Wisbech St Mary’s story
5 listed buildings, 2 of them Grade II*
Historic England lists them inside Wisbech St Mary’s built-up area.
17% of its homes were built before 1919, against 15% in the typical UK town.
Explore the history →
Wisbech St MaryCambridgeshire
In Cambridgeshire, East of England, this village has 1,069 residents.
7 places within 12 milesMap →
Photo: Jonathan Thacker · CC BY-SA 2.0
Population
1,069
Census 2021 · Fenland council
Median home
£219K
42 sales in 3 years
Median age
46.2
25% are 65+ · Cambridgeshire 17%
Degree level
16%
of residents 16+ · England 34%
Walk, cycle, bus
10%
of commuters · England 27%
Is Wisbech St Mary a good place to live?
School results are strong: primary results beat 86% of towns in England. Jobs & income is its weak spot (D−): the mean household earns £45,894 a year. The median home sold for £218,750, 4.7 times what households in the Fenland council area earn in a year. It lags on hazard risk as well — 29.2% of homes at high or medium risk of flooding from rivers or the sea.
Figures: income, ONS · claimants, DWP · flood risk, Environment Agency · prices, HM Land Registry, the last three years. Wisbech St Mary is graded on each subject, but towns under 2,500 get no overall grade.
What makes Wisbech St Mary stand out
The 3 things Wisbech St Mary does most differently from other towns.
Walk, cycle or public transport
Getting around
10% leave the car
of commuters walk, cycle or take public transport (England’s towns 27%)
Degree level, 16+
Education
Degree-level qualifications, residents 16+ (England’s towns 34%)
Cambridgeshire 37%.
Flood risk, against UK towns
Flood risk
29% of homes at risk
High or medium risk of flooding from rivers or the sea: more than in 99% of UK towns
Environment Agency flood maps, defences counted.
How Wisbech St Mary grades
Each subject compared with the 2,160 UK towns with an overall grade (schools within England), ordered by how far Wisbech St Mary is from typical. American towns are graded separately.
Wisbech St Mary is graded on each subject, but towns under 2,500 get no overall grade.
Hazard riskBased on how exposed the town is to floods, storms and other hazardsD−Open →Jobs & income3.3% of 16 to 64s claim unemployment benefitsD−Open →SchoolsPrimary results beat 86% of towns in EnglandAOpen →HealthLife expectancy 78.8 for men, 82.9 for womenC−Open →WalkabilityMost errands need a carCOpen →SafetyBelow the middle of the towns comparedC+Open →Cost of livingRent £842 a monthC+Open →
Character Graded, but not part of the overall grade.
HistoryGraded on historic places and the town’s ageC+Open →Outdoors69% live within 400 m of a park; 1.8 ha of public green space per 1,000 residentsDOpen →Civic life1.9 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 Wisbech St Mary.
Who lives here
Fewer people in Wisbech St Mary hold a degree than in Cambridgeshire’s towns or England’s towns: 16%
Young adults of 15 to 24 are one in ten residents, below Cambridgeshire’s towns (12%) and England’s towns (12%) alike. Over-65s are a quarter of the population. The middle age in Wisbech St Mary is 46.2.
46.2median age
Wisbech St MaryCambridgeshireEngland
Ages · share of residents
25%
Qualifications · residents 16 and older
No qualifications29%
Apprenticeship7%
A levels or similar16%
Degree level16%
Women and men · all residents
52% women, 48% men
About 93 men for every 100 women. Across England, 51% of residents are women. Women live longer than men, so towns with many older residents have more women.
| Wisbech St Mary | Cambridgeshire | England | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 15 | 16% | 18% | 18% |
| 15–24 | 9.9% | 12% | 12% |
| 25–44 | 22% | 28% | 27% |
| 45–64 | 27% | 25% | 25% |
| 65+ | 25% | 17% | 18% |
| No qualifications | 29% | 17% | 18% |
| Apprenticeship | 6.8% | 5% | 5.3% |
| A levels or similar | 16% | 16% | 17% |
| Degree level | 16% | 37% | 34% |
ONS Census 2021 · Cambridgeshire and England: all residents of their built-up areas · OGL
SchoolsA
Results at Wisbech St Mary’s schools beat 90% of towns in England
At the 3 primary schools within 3 km, 69% of pupils reach the expected standard in reading, writing and maths (three-year average). Below is its only school. Its one primary school teaches 193 pupils.
