Highfields Caldecote’s story
1 listed building
Historic England lists them inside Highfields Caldecote’s built-up area.
7% of its homes were built before 1919, against 15% in the typical UK town.
Explore the history →
Highfields CaldecoteCambridgeshire
A village in Cambridgeshire, East of England, home to 2,049 people.
7 places within 12 milesMap →
Photo: Hugh Venables · CC BY-SA 2.0
Population
2,049
Census 2021 · South Cambridgeshire council
Median home
£555K
65 sales in 3 years
Median age
41.6
15% are 65+ · Cambridgeshire 17%
Degree level
51%
of residents 16+ · England 34%
Walk, cycle, bus
11%
of commuters · England 27%
Is Highfields Caldecote a good place to live?
Health is its strong suit — life expectancy 83.7 for men, 85.6 for women. Schools are a strength too: primary results beat nearly three quarters of towns in England; secondary results beat 92% of towns in England. The median home sold for £555,000, 7.7 times what households in the South Cambridgeshire council area earn in a year. Where it falls short is walkability: 11% of commuters walk, cycle or take public transport.
Figures: life expectancy and incomes, ONS · commuting, Census 2021 · prices, HM Land Registry, the last three years. Highfields Caldecote has fewer than 2,500 residents, so it gets subject grades but no overall grade.
What makes Highfields Caldecote stand out
The 3 things Highfields Caldecote does most differently from other towns.
Walk, cycle or public transport
Getting around
11% leave the car
of commuters walk, cycle or take public transport (England’s towns 27%)
Median sale, £ thousands
Housing
2 times the typical UK town’s £277K
Standard sales, September 2023 to August 2026.
Degree level, 16+
Education
Degree-level qualifications, residents 16+ (England’s towns 34%)
Cambridgeshire 37%.
How Highfields Caldecote grades
Each subject compared with the 2,160 UK towns with an overall grade (schools within England), ordered by how far Highfields Caldecote is from typical. American towns are graded separately.
Highfields Caldecote has fewer than 2,500 residents, so it gets subject grades but no overall grade.
HealthAmong the healthiest places comparedA+Open →SchoolsPrimary results beat 74% of towns in England; secondary results beat 92% of towns in EnglandAOpen →Hazard risk0% of homes at high or medium risk of flooding from rivers or the seaAOpen →Jobs & income2.3% of 16 to 64s claim unemployment benefitsA−Open →SafetyBetter than most of the towns comparedA−Open →WalkabilityBased on walking, cycling and transit to everyday placesCOpen →Cost of livingBased on what homes cost against what households earnB−Open →
Character Graded, but not part of the overall grade.
History1 listed buildingD−Open →Outdoors100% live within 400 m of a park; 4.1 ha of public green space per 1,000 residentsA−Open →Civic life3.4 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 Highfields Caldecote.
Health
Bad health is less common in Highfields Caldecote than in Cambridgeshire’s towns or across England’s towns: 2.8% of residents
At the census, 89% of people in Highfields Caldecote called their health good or very good, above Cambridgeshire’s towns (84%) and England’s towns (82%) alike. A disability affects 13% of people in the town. Men in Highfields Caldecote can expect to live to 83.7, women to 85.6 (2019–23). This Cambridgeshire town has no GP practice of its own; the nearest is 2 miles away.
89%good or very good healthA+Health Grade
General health, self-reported
Good or very good 89%Fair 8%Bad or very bad 3%
| Census 2021 | Highfields Caldecote | Cambridgeshire | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Good or very good health | 89% | 84% | 82% |
| Bad or very bad health | 2.8% | 4.4% | 5.2% |
| Disabled (Equality Act) | 13% | 16% | 17% |
83.7
life expectancy at birth, men (2019–23)
85.6
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 Highfields Caldecote’s schools beat 88% of towns in England
At the 6 primary schools within 3 km, 66% of pupils reach the expected standard in reading, writing and maths (three-year average). There is one school here; it is shown below. Secondary results at the 2 secondary schools within 3 km: an Attainment 8 score of 55.3, with 60% at grade 5 or above in English and maths.
