Arnside’s story
3 listed buildings
Historic England lists them inside Arnside’s built-up area.
30% of its homes were built before 1919, against 15% in the typical UK town.
Explore the history →
ArnsideCumbria
A village of 2,231 in Cumbria, North West.
7 places within 12 milesMap →
Photo: Stuart Wilding · CC BY-SA 2.0
Population
2,231
Census 2021 · South Lakeland council
Median home
£368K
124 sales in 3 years
Median age
62.4
45% are 65+ · Cumbria 23%
Degree level
49%
of residents 16+ · England 34%
Walk, cycle, bus
14%
of commuters · England 27%
Is Arnside a good place to live?
Arnside has fewer than 2,500 residents, so it gets subject grades but no overall grade. Its strongest subject is safety (A+): 9.3 violent and sexual offences and 2.4 home and vehicle crimes per 1,000 residents a year, averaged Sep 2023 to Aug 2026. Its weakest is cost of living (D−): median sale £367,500, 8.1 years of area income; rent £816 a month.
ONS publishes one rent for all of Westmorland and Furness, so this town's Cost Grade uses house prices and council tax only.
What makes Arnside stand out
The 3 things Arnside does most differently from other towns.
Residents 65 and over
Who lives here
45% are 65 or over
Against 18% across England’s towns
95%of UK towns of 1,000 to 2,500 people
Safety
Less crime than 95%
of UK towns of 1,000 to 2,500 people
Per resident, police.uk, 3 years.
Walk, cycle or public transport
Getting around
14% leave the car
of commuters walk, cycle or take public transport (England’s towns 27%)
How Arnside grades
Each subject compared with the 2,160 UK towns with an overall grade (schools within England), ordered by how far Arnside is from typical. American towns are graded separately.
Cost of livingD−Open →SafetyA+Open →SchoolsPrimary results beat 82% of towns in EnglandAOpen →HealthLife expectancy 80.8 for men, 85 for womenB+Open →Hazard risk0.8% of homes at high or medium risk of flooding from rivers or the seaC+Open →Jobs & incomeMean household income £47,978; 1.1% of 16 to 64s claim unemployment benefitsBOpen →WalkabilityB−Open →
Character Graded, but not part of the overall grade.
History3 listed buildingsC+Open →Outdoors65% live within 400 m of a park; 75% of land within 5 km is National Park or National LandscapeA−Open →Civic life6.3 local charities per 1,000 residents; 86% live within 1 km of a libraryA+Open →
How TownRatings grades towns →
The data
Data highlights are ordered by what stands out in Arnside.
Who lives here
Arnside skews older, with 45% of residents 65 or over, more than Cumbria’s towns or England’s towns
In the comparison, Arnside comes above both Cumbria’s towns (23%) and England’s towns (18%). Children under 15 make up 8.9% of residents. Half the people of Arnside are older than 62.4.
62.4median age
ArnsideCumbriaEngland
Ages · share of residents
45%
Qualifications · residents 16 and older
No qualifications12%
Apprenticeship7%
A levels or similar14%
Degree level49%
Women and men · all residents
53% women, 47% men
About 87 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.
| Arnside | Cumbria | England | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 15 | 8.9% | 15% | 18% |
| 15–24 | 5% | 9.9% | 12% |
| 25–44 | 11% | 23% | 27% |
| 45–64 | 30% | 28% | 25% |
| 65+ | 45% | 23% | 18% |
| No qualifications | 12% | 19% | 18% |
| Apprenticeship | 6.7% | 8% | 5.3% |
| A levels or similar | 14% | 18% | 17% |
| Degree level | 49% | 28% | 34% |
ONS Census 2021 · Cumbria and England: all residents of their built-up areas · OGL
SchoolsA
Results at Arnside’s schools beat 87% of towns in England
Arnside National CofE School’s results beat 94% of schools in England like it. Its one school is below.
