Little Downham’s story
17 listed buildings, 1 of them Grade I
Historic England lists them inside Little Downham’s built-up area.
16% of its homes were built before 1919, against 15% in the typical UK town.
Explore the history →
Little DownhamCambridgeshire
1,234 residents make their home in this village in Cambridgeshire, East of England. Over-65s are 26% of the population.
7 places within 12 milesMap →
Photo: Chris Heaton · CC BY-SA 2.0
Population
1,234
Census 2021 · East Cambridgeshire council
Median home
£315K
51 sales in 3 years
Median age
49.3
26% are 65+ · Cambridgeshire 17%
Degree level
36%
of residents 16+ · England 34%
Walk, cycle, bus
9%
of commuters · England 27%
Is Little Downham a good place to live?
Housing is within reach: a typical home costs £315,000 and rent runs £1,038 a month. Police record less crime here than in most towns (A): police record 13.5 violent and sexual offences per 1,000 residents a year, and 5.4 home and vehicle crimes. Its lowest grade is for walkability: nearly one in ten commuters walk, cycle or take public transport. Natural hazards weigh less here than in most UK towns (A).
Figures: prices, HM Land Registry, the last three years · crime, police.uk, averaged Sep 2023 to Aug 2026 · commuting, Census 2021 · flood risk, Environment Agency. Little Downham has fewer than 2,500 residents, so it gets subject grades but no overall grade.
How Little Downham grades
Each subject compared with the 2,160 UK towns with an overall grade (schools within England), ordered by how far Little Downham is from typical. American towns are graded separately.
Hazard risk0% of homes at high or medium risk of flooding from rivers or the seaAOpen →Cost of livingMedian sale £315,000, 5.2 years of area incomeAOpen →SafetyAmong the best of the towns comparedAOpen →WalkabilityBased on walking, cycling and transit to everyday placesC−Open →SchoolsPrimary results beat 65% of towns in England; secondary results beat 88% of towns in EnglandA−Open →HealthResidents are healthier than in most townsB+Open →Jobs & income1.9% of 16 to 64s claim unemployment benefitsBOpen →
Character Graded, but not part of the overall grade.
HistoryAbove the middle of the towns comparedBOpen →Outdoors61% live within 400 m of a park; 2.8 ha of public green space per 1,000 residentsC−Open →Civic life3.2 local charities per 1,000 residents; 100% live within 1 km of a libraryAOpen →
How TownRatings grades towns →
What makes Little Downham stand out
The 3 things Little Downham does most differently from other towns.
Walk, cycle or public transport
Getting around
9% leave the car
of commuters walk, cycle or take public transport (England’s towns 27%)
Listed buildings per 10,000 residents
History
1 Grade I, including Parish Church of St Leonard; 5.7 times the typical UK town for its size
Historic England’s list, October 2026.
Residents 65 and over
Who lives here
26% are 65 or over
Against 18% across England’s towns
The data
Data highlights are ordered by what stands out in Little Downham.
Who lives here
Older residents shape Little Downham: 26% are 65 or over, above Cambridgeshire’s towns and England’s towns
49.3median age
Young adults of 15 to 24 are nearly one in ten residents, below Cambridgeshire’s towns (12%) and England’s towns (12%) alike. The under-15s are 14% of the population here. The median resident of Little Downham is 49.3 years old.
Little DownhamCambridgeshireEngland
Ages · share of residents
26%
Qualifications · residents 16 and older
No qualifications14%
Apprenticeship6%
A levels or similar15%
Degree level36%
Women and men · all residents
51% women, 49% men
About 95 men for every 100 women. Across England, 51% of residents are women.
| Little Downham | Cambridgeshire | England | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 15 | 14% | 18% | 18% |
| 15–24 | 8.9% | 12% | 12% |
| 25–44 | 21% | 28% | 27% |
| 45–64 | 30% | 25% | 25% |
| 65+ | 26% | 17% | 18% |
| No qualifications | 14% | 17% | 18% |
| Apprenticeship | 6.1% | 5% | 5.3% |
| A levels or similar | 15% | 16% | 17% |
| Degree level | 36% | 37% | 34% |
ONS Census 2021 · Cambridgeshire and England: all residents of their built-up areas · OGL
SchoolsA−
Results at Little Downham’s schools beat 81% of towns in England
A−School Grade
Attainment 8 at the one secondary school within 3 km averages 53.7, and 58% of pupils get grade 5 or above in English and maths. The one school in town appears below. 64% of pupils at the 3 primary schools within 3 km met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths (three-year average).
