High Legh’s story
5 listed buildings, 1 of them Grade II*
Historic England lists them inside High Legh’s built-up area.
8% of its homes were built before 1919, against 15% in the typical UK town.
Explore the history →
High LeghCheshire
33% of residents are 65 or over. The village has 1,145 residents and lies in Cheshire, North West.
7 places within 12 milesMap →
Photo: Delusion23 · CC BY-SA 3.0
Population
1,145
Census 2021 · Cheshire East council
Median home
£500K
43 sales in 3 years
Median age
55
33% are 65+ · Cheshire 21%
Degree level
48%
of residents 16+ · England 34%
Walk, cycle, bus
6%
of commuters · England 27%
Is High Legh a good place to live?
Recorded crime is low (A+): police record 5.5 violent and sexual offences per 1,000 residents a year, and 3.8 home and vehicle crimes. Pupils here do better than most (A+): primary results beat 97% of towns in England; secondary results beat 97% of towns in England. Its weakest subject is walkability (D−) — on the way to work, 6% walk, cycle or take a bus or train. At a median £500,000, a home costs 9.4 times the yearly income of households in the Cheshire East council area.
Figures: crime, police.uk, averaged Sep 2023 to Aug 2026 · commuting, Census 2021 · prices, HM Land Registry, the last three years · incomes, ONS. Below 2,500 residents there is no overall grade, so High Legh has its subject grades alone.
What makes High Legh stand out
The 3 things High Legh does most differently from other towns.
Walk, cycle or public transport
Getting around
6% leave the car
of commuters walk, cycle or take public transport (England’s towns 27%)
97%of UK towns of 1,000 to 2,500 people
Safety
of UK towns of 1,000 to 2,500 people
Per resident, police.uk, 3 years.
Residents 65 and over
Who lives here
33% are 65 or over
Against 18% across England’s towns
How High Legh grades
Each subject compared with the 2,160 UK towns with an overall grade (schools within England), ordered by how far High Legh is from typical. American towns are graded separately.
SafetyGraded on crime per residentA+Open →SchoolsPrimary results beat 97% of towns in England; secondary results beat 97% of towns in EnglandA+Open →WalkabilityAmong the hardest places to get around without a carD−Open →Hazard risk0% of homes at high or medium risk of flooding from rivers or the seaAOpen →Cost of livingRent £985 a monthC−Open →Jobs & incomeMean household income £55,863A−Open →HealthLife expectancy 80.3 for men, 83.6 for womenB+Open →
Character Graded, but not part of the overall grade.
HistoryBehind most towns comparedC−Open →Outdoors50% live within 400 m of a park; 1.9 ha of public green space per 1,000 residentsD−Open →Civic life4.4 local charities per 1,000 residents; 0% live within 1 km of a libraryBOpen →
How TownRatings grades towns →
Nearby attractions
All attractions →High Legh Miniature Railway and 9 more in and around High Legh
Museums, castles, gardens and days out in and near High Legh. Best known first.
AttractionAttractionHigh Legh Miniature Railwayin town
Historic house · National TrustDunham Massey Hall4.3 km outside town, to the northeast
Historic house · National TrustTatton Park Mansion4.4 km outside town, to the southeast
Historic houseArley Hall3.4 km outside town, to the southwest
Garden · National TrustTatton Park Gardens4.4 km outside town, to the southeastPark or estatePark or estate · National TrustDunham Massey Park4.4 km outside town, to the northeast
Historic house · National TrustDunham Massey Hall4.3 km outside town, to the northeastHistoric house · National TrustTatton Park Mansion4.4 km outside town, to the southeastHistoric houseArley Hall3.4 km outside town, to the southwestGarden · National TrustTatton Park Gardens4.4 km outside town, to the southeastPark or estatePark or estate · National TrustDunham Massey Park4.4 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 (4)
- Dunham Massey Hall: Photograph by Mike Peel (www.mikepeel.net)., CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Tatton Park Mansion: K. Whatley, CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Arley Hall: Pixie2000 at English Wikipedia, Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
- Tatton Park Gardens: Trevor Harris, CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
The data
Data highlights are ordered by what stands out in High Legh.
Who lives here
More people in High Legh hold a degree than in Cheshire’s towns or England’s towns: 48%
Children are 15% of the town. People 65 and over make up 33% of the town, above both Cheshire’s towns (21%) and England’s towns (18%). The 15-to-24 age group makes up 7.3% of residents. The median resident of High Legh is 55 years old.