ASchool Grade
| School | Level | Pupils | Letter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Arnside National CofE SchoolLargest primary schoolPrimary | Primary | 95 | A |
Department for Education · GIAS, Key Stage 2 and GCSE resultsThe Schools page →
HousingCost of living grade D−
More households own their home in Arnside than in Cumbria’s towns or across England’s towns: 83%
For Arnside, that is above both Cumbria’s towns (68%) and England’s towns (61%). 9% of households rent privately.
£368Kmedian sale
Median sale price · Sep 2023 to Aug 2026
Arnside£368K
Typical UK town£277K
| By type | Median | Sales |
|---|---|---|
| Detached | £462,500 | 48 |
| Semi-detached | £328,250 | 32 |
| Terraced | £301,000 | 16 |
| Flat or maisonette | £220,000 | 28 |
83%
of households own their home · England 61%
9%
rent privately · England 21%
£816
average private rent a month, Westmorland and Furness council area
£2,512
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
Arnside has less crime per resident than 97% of UK towns
Violent crime ran at 9.3 per 1,000 residents a year, below both Cumbria’s towns (27.2) and England’s towns (22). Police recorded 43 crimes inside Arnside’s built-up area in the 12 months to August 2026, plus 1 reports of anti-social behaviour. Violence and sexual offences were 58% of the crimes; the police category includes harassment and stalking.
9.3violent and sexual offences per 1,000 a yearA+Safety Grade
Compared with UK towns its sizeLess crime per resident than 95% 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 & sexual25
Damage & arson5
Other theft4
Vehicle crime4
Public order3
Burglary1
Other crime1
Shoplifting0
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.
9.3
violent and sexual offences per 1,000 residents a year, averaged Sep 2023 to Aug 2026
2.4
burglary, vehicle crime and damage per 1,000 a year, averaged Sep 2023 to Aug 2026
0.5
anti-social behaviour reports per 1,000 (not graded)
43
crimes recorded in the 12 months to August 2026
data.police.uk street-level crime · points inside the ONS built-up-area boundary · OGL
Health
More people in Arnside live with a disability than in Cumbria’s towns or across England’s towns: 22%
Arnside sits above both Cumbria’s towns (20%) and England’s towns (17%) on this measure. Arnside has no GP practice of its own; the nearest is 3.3 miles away. These answers aren’t adjusted for age, so young towns look healthier; the Health Grade uses age-adjusted measures, including life expectancy and early deaths.
79%good or very good healthB+Health Grade
General health, self-reported
Good or very good 79%Fair 16%Bad or very bad 5%
| Census 2021 | Arnside | Cumbria | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Good or very good health | 79% | 79% | 82% |
| Bad or very bad health | 5.3% | 6.1% | 5.2% |
| Disabled (Equality Act) | 22% | 20% | 17% |
80.8
life expectancy at birth, men (2019–23)
85
life expectancy at birth, women
ONS Census 2021, general health and disability · OHID Fingertips, life expectancy 2019–23 · OGL
History
3 listed buildings, 0 of them Grade I
The heritage lists give each building’s grade but not its age, so we don’t say which is oldest.
Arnside has 3 listed buildings inside its built-up area on Historic England’s list: 0 Grade I, 0 Grade II*. 30% of its homes were built before 1919.
3listed buildingsC+History Grade
Listed buildings by grade · Historic England
Grade I0
Grade II*0
Grade II3
0
scheduled monuments
0
registered parks and gardens
30%
of homes built before 1919 · typical UK town 15%
13
listed buildings per 10,000 residents · typical UK town 24
Historic England list, October 2026 · Valuation Office Agency, homes by build period · OGL
Work & commuteJobs & income grade B
Commuters in Arnside travel far: only 20% go under 5 km, fewer than in Cumbria’s towns or England’s towns
The Census was taken on 21 March 2021, in lockdown, so 40% of workers were mainly at home; shares here are of those who travelled.
That puts Arnside below both Cumbria’s towns (53%) and England’s towns (45%). 14% of commuters went to work on foot, by bike or by public transport at the census.
