Appleton Thorn’s story
8 listed buildings
Historic England lists them inside Appleton Thorn’s built-up area, along with 1 scheduled monument.
7% of its homes were built before 1919, against 15% in the typical UK town.
Explore the history →
Appleton ThornCheshire
A village of 1,372 in Cheshire, North West.
7 places within 12 milesMap →
Photo: Colin Pyle · CC BY-SA 2.0
Population
1,372
Census 2021 · Warrington council
Median home
£413K
41 sales in 3 years
Median age
43.5
18% are 65+ · Cheshire 21%
Degree level
41%
of residents 16+ · England 34%
Walk, cycle, bus
15%
of commuters · England 27%
Is Appleton Thorn a good place to live?
Appleton Thorn has fewer than 2,500 residents, so it gets subject grades but no overall grade. Its strongest subject is jobs & income (A+): mean household income £71,148; 1.6% of 16 to 64s claim unemployment benefits. Its weakest is cost of living (C): median sale £413,000, 8 years of area income; rent £899 a month.
What makes Appleton Thorn stand out
The 3 things Appleton Thorn does most differently from other towns.
Listed buildings per 10,000 residents
History
0 Grade II*; 2.4 times the typical UK town for its size
Historic England’s list, October 2026.
Walk, cycle or public transport
Getting around
15% leave the car
of commuters walk, cycle or take public transport (England’s towns 27%)
Median sale, £ thousands
Housing
1.5 times the typical UK town’s £277K
Standard sales, September 2023 to August 2026.
How Appleton Thorn grades
Each subject compared with the 2,160 UK towns with an overall grade (schools within England), ordered by how far Appleton Thorn is from typical. American towns are graded separately.
Jobs & incomeA+Open →HealthAOpen →SchoolsPrimary results beat 87% of towns in England; secondary results beat 91% of towns in EnglandAOpen →Hazard risk0% of homes at high or medium risk of flooding from rivers or the seaAOpen →SafetyA−Open →Cost of livingCOpen →Walkability15% of commuters walk, cycle or take public transportBOpen →
Character Graded, but not part of the overall grade.
HistoryCOpen →Outdoors100% live within 400 m of a park; 5.6 ha of public green space per 1,000 residentsB+Open →Civic life2.9 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 Appleton Thorn.
Health
Just 2.9% of people in Appleton Thorn say their health is bad or very bad, fewer than in Cheshire’s towns and across England’s towns
Seeing a GP means leaving Appleton Thorn: the nearest practice is 1.6 miles away. At the census, 87% of people in Appleton Thorn called their health good or very good, above both Cheshire’s towns (82%) and England’s towns (82%). A disability affects 14% of people here. Life expectancy here is 86 for women and 84.3 for men (2019–23).
87%good or very good healthAHealth Grade
General health, self-reported
Good or very good 87%Fair 11%Bad or very bad 3%
| Census 2021 | Appleton Thorn | Cheshire | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Good or very good health | 87% | 82% | 82% |
| Bad or very bad health | 2.9% | 5.4% | 5.2% |
| Disabled (Equality Act) | 14% | 18% | 17% |
84.3
life expectancy at birth, men (2019–23)
86
life expectancy at birth, women
ONS Census 2021, general health and disability · OHID Fingertips, life expectancy 2019–23 · OGL · Self-reported health favours young towns, since these answers ignore age; the Health Grade leans on age-adjusted measures such as life expectancy and early deaths.
SchoolsA
School results in Appleton Thorn are better than in 93% of towns in England
At the 9 primary schools within 3 km, 70% of pupils reach 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 55, and 60% of pupils get grade 5 or above in English and maths.
