Marlow Bottom’s story
3 listed buildings
Historic England lists them inside Marlow Bottom’s built-up area.
1% of its homes were built before 1919, against 15% in the typical UK town.
Explore the history →
Marlow BottomBuckinghamshire
A town in Buckinghamshire, South East, home to 3,339 people.
7 places within 12 milesMap →
Photo: Andrew Smith · CC BY-SA 2.0
Population
3,339
Census 2021 · Buckinghamshire council
Median home
£725K
105 sales in 3 years
Median age
49.2
26% are 65+ · Buckinghamshire 17%
Degree level
50%
of residents 16+ · England 34%
Walk, cycle, bus
11%
of commuters · England 27%
TownGrade
A+
#1 of 39 in Buckinghamshire
Is Marlow Bottom a good place to live?
Residents are healthier than most (A+): life expectancy is 85.3 for men and 88.5 for women. Police record less crime here than in most towns (A+): 4.6 violent and sexual offences and 5.1 home and vehicle crimes per 1,000 residents a year. The drawback is cost of living — homes sell for a median £725,000, about 10.4 times local household income. Walkability is weaker too — on the way to work, 11% walk, cycle or take a bus or train. Put together, the subjects come to an A+ overall, better than almost every UK town. That places it #1 of 39 in Buckinghamshire.
Figures: life expectancy, ONS · crime, police.uk, averaged Sep 2023 to Aug 2026 · prices, HM Land Registry, the last three years · commuting, Census 2021.
What makes Marlow Bottom stand out
The 3 things Marlow Bottom does most differently from other towns.
Median sale, £ thousands
Housing
2.6 times the typical UK town’s £277K
Standard sales, September 2023 to August 2026.
Walk, cycle or public transport
Getting around
11% leave the car
of commuters walk, cycle or take public transport (England’s towns 27%)
37% of commuters travel under 5 km.
99%of UK towns of 2,500 to 10,000 people
Safety
of UK towns of 2,500 to 10,000 people
Per resident, police.uk, 3 years.
How Marlow Bottom grades
Each subject compared with the 2,160 UK towns with an overall grade (schools within England), ordered by how far Marlow Bottom is from typical. American towns are graded separately.
HealthAmong the best of the towns comparedA+Open →SafetyGraded on crime per residentA+Open →Jobs & incomeIncomes and work are among the strongest comparedA+Open →SchoolsPrimary results beat 86% of towns in England; secondary results beat 97% of towns in EnglandAOpen →Hazard risk0% of homes at high or medium risk of flooding from rivers or the seaAOpen →Cost of livingRent £1,475 a monthCOpen →WalkabilityWeaker than most of the towns comparedCOpen →
Character Graded, but not part of the overall grade.
History3 listed buildingsD−Open →Outdoors40% live within 400 m of a park; 50% of land within 5 km is National Park or National LandscapeCOpen →Civic life2.7 local charities per 1,000 residents; 0% live within 1 km of a libraryC+Open →
How TownRatings grades towns →
Nearby attractions
All attractions →West Wycombe House and 10 more in and around Marlow Bottom
Museums, castles, gardens and days out in and near Marlow Bottom. Best known first.
Historic house · National TrustWest Wycombe House4.8 km outside town, to the north
Abbey or prioryBisham Abbey3 km outside town, to the south
MuseumWycombe Museum4.1 km outside town, to the northeastMuseumMuseumChair Making Museum3.9 km outside town, to the northAttractionAttraction · National TrustMaidenhead and Cookham Commons4.2 km outside town, to the southeastPark or estatePark or estate · National TrustWinter Hill2.6 km outside town, to the southeastPlaces: © OpenStreetMap contributors · Wikidata
Photos: each place’s Wikidata image, from Wikimedia Commons under the licence below (our copy, resized).
Photo credits (3)
- West Wycombe House: Original author was Giano, converted to PNG format by PNG crusade bot at en.wikipedia, Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
- Bisham Abbey: http://www.wyrdlight.com Author: Antony McCallum, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Wycombe Museum: Sebastian Ballard, CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
The data
Data highlights are ordered by what stands out in Marlow Bottom.