55median age
High LeghCheshireEngland
Ages · share of residents
33%
Qualifications · residents 16 and older
No qualifications9%
Apprenticeship4%
A levels or similar16%
Degree level48%
Women and men · all residents
53% women, 47% men
About 90 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.
| High Legh | Cheshire | England | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 15 | 15% | 17% | 18% |
| 15–24 | 7.3% | 10% | 12% |
| 25–44 | 16% | 25% | 27% |
| 45–64 | 29% | 27% | 25% |
| 65+ | 33% | 21% | 18% |
| No qualifications | 9.5% | 17% | 18% |
| Apprenticeship | 4.3% | 5.7% | 5.3% |
| A levels or similar | 16% | 17% | 17% |
| Degree level | 48% | 34% | 34% |
ONS Census 2021 · Cheshire and England: all residents of their built-up areas · OGL
SchoolsA+
Results at High Legh’s schools beat 98% of towns in England
Its one school is below. At the 2 primary schools within 3 km, 76% of pupils reach the expected standard in reading, writing and maths (three-year average). GCSE results at the one secondary school within 3 km: 71% of pupils get a strong pass (grade 5+) in English and maths, and the Attainment 8 average is 58.5.
A+School Grade
| School | Level | Pupils | Letter |
|---|---|---|---|
| High Legh Primary SchoolLargest primary schoolPrimary | Primary | 162 | B+ |
Department for Education · GIAS, Key Stage 2 and GCSE resultsThe Schools page →
Safety
Per resident, High Legh sees less crime than 99% of UK towns
Police recorded 17 crimes inside High Legh’s built-up area in the 12 months to August 2026. For its size, High Legh records less crime per resident than 97% of the 1,541 UK towns of 1,000 to 2,500 people. Violence and sexual offences were nearly two thirds of the crimes. Anti-social behaviour, shown but not graded, came to 0.6 reports per 1,000, below both Cheshire’s towns (3.7) and England’s towns (7.8).
5.5violent and sexual offences per 1,000 a yearA+Safety Grade
Compared with UK towns its sizeLess crime per resident than 97% 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 & sexual11
Burglary2
Damage & arson1
Public order1
Other theft1
Vehicle crime1
Shoplifting0
Drugs0
Anti-social0
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.
5.5
violent and sexual offences per 1,000 residents a year, averaged Sep 2023 to Aug 2026
3.8
burglary, vehicle crime and damage per 1,000 a year, averaged Sep 2023 to Aug 2026
0.6
anti-social behaviour reports per 1,000 (not graded)
17
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−
More commuters in High Legh drive than in Cheshire’s towns or England’s towns: 91%
The Census was taken on 21 March 2021, in lockdown, so 45% of workers were mainly at home; shares here are of those who travelled.
11% of commuters travelled under 5 km, below Cheshire’s towns (43%) and England’s towns (45%) alike. Among 16 to 64s, 1% claimed unemployment benefits in 2026. Work in town: 2% of resident commuters. For every resident in work, High Legh has 0.7 jobs.
6%walk, cycle or ride
How commuters got to work · March 2021
Driving91%
On foot5%
Bicycle1%
11%
of commuters travel under 5 km · England 45%
45%
worked mainly from home in March 2021
£56K
mean household income, before tax
1%
of 16 to 64s claim unemployment benefits (2026)
D−
Walkability: more walkable than 2% 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 C−
High Legh is a town of owners: 82% of households own their home, above Cheshire’s towns and England’s towns
The private rented sector houses 11% of households. Social housing holds 5% of households, lower than both Cheshire’s towns (16%) and England’s towns (18%). From September 2023 to August 2026, 43 homes sold inside High Legh’s built-up area at standard prices; the middle one went for £500,000.
£500Kmedian sale
Median sale price · Sep 2023 to Aug 2026
High Legh£500K
Typical UK town£277K
| By type | Median | Sales |
|---|---|---|
| Detached | £552,500 | 30 |
| Semi-detached | £450,000 | 7 |
| Terraced | £437,698 | 6 |
82%
of households own their home · England 61%
11%
rent privately · England 21%
£985
average private rent a month, Cheshire East council area
£2,385
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
The Chapel of St Mary (Grade II*) heads High Legh’s short list of listed buildings
The heritage lists give each building’s grade but not its age, so we don’t say which is oldest.
