Meldreth’s story
36 listed buildings, 1 of them Grade I
Historic England lists them inside Meldreth’s built-up area.
12% of its homes were built before 1919, against 15% in the typical UK town.
Explore the history →
MeldrethCambridgeshire
This village in Cambridgeshire, East of England has a population of 1,823.
7 places within 12 milesMap →
Photo: David Howard · CC BY-SA 2.0
Population
1,823
Census 2021 · South Cambridgeshire council
Median home
£477K
58 sales in 3 years
Median age
43.7
21% are 65+ · Cambridgeshire 17%
Degree level
42%
of residents 16+ · England 34%
Walk, cycle, bus
18%
of commuters · England 27%
Is Meldreth a good place to live?
Residents are healthier than most: life expectancy is 82.6 for men and 86.2 for women. Hazards are a real consideration (C−): 1.6% of homes face a high or medium risk of river or sea flooding. Buying the median home, at £477,043, takes 6.6 years of household income in the South Cambridgeshire council area. Its remaining grades are unremarkable: B− for safety and B for schools.
Figures: life expectancy and incomes, ONS · flood risk, Environment Agency · prices, HM Land Registry, the last three years · crime, police.uk, averaged Sep 2023 to Aug 2026. Meldreth is graded on each subject, but towns under 2,500 get no overall grade.
WeakestC−Hazard risk
What makes Meldreth stand out
The 3 things Meldreth does most differently from other towns.
Listed buildings per 10,000 residents
History
1 Grade I, including Church of Holy Trinity; 8.1 times the typical UK town for its size
Historic England’s list, October 2026.
Median sale, £ thousands
Housing
1.7 times the typical UK town’s £277K
Standard sales, September 2023 to August 2026.
Life expectancy, against UK towns
Health
86.2 and 82.6 years
OHID Fingertips, 2019–23.
How Meldreth grades
Each subject compared with the 2,160 UK towns with an overall grade (schools within England), ordered by how far Meldreth is from typical. American towns are graded separately.
Meldreth is graded on each subject, but towns under 2,500 get no overall grade.
Hazard riskMore exposed to natural hazards than mostC−Open →Jobs & income1.7% of 16 to 64s claim unemployment benefitsB+Open →HealthBetter than most of the towns comparedB+Open →Walkability18% of commuters walk, cycle or take public transportB+Open →Cost of livingBased on what homes cost against what households earnBOpen →SchoolsPrimary results beat 67% of towns in England; secondary results beat 41% of towns in EnglandBOpen →SafetyClose to the middle of the towns comparedB−Open →
Character Graded, but not part of the overall grade.
History12% of homes built before 1919B+Open →Outdoors82% live within 400 m of a park; 4.7 ha of public green space per 1,000 residentsB−Open →Civic life2.7 local charities per 1,000 residents; 0% live within 1 km of a libraryC+Open →
How TownRatings grades towns →
The data
Data highlights are ordered by what stands out in Meldreth.
Health
Life expectancy in Meldreth is longer than in 89% of UK towns
The nearest A&E to Meldreth is Addenbrooke's and the Rosie Hospitals, 7.9 miles away. At the census, 19% of people here had a disability, above Cambridgeshire’s towns (16%) and England’s towns (17%) alike. There is no GP practice in the town: the nearest is 1.2 miles off.
82%good or very good healthB+Health Grade
General health, self-reported
Good or very good 82%Fair 13%Bad or very bad 5%
| Census 2021 | Meldreth | Cambridgeshire | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Good or very good health | 82% | 84% | 82% |
| Bad or very bad health | 4.6% | 4.4% | 5.2% |
| Disabled (Equality Act) | 19% | 16% | 17% |
82.6
life expectancy at birth, men (2019–23)
86.2
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.
SchoolsB
Exam results at Meldreth’s schools top 56% of towns in England
Key Stage 2 results at the 3 primary schools within 3 km: 65% of pupils meet the expected standard in reading, writing and maths (three-year average). Its only school is listed below. Attainment 8 at the one secondary school within 3 km averages 43.7, and 44% of pupils get grade 5 or above in English and maths.