ASchool Grade
| School | Level | Pupils | Letter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Caldecote Primary SchoolLargest primary schoolPrimary | Primary | 193 | A− |
Department for Education · GIAS, Key Stage 2 and GCSE resultsThe Schools page →
History
Highfields Caldecote’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.
Highfields Caldecote has 5 listed buildings for every 10,000 residents, below both Cambridgeshire’s towns (82) and England’s towns (39). The pre-1919 share of homes is 7%.
1listed buildingsD−History Grade
Listed buildings by grade · Historic England
Grade I0
Grade II*0
Grade II1
0
scheduled monuments
0
registered parks and gardens
7%
of homes built before 1919 · typical UK town 15%
5
listed buildings per 10,000 residents · typical UK town 24
Historic England list, October 2026 · Valuation Office Agency, homes by build period · OGL
Who lives here
More people in Highfields Caldecote hold a degree than in Cambridgeshire’s towns or England’s towns: 51%
Children under 15 make up 21%, above both Cambridgeshire’s towns (18%) and England’s towns (18%). Ages in Highfields Caldecote split evenly at 41.6: half are older, half younger. People 65 and over make up 15% of the town.
41.6median age
Highfields CaldecoteCambridgeshireEngland
Ages · share of residents
13%
Qualifications · residents 16 and older
No qualifications9%
Apprenticeship4%
A levels or similar16%
Degree level51%
Women and men · all residents
50% women, 50% men
About an even split. Across England, 51% of residents are women.
| Highfields Caldecote | Cambridgeshire | England | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 15 | 21% | 18% | 18% |
| 15–24 | 13% | 12% | 12% |
| 25–44 | 22% | 28% | 27% |
| 45–64 | 29% | 25% | 25% |
| 65+ | 15% | 17% | 18% |
| No qualifications | 8.6% | 17% | 18% |
| Apprenticeship | 4% | 5% | 5.3% |
| A levels or similar | 16% | 16% | 17% |
| Degree level | 51% | 37% | 34% |
ONS Census 2021 · Cambridgeshire and England: all residents of their built-up areas · OGL
Safety
Highfields Caldecote records less violent crime per resident than Cambridgeshire’s towns or England’s towns, at 14.2 per 1,000 a year
Highfields Caldecote logged 40 reported offences in a year (to August 2026), plus 8 complaints of anti-social conduct. Violence and sexual offences made up 63% of the total. Burglary and damage came to 8.3 per 1,000 residents a year, below both Cambridgeshire’s towns (9.2) and England’s towns (9.4).
14.2violent and sexual offences per 1,000 a yearA−Safety Grade
Compared with UK towns its sizeLess crime per resident than 60% of the 1,541 UK towns of 1,000 to 2,500 people: about the middle for its size. Context only, not part of the grade.
Reports by type · Sep 2025 to Aug 2026
Violence & sexual25
Vehicle crime4
Damage & arson3
Public order2
Other theft1
Burglary1
Drugs1
Bicycle theft1
Anti-social8
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.
14.2
violent and sexual offences per 1,000 residents a year, averaged Sep 2023 to Aug 2026
8.3
burglary, vehicle crime and damage per 1,000 a year, averaged Sep 2023 to Aug 2026
7
anti-social behaviour reports per 1,000 (not graded)
40
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−
Fewer commuters in Highfields Caldecote work nearby than in Cambridgeshire’s towns or England’s towns: 19% travel under 5 km
The Census was taken on 21 March 2021, in lockdown, so 39% of workers were mainly at home; shares here are of those who travelled.
Household income came to £68K a year before tax, above both Cambridgeshire’s towns (£65K) and England’s towns (£55K). By car: that was how 88% of commuters travelled at the census. 2% of commuters who live in Highfields Caldecote also work there. There are 0.4 jobs in Highfields Caldecote for each resident in work.