| School | Level | Pupils | Letter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Downham Feoffees Primary AcademyLargest primary schoolPrimary | Primary | 150 | C |
Department for Education · GIAS, Key Stage 2 and GCSE resultsThe Schools page →
HousingCost of living grade A
Most households in Little Downham own their home: 78%, more than in both Cambridgeshire’s towns and England’s towns
£315Kmedian sale
Social housing holds 9% of households, below Cambridgeshire’s towns (16%) and England’s towns (18%) alike. The private rented sector houses 12% of households. The median sale, £315,000, comes from 51 standard sales inside Little Downham’s built-up area from September 2023 to August 2026.
Median sale price · Sep 2023 to Aug 2026
Little Downham£315K
Typical UK town£277K
| By type | Median | Sales |
|---|---|---|
| Detached | £411,250 | 24 |
| Semi-detached | £295,000 | 18 |
| Terraced | £249,000 | 9 |
78%
of households own their home · England 61%
12%
rent privately · England 21%
£1,038
average private rent a month, East Cambridgeshire council area
£2,496
council tax, Band D, 2026–27
HM Land Registry Price Paid · ONS private rents · MHCLG / Welsh Government council tax · ONS Census 2021 tenure · OGL
Safety
Crime per resident in Little Downham is lower than in 85% of UK towns
13.5violent and sexual offences per 1,000 a yearASafety Grade
The 12 months to August 2026 brought 24 recorded crimes inside Little Downham’s built-up area, and 5 reports of anti-social behaviour. Among the 1,541 UK towns of 1,000 to 2,500 people, Little Downham has less crime per resident than 72% of them. Violence and sexual offences were 54% of the crimes.
Compared with UK towns its sizeLess crime per resident than 72% 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 & sexual13
Damage & arson6
Other theft2
Burglary1
Vehicle crime1
Other crime1
Shoplifting0
Public order0
Anti-social5
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.
13.5
violent and sexual offences per 1,000 residents a year, averaged Sep 2023 to Aug 2026
5.4
burglary, vehicle crime and damage per 1,000 a year, averaged Sep 2023 to Aug 2026
5.1
anti-social behaviour reports per 1,000 (not graded)
24
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 B
Fewer commuters in Little Downham walk, cycle or take the bus or train than in Cambridgeshire’s towns or England’s towns: 9%
9%walk, cycle or ride
The Census was taken on 21 March 2021, in lockdown, so 35% of workers were mainly at home; shares here are of those who travelled.
89% of commuters took the car to work at the census. Short trips to work, under 5 km: 33%, below both Cambridgeshire’s towns (44%) and England’s towns (45%). Before tax, the average household brings in £61K a year. Of the commuters living in Little Downham, 3% work in the town itself.
How commuters got to work · March 2021
Driving89%
On foot4%
Bicycle2%
Train2%
33%
of commuters travel under 5 km · England 45%
35%
worked mainly from home in March 2021
£61K
mean household income, before tax
1.9%
of 16 to 64s claim unemployment benefits (2026)
C−
Walkability: more walkable than 17% of UK towns
ONS Census 2021, method of travel and distance to work · ONS small-area income · DWP claimant count · OGL
Health
Most people in Little Downham (83%) report good or very good health
83%good or very good healthB+Health Grade
The nearest A&E to Little Downham is Addenbrooke's and the Rosie Hospitals, 18.3 miles away. Seeing a GP means leaving Little Downham: the nearest practice is 2 miles away. Life expectancy here is 83.9 for women and 82.1 for men (2019–23).
General health, self-reported
Good or very good 83%Fair 13%Bad or very bad 4%
| Census 2021 | Little Downham | Cambridgeshire | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Good or very good health | 83% | 84% | 82% |
| Bad or very bad health | 4.1% | 4.4% | 5.2% |
| Disabled (Equality Act) | 16% | 16% | 17% |
82.1
life expectancy at birth, men (2019–23)
83.9
life expectancy at birth, women
ONS Census 2021, general health and disability · OHID Fingertips, life expectancy 2019–23 · OGL · No age adjustment applies to these census answers, which flatter younger towns; the Health Grade’s measures, life expectancy and early deaths among them, do allow for age.