BSchool Grade
| School | Level | Pupils | Letter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Meldreth Primary SchoolLargest primary schoolPrimary | Primary | 194 | A− |
Department for Education · GIAS, Key Stage 2 and GCSE resultsThe Schools page →
Work & commuteJobs & income grade B+
Only 29% of Meldreth’s commuters work within 5 km, fewer than in Cambridgeshire’s towns or England’s towns
The Census was taken on 21 March 2021, in lockdown, so 41% of workers were mainly at home; shares here are of those who travelled.
The census counted 41% of workers working mainly from home, and on top of that 80% of commuters drove, above Cambridgeshire’s towns (72%) and England’s towns (70%) alike. A household here earns £67K a year before tax, on average. Work in town: just over a tenth of resident commuters.
18%walk, cycle or ride
How commuters got to work · March 2021
Driving80%
On foot8%
Bicycle5%
Train3%
Bus1%
Underground, tram1%
29%
of commuters travel under 5 km · England 45%
41%
worked mainly from home in March 2021
£67K
mean household income, before tax
1.7%
of 16 to 64s claim unemployment benefits (2026)
B+
Walkability: more walkable than 70% of UK towns
ONS Census 2021, method of travel and distance to work · ONS small-area income · DWP claimant count · OGL
History
Meldreth is rich in listed buildings: 197 per 10,000 residents, more than Cambridgeshire’s towns or England’s towns
The heritage lists give each building’s grade but not its age, so we don’t say which is oldest.
The top grade, Grade I, goes to 1 of them. Meldreth’s listed buildings include the Church of Holy Trinity, Grade I. It counts 36 listed buildings on the national list (Historic England): 1 Grade I.
36listed buildingsB+History Grade
Listed buildings by grade · Historic England
Grade I1
Grade II*0
Grade II35
Among them · Grade I
- Church of Holy Trinity Grade I
0
scheduled monuments
0
registered parks and gardens
12%
of homes built before 1919 · typical UK town 15%
197
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 B
Few households rent privately in Meldreth: 9%, fewer than in Cambridgeshire’s towns and England’s towns
70% of households are owner-occupiers. Half of the 58 standard sales inside Meldreth’s built-up area from September 2023 to August 2026 went for more than £477,043. Private rents average £1,408 a month across the South Cambridgeshire council area.
£477Kmedian sale
Median sale price · Sep 2023 to Aug 2026
Meldreth£477K
Typical UK town£277K
| By type | Median | Sales |
|---|---|---|
| Detached | £740,000 | 27 |
| Semi-detached | £418,000 | 15 |
| Terraced | £330,000 | 12 |
70%
of households own their home · England 61%
9%
rent privately · England 21%
£1,408
average private rent a month, South Cambridgeshire council area
£2,497
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
Homes in Meldreth see more burglary and damage than in Cambridgeshire’s towns or England’s towns: 11.5 per 1,000 a year
Reported offences in Meldreth came to 82 over twelve months to August 2026; nuisance and anti-social incidents added 18. Violence and sexual offences accounted for half of recorded crime. Also worth knowing: for its size, Meldreth records more crime per resident than 73% of the 1,541 UK towns of 1,000 to 2,500 people.
22.2violent and sexual offences per 1,000 a yearB−Safety Grade
Compared with UK towns its sizeLess crime per resident than 27% of the 1,541 UK towns of 1,000 to 2,500 people: more crime than most for its size. Context only, not part of the grade.
Reports by type · Sep 2025 to Aug 2026
Violence & sexual41
Vehicle crime12
Damage & arson11
Other theft5
Public order4
Other crime4
Burglary2
Shoplifting1
Anti-social18
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.
22.2
violent and sexual offences per 1,000 residents a year, averaged Sep 2023 to Aug 2026
11.5
burglary, vehicle crime and damage per 1,000 a year, averaged Sep 2023 to Aug 2026
9.5
anti-social behaviour reports per 1,000 (not graded)
82
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.
Who lives here
Degrees are more common in Meldreth than in Cambridgeshire’s towns or across England’s towns: 42% of adults
Under 15: nearly a fifth of residents. Just over a fifth of residents are 65 or over, above both Cambridgeshire’s towns (17%) and England’s towns (18%). The age that splits Meldreth in two is 43.7.