ASchool Grade
| School | Level | Pupils | Letter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wisbech St Mary CofE AcademyLargest primary schoolPrimary | Primary | 193 | A+ |
Department for Education · GIAS, Key Stage 2 and GCSE resultsThe Schools page →
Health
Fewer people in Wisbech St Mary say their health is good than in Cambridgeshire’s towns or across England’s towns: 75%
At the census, 22% of people here had a disability, above both Cambridgeshire’s towns (16%) and England’s towns (17%), and 5.8% of residents report bad or very bad health. There is no GP practice in Wisbech St Mary: the nearest is 2.2 miles off. Women here live to 82.9 on average and men to 78.8 (2019–23).
75%good or very good healthC−Health Grade
General health, self-reported
Good or very good 75%Fair 19%Bad or very bad 6%
| Census 2021 | Wisbech St Mary | Cambridgeshire | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Good or very good health | 75% | 84% | 82% |
| Bad or very bad health | 5.8% | 4.4% | 5.2% |
| Disabled (Equality Act) | 22% | 16% | 17% |
78.8
life expectancy at birth, men (2019–23)
82.9
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.
Work & commuteJobs & income grade D−
Walking, cycling and public transport carry fewer commuters in Wisbech St Mary than in Cambridgeshire’s towns or England’s towns: 10%
The Census was taken on 21 March 2021, in lockdown, so 19% of workers were mainly at home; shares here are of those who travelled.
40% of commuters travelled under 5 km, below both Cambridgeshire’s towns (44%) and England’s towns (45%). The car carried 89% of commuters at the census. Also worth knowing: about 7% of its commuters stay in Wisbech St Mary for work. The census counted nearly a fifth of workers working mainly from home.
10%walk, cycle or ride
How commuters got to work · March 2021
Driving89%
On foot7%
Bus2%
Bicycle1%
40%
of commuters travel under 5 km · England 45%
19%
worked mainly from home in March 2021
£46K
mean household income, before tax
3.3%
of 16 to 64s claim unemployment benefits (2026)
C
Walkability: more walkable than 25% of UK towns
ONS Census 2021, method of travel and distance to work · ONS small-area income · DWP claimant count · OGL
Safety
Wisbech St Mary records more violent crime per resident than Cambridgeshire’s towns or England’s towns, at 30.3 per 1,000 a year
Anti-social behaviour, shown but not graded, came to 11.9 reports per 1,000, higher than both Cambridgeshire’s towns (8.7) and England’s towns (7.8). Wisbech St Mary logged 58 reported offences in a year (to August 2026), plus 10 complaints of anti-social conduct. Among the 1,541 UK towns of 1,000 to 2,500 people, Wisbech St Mary has more crime per resident than 82% of them. Violence and sexual offences accounted for 57% of recorded crime.
30.3violent and sexual offences per 1,000 a yearC+Safety Grade
Compared with UK towns its sizeLess crime per resident than 18% 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 & sexual33
Damage & arson7
Public order5
Other crime5
Burglary4
Other theft2
Drugs1
Weapons1
Anti-social10
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.
30.3
violent and sexual offences per 1,000 residents a year, averaged Sep 2023 to Aug 2026
9
burglary, vehicle crime and damage per 1,000 a year, averaged Sep 2023 to Aug 2026
11.9
anti-social behaviour reports per 1,000 (not graded)
58
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.
HousingCost of living grade C+
Most households in Wisbech St Mary own their home: 75%, more than in both Cambridgeshire’s towns and England’s towns
11% live in social housing, below Cambridgeshire’s towns (16%) and England’s towns (18%) alike. The private rented sector houses 14% of households. The £218,750 median rests on 42 standard sales inside the built-up area (September 2023 to August 2026).
£219Kmedian sale
Median sale price · Sep 2023 to Aug 2026
Wisbech St Mary£219K
Typical UK town£277K
| By type | Median | Sales |
|---|---|---|
| Detached | £242,500 | 23 |
| Semi-detached | £201,250 | 14 |
75%
of households own their home · England 61%
14%
rent privately · England 21%
£842
average private rent a month, Fenland council area
£2,573
council tax, Band D, 2026–27
HM Land Registry Price Paid · ONS private rents · MHCLG / Welsh Government council tax · ONS Census 2021 tenure · OGL
History
Among Wisbech St Mary’s 5 listed buildings: the Church of St Mary, Grade II*
The heritage lists give each building’s grade but not its age, so we don’t say which is oldest.