14%walk, cycle or ride
How commuters got to work · March 2021
Driving85%
On foot11%
Bicycle2%
Train1%
20%
of commuters travel under 5 km · England 45%
40%
worked mainly from home in March 2021
£48K
mean household income, before tax
1.1%
of 16 to 64s claim unemployment benefits (2026)
B−
Walkability: more walkable than 52% of UK towns
ONS Census 2021, method of travel and distance to work · ONS small-area income · DWP claimant count · OGL
Nearby attractions
All attractions →Leighton Hall, Lancashire and 7 more in and around Arnside
Museums, castles, gardens and days out in and near Arnside. Best known first.
Historic houseLeighton Hall, Lancashire4.6 km outside town, to the southeast
ZooLakeland Wildlife Oasis4.2 km outside town, to the eastPark or estatePark or estate · National TrustHeathwaite900 m outside town, to the southwestPark or estatePark or estate · National TrustLambert's meadow2.6 km outside town, to the southeastPark or estatePark or estate · National TrustHeald Brow3.6 km outside town, to the southPark or estatePark or estate · National TrustJack Scout4 km outside town, to the southPlaces: © OpenStreetMap contributors · Wikidata
Photos: each place’s Wikidata image, from Wikimedia Commons under the licence below (our copy, resized).
Photo credits (2)
- Leighton Hall, Lancashire: Anglovirtual, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Lakeland Wildlife Oasis: TheArmchairSoldier, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
Keep exploring
Everything we know about Arnside
15pages on Arnside
The big questions
SafetyA+9.3 violent and sexual offences per 1,000 residents a year, averaged Sep 2023 to Aug 2026Cost of livingD−Median home £368K · rent £816 a monthHousing29 sold in 12 months · busiest street The PromenadeSchoolsA1 state schoolHealthB+Life expectancy 80.8 (men), 85 (women)Work & commuteB57% of working residents work in the townFlood & hazardsC+0.8% of homes at high or medium flood risk
Out and about
Famous people from Arnside
3 notable people were born in Arnside.
M
Margaret Constance Helen BlacklerBritish phycologist (1902-1981)R
Robert WilsonEnglish first-class cricketer and Royal Air Force officer b…Photo credits
Rosemary Grant: David Craig from Salem, Oregon, USA, CC BY-SA 2.0
Arnside’s neighbours
The nearest built-up areas, from ONS’s 2022 boundaries. See them on the map →
SilverdaleMilnthorpeGrange-over-SandsHolmeWarton (Lancaster)AllithwaiteBurton-in-KendalArnside
How the neighbours grade
| Town | People | Miles | Overall | Cost | Safety | Health |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Arnside | 2,231 | — | — | D− | A+ | B+ |
| Silverdale | 1,056 | 2.1 | — | D− | A | B− |
| Milnthorpe | 1,871 | 3.3 | — | C− | B− | B |
| Grange-over-Sands | 4,047 | 3.4 | B− | D− | A− | B |
| Holme | 1,477 | 4.2 | — | C− | A− | A− |
| Warton (Lancaster) | 1,801 | 4.4 | — | D | A | B− |
| Allithwaite | 1,171 | 4.5 | — | D− | A+ | B |
| Burton-in-Kendal | 1,341 | 4.6 | — | D− | A+ | A+ |
Silverdale, Milnthorpe, Holme, Warton (Lancaster), Allithwaite and Burton-in-Kendal have fewer than 2,500 residents, so they get subject grades but no overall grade. People: Census 2021. Miles: centre to centre.
Questions about Arnside
Are schools in Arnside good?
Primary results beat 82% of towns in England (Department for Education, Key Stage 2). One state school is inside the town; places are handled by Cumbria council.
Is Arnside expensive to live in?
Homes cost more than in most UK towns: the median sale over three years was £367,500, against £277,000 in the typical UK town. By type: flats £220,000, terraced houses £301,000, semi-detached houses £328,250 and detached houses £462,500.
About Arnside
Village in Cumbria, England
Arnside is a built-up area of 2,231 people, in the South Lakeland 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
- 2,231 (Census 2021)
- Council
- South Lakeland
- County
- Cumbria
- Region
- North West
- Area
- 0.4 sq mi (1 km²)
- ONS code
- E63000472
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.