ASchool Grade
| School | Level | Pupils | Letter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Appleton Thorn Primary SchoolLargest primary schoolPrimary | Primary | 198 | B |
Department for Education · GIAS, Key Stage 2 and GCSE resultsThe Schools page →
Safety
Violence is recorded less often in Appleton Thorn than in Cheshire’s towns or across England’s towns: 16.3 per 1,000 residents a year
The 12 months to August 2026 brought 61 recorded crimes inside Appleton Thorn’s built-up area, and 1 reports of anti-social behaviour. Anti-social behaviour, shown but not graded, came to 1.2 reports per 1,000, below Cheshire’s towns (3.7) and England’s towns (7.8) alike. Of all the crimes, 52% were violence and sexual offences.
16.3violent and sexual offences per 1,000 a yearA−Safety Grade
Compared with UK towns its sizeLess crime per resident than 57% 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 & sexual32
Other theft10
Burglary8
Damage & arson4
Vehicle crime2
Other crime2
Public order1
Drugs1
Anti-social1
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.
16.3
violent and sexual offences per 1,000 residents a year, averaged Sep 2023 to Aug 2026
6.8
burglary, vehicle crime and damage per 1,000 a year, averaged Sep 2023 to Aug 2026
1.2
anti-social behaviour reports per 1,000 (not graded)
61
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
All 8 of Appleton Thorn’s listed buildings are Grade II
The heritage lists give each building’s grade but not its age, so we don’t say which is oldest.
7% of homes date from before 1919. Of Appleton Thorn’s land, 5% lies in conservation areas, below Cheshire’s towns (100%) and close to England’s towns (7%). Per 10,000 residents, Appleton Thorn counts 58 listed buildings.
8listed buildingsCHistory Grade
Listed buildings by grade · Historic England
Grade I0
Grade II*0
Grade II8
1
scheduled monument
0
registered parks and gardens
7%
of homes built before 1919 · typical UK town 15%
58
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
Few households rent privately in Appleton Thorn: 4%, fewer than in Cheshire’s towns and across England’s towns
Owners make up nearly nine in ten households, above Cheshire’s towns (68%) and England’s towns (61%) alike. The median sale, £413,000, comes from 41 standard sales inside Appleton Thorn’s built-up area from September 2023 to August 2026.
£413Kmedian sale
Median sale price · Sep 2023 to Aug 2026
Appleton Thorn£413K
Typical UK town£277K
| By type | Median | Sales |
|---|---|---|
| Detached | £470,000 | 23 |
| Semi-detached | £305,000 | 16 |
89%
of households own their home · England 61%
4%
rent privately · England 21%
£899
average private rent a month, Warrington council area
£2,440
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+
Only 19% of Appleton Thorn’s commuters work within 5 km, fewer than in Cheshire’s towns and across England’s towns
The Census was taken on 21 March 2021, in lockdown, so 44% of workers were mainly at home; shares here are of those who travelled.
About 2% of its commuters stay in Appleton Thorn for work. The car took 83% of commuters, above both Cheshire’s towns (80%) and England’s towns (70%). What’s more, the census counted 44% of workers working mainly from home.
15%walk, cycle or ride
How commuters got to work · March 2021
Driving83%
On foot10%
Bus3%
Train1%
Bicycle1%
Underground, tram1%
19%
of commuters travel under 5 km · England 45%
44%
worked mainly from home in March 2021
£71K
mean household income, before tax
1.6%
of 16 to 64s claim unemployment benefits (2026)
B
Walkability: more walkable than 59% of UK towns
ONS Census 2021, method of travel and distance to work · ONS small-area income · DWP claimant count · OGL
Who lives here
Fewer children live in Appleton Thorn than in Cheshire’s towns or England’s towns: 11% are under 15
Appleton Thorn has a median age of 43.5. People aged 15 to 24 make up 7.7% of the town, lower than both Cheshire’s towns (10%) and England’s towns (12%). Degrees are held by just over two in five adults.
