by PNG crusade bot at en.wikipedia, Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
- Hughenden Manor: Francis Orpen Morris, Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
- The Roald Dahl Museum and Story Centre: David Hillas, CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Wycombe Museum: Sebastian Ballard, CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
- The Hellfire Caves: Stefan Wolmarans, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Missenden Abbey: James Allan, CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
About Hughenden Valley
Village in Buckinghamshire, England
Hughenden Valley is a built-up area of 1,814 people, in the Buckinghamshire 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
- 1,814 (Census 2021)
- Council
- Buckinghamshire
- County
- Buckinghamshire
- Region
- South East
- Area
- 0.3 sq mi (0.7 km²)
- ONS code
- E63004658
Hughenden Valley’s neighbours
The nearest built-up areas, from ONS’s 2022 boundaries. See them on the map →
Great KingshillWalter's Ash and NaphillDownleyHazlemerePrestwood and Great MissendenHigh WycombeLittle KingshillHughenden Valley
How the neighbours grade
| Town | People | Miles | Overall | Cost | Safety | Health |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hughenden Valley | 1,814 | — | — | C− | A+ | A+ |
| Great Kingshill | 1,669 | 1.2 | — | C− | A+ | A+ |
| Walter's Ash and Naphill | 3,893 | 1.4 | A+ | C | A+ | A+ |
| Downley | 2,655 | 1.8 | A | C+ | A− | B− |
| Hazlemere | 20,006 | 2.3 | A | C | A− | A+ |
| Prestwood and Great Missenden | 7,600 | 2.4 | A | C | B− | A+ |
| High Wycombe | 83,541 | 2.6 | B− | B+ | D | C+ |
| Little Kingshill | 1,471 | 2.7 | — | C− | A+ | A+ |
Great Kingshill and Little Kingshill have fewer than 2,500 residents, so they get subject grades but no overall grade. People: Census 2021. Miles: centre to centre.
Questions about Hughenden Valley
Is Hughenden Valley expensive to live in?
Homes cost more than in most UK towns: the median sale over three years was £700,000, against £277,000 in the typical UK town. By type: semi-detached houses £540,000 and detached houses £711,250.
Are schools in Hughenden Valley good?
Secondary schools stand out: GCSE results beat 91% of towns in England. Primary results are closer to the middle, beating 64%. Hughenden Valley has 2 state schools; places are handled by Buckinghamshire council.
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.