43.7median age
MeldrethCambridgeshireEngland
Ages · share of residents
21%
Qualifications · residents 16 and older
No qualifications16%
Apprenticeship4%
A levels or similar14%
Degree level42%
Women and men · all residents
51% women, 49% men
About 95 men for every 100 women. Across England, 51% of residents are women.
| Meldreth | Cambridgeshire | England | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 15 | 19% | 18% | 18% |
| 15–24 | 11% | 12% | 12% |
| 25–44 | 22% | 28% | 27% |
| 45–64 | 28% | 25% | 25% |
| 65+ | 21% | 17% | 18% |
| No qualifications | 16% | 17% | 18% |
| Apprenticeship | 4.4% | 5% | 5.3% |
| A levels or similar | 14% | 16% | 17% |
| Degree level | 42% | 37% | 34% |
ONS Census 2021 · Cambridgeshire and England: all residents of their built-up areas · OGL
Nearby attractions
All attractions →Wimpole Estate and 3 more in and around Meldreth
Museums, castles, gardens and days out in and near Meldreth. Best known first.
Park or estatePark or estate · National TrustWimpole Estate5 km outside town, to the northwest
ZooShepreth Wildlife Park1.4 km outside town, to the northeastMuseumMuseumRoyston and District Museum4.6 km outside town, to the southwestHistoric siteHistoric siteEnglish Electric Canberra WJ8213.1 km outside town, to the west
ZooShepreth Wildlife Park1.4 km outside town, to the northeastMuseumMuseumRoyston and District Museum4.6 km outside town, to the southwestHistoric siteHistoric siteEnglish Electric Canberra WJ8213.1 km outside town, to the westPlaces: © OpenStreetMap contributors · Wikidata
Photos: each place’s Wikidata image, from Wikimedia Commons under the licence below (our copy, resized).
Photo credits (1)
- Shepreth Wildlife Park: Peter Trimming, CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
Keep exploring
Everything we know about Meldreth
14pages on Meldreth
The big questions
SafetyB−22.2 violent and sexual offences per 1,000 residents a year, averaged Sep 2023 to Aug 2026Cost of livingBMedian home £477K · rent £1,408 a monthHousing17 sold in 12 months · busiest street High StreetSchoolsB1 state schoolHealthB+Life expectancy 82.6 (men), 86.2 (women)Work & commuteB+57% of working residents work in the townFlood & hazardsC−1.6% of homes at high or medium flood risk
Out and about
Meldreth’s neighbours
The nearest built-up areas, from ONS’s 2022 boundaries. See them on the map →
MelbournBarringtonOrwellBassingbournFoxtonFowlmereRoystonMeldreth
How the neighbours grade
| Town | People | Miles | Overall | Cost | Safety | Health |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Meldreth | 1,823 | — | — | B | B− | B+ |
| Melbourn | 4,907 | 1.2 | A− | B+ | B | A− |
| Barrington | 1,184 | 2.6 | — | C+ | B | A |
| Orwell | 1,147 | 2.6 | — | B− | A | A− |
| Bassingbourn | 2,353 | 2.7 | — | B+ | B− | A |
| Foxton | 1,275 | 2.7 | — | C+ | B− | A+ |
| Fowlmere | 1,295 | 3 | — | B− | B+ | A |
| Royston | 17,443 | 3.2 | A− | B− | B− | A |
Barrington, Orwell, Bassingbourn, Foxton and Fowlmere have fewer than 2,500 residents, so they get subject grades but no overall grade. People: Census 2021. Miles: centre to centre.
Questions about Meldreth
How many listed buildings are there in Meldreth?
That is 8.1 times the typical UK town for its size. Its Grade I building is Church of Holy Trinity.
Is Meldreth expensive to live in?
Homes cost more than in most UK towns: the median sale over three years was £477,043, against £277,000 in the typical UK town. By type: terraced houses £330,000, semi-detached houses £418,000 and detached houses £740,000. Household incomes are higher than in 84% of UK towns, so cost of living still grades B.
Does Meldreth flood?
Surface water isn’t included. Check a specific address on GOV.UK’s flood risk service.
About Meldreth
Village in Cambridgeshire, England
Meldreth is a built-up area of 1,823 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
- 1,823 (Census 2021)
- Council
- South Cambridgeshire
- County
- Cambridgeshire
- Region
- East of England
- Area
- 0.4 sq mi (1 km²)
- ONS code
- E63003687
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.