Per 10,000 residents, Wisbech St Mary counts 47 listed buildings. Homes from before 1919 make up 17% of the total.
5listed buildingsC+History Grade
Listed buildings by grade · Historic England
Grade I0
Grade II*2
Grade II3
Among them · Grade II*
- Church of St Mary Grade II*
- The Manor House Grade II*
0
scheduled monuments
0
registered parks and gardens
17%
of homes built before 1919 · typical UK town 15%
47
listed buildings per 10,000 residents · typical UK town 24
Historic England list, October 2026 · Valuation Office Agency, homes by build period · OGL
Nearby attractions
All attractions →Peckover House & Gardens and 4 more in and around Wisbech St Mary
Museums, castles, gardens and days out in and near Wisbech St Mary. Best known first.
Museum · National TrustPeckover House & Gardens3.4 km outside town, to the east
CastleThe Castle3.8 km outside town, to the east
MuseumWisbech & Fenland Museum3.8 km outside town, to the eastMuseumMuseumMuseum of Technology4.9 km outside town, to the westMuseumMuseumOctavia Hill Birthplace Museum3.6 km outside town, to the eastPlaces: © OpenStreetMap contributors · Wikidata
Photos: each place’s Wikidata image, from Wikimedia Commons under the licence below (our copy, resized).
Photo credits (3)
- Peckover House & Gardens: Theyellowtulip, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
- The Castle: Paul Shreeve, CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Wisbech & Fenland Museum: Paul Shreeve, CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
Keep exploring
Everything we know about Wisbech St Mary
14pages on Wisbech St Mary
The big questions
SafetyC+30.3 violent and sexual offences per 1,000 residents a year, averaged Sep 2023 to Aug 2026Cost of livingC+Median home £219K · rent £842 a monthHousing9 sold in 12 months · busiest street High RoadSchoolsA1 state schoolHealthC−Life expectancy 78.8 (men), 82.9 (women)Work & commuteD−40% of working residents work in the townFlood & hazardsD−29.2% of homes at high or medium flood risk
Out and about
Wisbech St Mary’s neighbours
The nearest built-up areas, from ONS’s 2022 boundaries. See them on the map →
GorefieldLeveringtonParson DroveWisbechFriday BridgeElm and EmnethUpwell and OutwellWisbech St Mary
How the neighbours grade
| Town | People | Miles | Overall | Cost | Safety | Health |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wisbech St Mary | 1,069 | — | — | C+ | C+ | C− |
| Gorefield | 1,070 | 2.3 | — | C+ | C+ | C |
| Leverington | 1,694 | 2.6 | — | C+ | C | C |
| Parson Drove | 1,197 | 2.9 | — | C− | B+ | C− |
| Wisbech | 26,800 | 3 | D− | B− | D | D |
| Friday Bridge | 1,411 | 3.5 | — | C+ | C+ | C− |
| Elm and Emneth | 4,555 | 3.9 | D | C | B− | C− |
| Upwell and Outwell | 3,664 | 6.1 | D− | C | C | C |
Gorefield, Leverington, Parson Drove and Friday Bridge have fewer than 2,500 residents, so they get subject grades but no overall grade. People: Census 2021. Miles: centre to centre.
Questions about Wisbech St Mary
Does Wisbech St Mary flood?
Surface water isn’t included. Check a specific address on GOV.UK’s flood risk service.
Are schools in Wisbech St Mary good?
Primary results beat 86% of towns in England (Department for Education, Key Stage 2). One state school is inside the town; places are handled by Cambridgeshire council.
About Wisbech St Mary
Village in Cambridgeshire, England
Wisbech St Mary is a built-up area of 1,069 people, in the Fenland 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
- 1,069 (Census 2021)
- Council
- Fenland
- County
- Cambridgeshire
- Region
- East of England
- Area
- 0.3 sq mi (0.8 km²)
- ONS code
- E63002544
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.