43.5median age
Appleton ThornCheshireEngland
Ages · share of residents
18%
Qualifications · residents 16 and older
No qualifications10%
Apprenticeship5%
A levels or similar16%
Degree level41%
Women and men · all residents
39% women, 61% men
About 64 women for every 100 men. Across England, 51% of residents are women. A large institution, such as a prison, barracks, boarding school, university or care home, can tilt a town’s split: the census counts the people living there as residents.
| Appleton Thorn | Cheshire | England | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 15 | 11% | 17% | 18% |
| 15–24 | 7.7% | 10% | 12% |
| 25–44 | 34% | 25% | 27% |
| 45–64 | 30% | 27% | 25% |
| 65+ | 18% | 21% | 18% |
| No qualifications | 10% | 17% | 18% |
| Apprenticeship | 4.6% | 5.7% | 5.3% |
| A levels or similar | 16% | 17% | 17% |
| Degree level | 41% | 34% | 34% |
ONS Census 2021 · Cheshire and England: all residents of their built-up areas · OGL
Nearby attractions
All attractions →Arley Hall and 8 more in and around Appleton Thorn
Museums, castles, gardens and days out in and near Appleton Thorn. Best known first.
Historic houseArley Hall2.7 km outside town, to the southeast
MuseumWarrington Museum & Art Gallery4.9 km outside town, to the northwestZooZooWalton Hall Zoo3.6 km outside town, to the westMuseumMuseumBicycle Museum3.7 km outside town, to the westAttractionAttractionDinosaur Footprint4.2 km outside town, to the northeastMuseumMuseumLymm Heritage Centre4.2 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 (2)
- Arley Hall: Pixie2000 at English Wikipedia, Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
- Warrington Museum & Art Gallery: RDJ226, CC BY 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
Keep exploring
Everything we know about Appleton Thorn
14pages on Appleton Thorn
The big questions
SafetyA−16.3 violent and sexual offences per 1,000 residents a year, averaged Sep 2023 to Aug 2026Cost of livingCMedian home £413K · rent £899 a monthHousing17 sold in 12 months · busiest street Parkland CloseSchoolsA1 state schoolHealthALife expectancy 84.3 (men), 86 (women)Work & commuteA+59% of working residents work in the townFlood & hazardsA0% of homes at high or medium flood risk
Out and about
Appleton Thorn’s neighbours
The nearest built-up areas, from ONS’s 2022 boundaries. See them on the map →
LymmWarringtonHigh LeghBarntonPickmereCroftWinwickAppleton Thorn
How the neighbours grade
| Town | People | Miles | Overall | Cost | Safety | Health |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Appleton Thorn | 1,372 | — | — | C | A− | A |
| Lymm | 11,547 | 3.7 | A | C+ | A− | A− |
| Warrington | 174,968 | 3.7 | B | A− | C− | C− |
| High Legh | 1,145 | 3.8 | — | C− | A+ | B+ |
| Barnton | 6,245 | 5.3 | B | B | B− | C |
| Pickmere | 2,800 | 5.4 | B− | C | A+ | B− |
| Croft | 1,520 | 6 | — | C+ | A | A− |
| Winwick | 2,062 | 6.1 | — | C+ | D− | C− |
High Legh, Croft and Winwick have fewer than 2,500 residents, so they get subject grades but no overall grade. People: Census 2021. Miles: centre to centre.
Questions about Appleton Thorn
How many listed buildings are there in Appleton Thorn?
That is 2.4 times the typical UK town for its size. It also has 1 scheduled monument.
Are schools in Appleton Thorn good?
GCSE results beat 91% of towns in England, and primary results beat 87% (Department for Education, Attainment 8 and Key Stage 2). One state school is inside the town; places are handled by Warrington council.
Is Appleton Thorn safe?
Against all UK towns, it grades A−.
Is Appleton Thorn expensive to live in?
Homes cost more than in most UK towns: the median sale over three years was £413,000, against £277,000 in the typical UK town. By type: semi-detached houses £305,000 and detached houses £470,000.
About Appleton Thorn
Village in Cheshire, England
Appleton Thorn is a built-up area of 1,372 people, in the Warrington 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
- 1,372 (Census 2021)
- Council
- Warrington
- County
- Cheshire
- Region
- North West
- Area
- 0.6 sq mi (1.6 km²)
- ONS code
- E63001454
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.