History
A town of 17 listed buildings, 1 of them Grade I
17listed buildingsBHistory Grade
The heritage lists give each building’s grade but not its age, so we don’t say which is oldest.
Scaled to its population, Little Downham has 138 listed buildings per 10,000 people, above both Cambridgeshire’s towns (82) and England’s towns (39). Its listed buildings include the Parish Church of St Leonard, Grade I. 16% of homes date from before 1919.
Listed buildings by grade · Historic England
Grade I1
Grade II*0
Grade II16
Among them · Grade I
- Parish Church of St Leonard Grade I
0
scheduled monuments
0
registered parks and gardens
16%
of homes built before 1919 · typical UK town 15%
138
listed buildings per 10,000 residents · typical UK town 24
Historic England list, October 2026 · Valuation Office Agency, homes by build period · OGL
Keep exploring
Everything we know about Little Downham
14pages on Little Downham
The big questions
SafetyA13.5 violent and sexual offences per 1,000 residents a year, averaged Sep 2023 to Aug 2026Cost of livingAMedian home £315K · rent £1,038 a monthHousing17 sold in 12 months · busiest street Cannon StreetSchoolsA−1 state schoolHealthB+Life expectancy 82.1 (men), 83.9 (women)Work & commuteB50% of working residents work in the townFlood & hazardsA0% of homes at high or medium flood risk
Out and about
Nearby attractions
All attractions →Ely Cathedral and 5 more in and around Little Downham
Museums, castles, gardens and days out in and near Little Downham. Best known first.
CathedralEly Cathedral3.6 km outside town, to the southeast
Historic houseOliver Cromwell's House3.5 km outside town, to the south
MuseumThe Stained Glass Museum3.6 km outside town, to the southMuseumMuseumEly Museum3.4 km outside town, to the southeastMuseumMuseumRAF Witchford and RAF Mepal Museum4.5 km outside town, to the southMuseumMuseumAdams Heritage Centre4.6 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 (3)
- Ely Cathedral: Bs0u10e01, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Oliver Cromwell's House: Oxyman, CC BY 2.5, Wikimedia Commons
- The Stained Glass Museum: Sumit Surai, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
About Little Downham
Village in Cambridgeshire, England
Little Downham is a built-up area of 1,234 people, in the East 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
- 1,234 (Census 2021)
- Council
- East Cambridgeshire
- County
- Cambridgeshire
- Region
- East of England
- Area
- 0.2 sq mi (0.5 km²)
- ONS code
- E63002943
Little Downham’s neighbours
The nearest built-up areas, from ONS’s 2022 boundaries. See them on the map →
ElyLittleportWitchfordManeaStrethamSuttonHaddenhamLittle Downham
How the neighbours grade
| Town | People | Miles | Overall | Cost | Safety | Health |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Little Downham | 1,234 | — | — | A | A | B+ |
| Ely | 19,185 | 2.2 | A | B+ | C+ | A− |
| Littleport | 9,170 | 3 | C | A | C | C |
| Witchford | 2,386 | 3.5 | — | A− | C+ | B+ |
| Manea | 2,638 | 4.5 | D− | C− | B− | C− |
| Stretham | 2,070 | 5.9 | — | B+ | B+ | B+ |
| Sutton | 3,880 | 5.9 | B+ | A | B+ | B+ |
| Haddenham | 3,050 | 6.5 | B+ | A− | B+ | B+ |
Witchford and Stretham have fewer than 2,500 residents, so they get subject grades but no overall grade. People: Census 2021. Miles: centre to centre.
Questions about Little Downham
How many listed buildings are there in Little Downham?
That is 5.7 times the typical UK town for its size. Its Grade I building is Parish Church of St Leonard.
Are schools in Little Downham good?
Secondary schools stand out: GCSE results beat 88% of towns in England. Primary results are closer to the middle, beating 65%. One state school is inside the town; places are handled by Cambridgeshire 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.