Health
Lifespans in Marlow Bottom run longer than in 100% of UK towns
At the census, 90% of people in Marlow Bottom called their health good or very good, above Buckinghamshire’s towns (86%) and England’s towns (82%) alike. Poor health, by residents’ own account, affects 2.2% of the town. The town has no GP practice of its own; the nearest is 1.3 miles away. Disability touches 11% of the town’s population.
90%good or very good healthA+Health Grade
General health, self-reported
Good or very good 90%Fair 8%Bad or very bad 2%
| Census 2021 | Marlow Bottom | Buckinghamshire | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Good or very good health | 90% | 86% | 82% |
| Bad or very bad health | 2.2% | 3.6% | 5.2% |
| Disabled (Equality Act) | 11% | 14% | 17% |
85.3
life expectancy at birth, men (2019–23)
88.5
life expectancy at birth, women
ONS Census 2021, general health and disability · OHID Fingertips, life expectancy 2019–23 · OGL · Young towns look healthier on these answers, which aren’t adjusted for age; the Health Grade uses measures that are, such as life expectancy and early deaths.
SchoolsA
Marlow Bottom’s schools outperform 95% of towns in England on results
Burford School’s results beat 75% of schools in England like it. GCSE results at the 6 secondary schools within 3 km: 67% of pupils get a strong pass (grade 5+) in English and maths, and the Attainment 8 average is 58.9. Below is its only school. Key Stage 2 results at the 11 primary schools within 3 km: 69% of pupils meet the expected standard in reading, writing and maths (three-year average).
ASchool Grade
| School | Level | Pupils | Letter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Burford SchoolLargest primary schoolPrimary | Primary | – | A− |
Department for Education · GIAS, Key Stage 2 and GCSE resultsThe Schools page →
Safety
For a town of its size, Marlow Bottom is quiet: less crime per resident than 99% of the 1,308 UK towns of 2,500 to 10,000 people
A year of reports to August 2026 adds up to 39 offences in Marlow Bottom and 7 cases of nuisance behaviour. There were 1.3 anti-social behaviour reports per 1,000 residents (not graded), below both Buckinghamshire’s towns (4.2) and England’s towns (7.8). Violence and sexual offences accounted for a third of recorded crime.
4.6violent and sexual offences per 1,000 a yearA+Safety Grade
Compared with UK towns its sizeLess crime per resident than 99% of the 1,308 UK towns of 2,500 to 10,000 people: less crime than most for its size. Context only, not part of the grade.
Reports by type · Sep 2025 to Aug 2026
Violence & sexual13
Damage & arson6
Vehicle crime5
Other theft4
Burglary4
Public order2
Drugs2
Bicycle theft1
Anti-social7
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.
4.6
violent and sexual offences per 1,000 residents a year, averaged Sep 2023 to Aug 2026
5.1
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)
39
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.
History
Marlow Bottom’s listed buildings: 3, all 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, Marlow Bottom has the second fewest listed buildings of the towns in Buckinghamshire. Homes built before 1919 account for 1% of the housing.
3listed buildingsD−History Grade
Listed buildings by grade · Historic England
Grade I0
Grade II*0
Grade II3
0
scheduled monuments
0
registered parks and gardens
1%
of homes built before 1919 · typical UK town 15%
9
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
Marlow Bottom is a town of owners: 90% of households own their home, above Buckinghamshire’s towns and England’s towns
4% live in social housing, below both Buckinghamshire’s towns (15%) and England’s towns (18%). Private tenants account for 6% of households. From September 2023 to August 2026, 105 homes sold inside Marlow Bottom’s built-up area at standard prices; the middle one went for £725,000.
£725Kmedian sale
Median sale price · Sep 2023 to Aug 2026
Marlow Bottom£725K
Typical UK town£277K
| By type | Median | Sales |
|---|---|---|
| Detached | £760,000 | 83 |
| Semi-detached | £545,000 | 17 |
90%
of households own their home · England 61%
6%
rent privately · England 21%
£1,475
average private rent a month, Buckinghamshire council area
£2,457
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 Marlow Bottom earn more than in Buckinghamshire’s towns or across England’s towns: £81K a year
The Census was taken on 21 March 2021, in lockdown, so 54% of workers were mainly at home; shares here are of those who travelled.
The car carried 87% of commuters at the census. Working mainly from home: 54% of workers, higher than both Buckinghamshire’s towns (39%) and England’s towns (31%). 1.5% of 16 to 64s claimed unemployment benefits in 2026. Work in town: 8% of resident commuters.