Of High Legh’s land, 100% lies in conservation areas, about level with Cheshire’s towns (100%) and above England’s towns (7%). 8% of homes date from before 1919. Relative to its size, High Legh keeps 44 listed buildings per 10,000 residents.
5listed buildingsC−History Grade
Listed buildings by grade · Historic England
Grade I0
Grade II*1
Grade II4
Among them · Grade II*
- Chapel of St Mary Grade II*
0
scheduled monuments
0
registered parks and gardens
8%
of homes built before 1919 · typical UK town 15%
44
listed buildings per 10,000 residents · typical UK town 24
Historic England list, October 2026 · Valuation Office Agency, homes by build period · OGL
Health
Good or very good health: 83% of High Legh’s residents
Seeing a GP means leaving High Legh: the nearest practice is 2.2 miles away. The nearest A&E to High Legh is Wythenshawe Hospital, 6.9 miles away. Also worth knowing: at the census, 4.5% of people here described their health as bad or very bad.
83%good or very good healthB+Health Grade
General health, self-reported
Good or very good 83%Fair 12%Bad or very bad 5%
| Census 2021 | High Legh | Cheshire | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Good or very good health | 83% | 82% | 82% |
| Bad or very bad health | 4.5% | 5.4% | 5.2% |
| Disabled (Equality Act) | 17% | 18% | 17% |
80.3
life expectancy at birth, men (2019–23)
83.6
life expectancy at birth, women
ONS Census 2021, general health and disability · OHID Fingertips, life expectancy 2019–23 · OGL · Read these answers with age in mind: they aren’t adjusted, so younger places do better. The Health Grade uses age-adjusted measures, life expectancy and early deaths among them.
Keep exploring
Everything we know about High Legh
15pages on High Legh
The big questions
SafetyA+5.5 violent and sexual offences per 1,000 residents a year, averaged Sep 2023 to Aug 2026Cost of livingC−Median home £500K · rent £985 a monthHousing14 sold in 12 months · busiest street Woodlands CrescentSchoolsA+1 state schoolHealthB+Life expectancy 80.3 (men), 83.6 (women)Work & commuteA−56% of working residents work in the townFlood & hazardsA0% of homes at high or medium flood risk
Out and about
High Legh’s neighbours
The nearest built-up areas, from ONS’s 2022 boundaries. See them on the map →
LymmAppleton ThornBowdonPartingtonPickmereKnutsfordHaleHigh Legh
How the neighbours grade
| Town | People | Miles | Overall | Cost | Safety | Health |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| High Legh | 1,145 | — | — | C− | A+ | B+ |
| Lymm | 11,547 | 2.3 | A | C+ | A− | A− |
| Appleton Thorn | 1,372 | 3.8 | — | C | A− | A |
| Bowdon | 6,107 | 3.9 | — | D− | — | A |
| Partington | 7,706 | 4.4 | — | B− | — | D− |
| Pickmere | 2,800 | 4.8 | B− | C | A+ | B− |
| Knutsford | 13,254 | 4.8 | A | C− | B | A |
| Hale | 16,716 | 5.2 | — | D− | — | A+ |
Appleton Thorn has fewer than 2,500 residents, so it gets subject grades but no overall grade. Bowdon, Partington and Hale have no Safety Grade: Greater Manchester Police doesn’t publish to police.uk. People: Census 2021. Miles: centre to centre.
Questions about High Legh
Are schools in High Legh good?
Among the strongest in England: GCSE results beat 97% of towns in England, and primary results beat 97% (Department for Education, Attainment 8 and Key Stage 2). One state school is inside the town; places are handled by Cheshire East council.
Is High Legh expensive to live in?
Homes cost more than in most UK towns: the median sale over three years was £500,000, against £277,000 in the typical UK town. By type: terraced houses £437,698, semi-detached houses £450,000 and detached houses £552,500.
About High Legh
Village in Cheshire, England
High Legh is a built-up area of 1,145 people, in the Cheshire East 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
- 1,145 (Census 2021)
- Council
- Cheshire East
- County
- Cheshire
- Region
- North West
- Area
- 0.2 sq mi (0.5 km²)
- ONS code
- E63001452
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.