11%walk, cycle or ride
How commuters got to work · March 2021
Driving88%
Bicycle4%
On foot3%
Bus2%
Train1%
19%
of commuters travel under 5 km · England 45%
39%
worked mainly from home in March 2021
£68K
mean household income, before tax
2.3%
of 16 to 64s claim unemployment benefits (2026)
C
Walkability: more walkable than 30% of UK towns
ONS Census 2021, method of travel and distance to work · ONS small-area income · DWP claimant count · OGL
HousingCost of living grade B−
Most households in Highfields Caldecote own their home: 73%, more than in Cambridgeshire’s towns or across England’s towns
8% live in social housing, below both Cambridgeshire’s towns (16%) and England’s towns (18%). From September 2023 to August 2026, 65 homes sold inside Highfields Caldecote’s built-up area at standard prices; the middle one went for £555,000. Private rents average £1,408 a month across the South Cambridgeshire council area.
£555Kmedian sale
Median sale price · Sep 2023 to Aug 2026
Highfields Caldecote£555K
Typical UK town£277K
| By type | Median | Sales |
|---|---|---|
| Detached | £599,995 | 51 |
| Semi-detached | £400,000 | 7 |
| Terraced | £350,000 | 7 |
73%
of households own their home · England 61%
16%
rent privately · England 21%
£1,408
average private rent a month, South Cambridgeshire council area
£2,521
council tax, Band D, 2026–27
HM Land Registry Price Paid · ONS private rents · MHCLG / Welsh Government council tax · ONS Census 2021 tenure · OGL
Keep exploring
Everything we know about Highfields Caldecote
13pages on Highfields Caldecote
The big questions
SafetyA−14.2 violent and sexual offences per 1,000 residents a year, averaged Sep 2023 to Aug 2026Cost of livingB−Median home £555K · rent £1,408 a monthHousing15 sold in 12 months · busiest street Highfields RoadSchoolsA1 state schoolHealthA+Life expectancy 83.7 (men), 85.6 (women)Work & commuteA−50% of working residents work in the townFlood & hazardsA0% of homes at high or medium flood risk
Out and about
Highfields Caldecote’s neighbours
The nearest built-up areas, from ONS’s 2022 boundaries. See them on the map →
HardwickCambourneCombertonBar HillGirtonPapworth EverardHaslingfieldHighfields Caldecote
How the neighbours grade
| Town | People | Miles | Overall | Cost | Safety | Health |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Highfields Caldecote | 2,049 | — | — | B− | A− | A+ |
| Hardwick | 2,658 | 1.3 | A+ | B− | B+ | A+ |
| Cambourne | 11,071 | 1.8 | A+ | B+ | B− | A |
| Comberton | 2,255 | 2.5 | — | B | B+ | A+ |
| Bar Hill | 3,899 | 3.5 | A+ | A | B+ | A+ |
| Girton | 4,384 | 4.8 | A+ | C+ | A | A+ |
| Papworth Everard | 3,821 | 4.9 | B+ | A | B | B+ |
| Haslingfield | 1,535 | 5.1 | — | B− | A | A+ |
Comberton and Haslingfield have fewer than 2,500 residents, so they get subject grades but no overall grade. People: Census 2021. Miles: centre to centre.
Questions about Highfields Caldecote
Is Highfields Caldecote expensive to live in?
Homes cost more than in most UK towns: the median sale over three years was £555,000, against £277,000 in the typical UK town. By type: terraced houses £350,000, semi-detached houses £400,000 and detached houses £599,995. Household incomes are higher than in 86% of UK towns, so cost of living still grades B−.
Who lives in Highfields Caldecote?
At the 2021 Census, 13% of Highfields Caldecote’s 2,049 residents were 15 to 24 and 15% were 65 or over, against 12% and 18% across England’s towns.
Are schools in Highfields Caldecote good?
Secondary schools stand out: GCSE results beat 92% of towns in England. Primary results beat 74%. One state school is inside the town; places are handled by Cambridgeshire council.
Is Highfields Caldecote safe?
Against all UK towns, it grades A−.
About Highfields Caldecote
Village in Cambridgeshire, England
Highfields Caldecote is a built-up area of 2,049 people, in the South Cambridgeshire 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
- 2,049 (Census 2021)
- Council
- South Cambridgeshire
- County
- Cambridgeshire
- Region
- East of England
- Area
- 0.6 sq mi (1.5 km²)
- ONS code
- E63003425
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.