11%walk, cycle or ride
How commuters got to work · March 2021
Driving87%
On foot6%
Train2%
Bus1%
Bicycle1%
37%
of commuters travel under 5 km · England 45%
54%
worked mainly from home in March 2021
£81K
mean household income, before tax
1.5%
of 16 to 64s claim unemployment benefits (2026)
C
Walkability: more walkable than 33% of UK towns
ONS Census 2021, method of travel and distance to work · ONS small-area income · DWP claimant count · OGL
Who lives here
Degrees are more common in Marlow Bottom than in Buckinghamshire’s towns or across England’s towns: 50% of adults
Over-65s are just over a quarter of the population. Half of Marlow Bottom is older than 49.2, half younger. Children under 15 make up 18%, below Buckinghamshire’s towns (19%) and close to England’s towns (18%).
49.2median age
Marlow BottomBuckinghamshireEngland
Ages · share of residents
26%
Qualifications · residents 16 and older
No qualifications9%
Apprenticeship4%
A levels or similar15%
Degree level50%
Women and men · all residents
51% women, 49% men
About an even split. Across England, 51% of residents are women.
| Marlow Bottom | Buckinghamshire | England | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 15 | 18% | 19% | 18% |
| 15–24 | 10% | 11% | 12% |
| 25–44 | 14% | 27% | 27% |
| 45–64 | 32% | 26% | 25% |
| 65+ | 26% | 17% | 18% |
| No qualifications | 9.3% | 15% | 18% |
| Apprenticeship | 4.4% | 4.8% | 5.3% |
| A levels or similar | 15% | 16% | 17% |
| Degree level | 50% | 39% | 34% |
ONS Census 2021 · Buckinghamshire and England: all residents of their built-up areas · OGL
Keep exploring
Everything we know about Marlow Bottom
14pages on Marlow Bottom
The big questions
SafetyA+4.6 violent and sexual offences per 1,000 residents a year, averaged Sep 2023 to Aug 2026Cost of livingCMedian home £725K · rent £1,475 a monthHousing24 sold in 12 months · busiest street Marlow BottomSchoolsA1 state schoolHealthA+Life expectancy 85.3 (men), 88.5 (women)Work & commuteA+65% of working residents work in the townFlood & hazardsA0% of homes at high or medium flood risk
Out and about
Marlow Bottom’s neighbours
The nearest built-up areas, from ONS’s 2022 boundaries. See them on the map →
MarlowLane EndHigh WycombeCookhamHurleyBourne EndFlackwell Heath and Wooburn GreenMarlow Bottom
How the neighbours grade
| Town | People | Miles | Overall | Cost | Safety | Health |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Marlow Bottom | 3,339 | — | A+ | C | A+ | A+ |
| Marlow | 14,641 | 1.1 | A | C | B− | A |
| Lane End | 3,446 | 2.9 | C+ | B− | B | C+ |
| High Wycombe | 83,541 | 3.1 | B− | B+ | D | C+ |
| Cookham | 5,216 | 3.3 | A | C− | B+ | A |
| Hurley | 1,317 | 3.3 | — | C− | B+ | A+ |
| Bourne End | 7,166 | 3.3 | B | C | B | A |
| Flackwell Heath and Wooburn Green | 12,438 | 3.5 | A− | C | B− | A |
Hurley has fewer than 2,500 residents, so it gets subject grades but no overall grade. People: Census 2021. Miles: centre to centre.
Questions about Marlow Bottom
Is Marlow Bottom expensive to live in?
Homes cost more than in most UK towns: the median sale over three years was £725,000, against £277,000 in the typical UK town. By type: semi-detached houses £545,000 and detached houses £760,000.
Are schools in Marlow Bottom good?
GCSE results beat 97% of towns in England, and primary results beat 86% (Department for Education, Attainment 8 and Key Stage 2). One state school is inside the town; places are handled by Buckinghamshire council.
About Marlow Bottom
Town in Buckinghamshire, England
Marlow Bottom is a built-up area of 3,339 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
- 3,339 (Census 2021)
- Council
- Buckinghamshire
- County
- Buckinghamshire
- Region
- South East
- Area
- 0.4 sq mi (1 km²)
- ONS code
- E63004800
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.