Scotby’s story
9 listed buildings
Historic England lists them inside Scotby’s built-up area.
9% of its homes were built before 1919, against 15% in the typical UK town.
Explore the history →
ScotbyCumbria
A village of 1,830 in Cumbria, North West.
7 places within 12 milesMap →
Photo: Rose and Trev Clough · CC BY-SA 2.0
Population
1,830
Census 2021 · Carlisle council
Median home
£274K
128 sales in 3 years
Median age
53.3
32% are 65+ · Cumbria 23%
Degree level
43%
of residents 16+ · England 34%
Walk, cycle, bus
10%
of commuters · England 27%
Is Scotby a good place to live?
Scotby has fewer than 2,500 residents, so it gets subject grades but no overall grade. Its strongest subject is safety (A+): 8.9 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 £273,750, 6.7 years of area income; rent £681 a month.
ONS publishes one rent for all of Cumberland, so this town's Cost Grade uses house prices and council tax only.
What makes Scotby stand out
The 3 things Scotby 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%)
96%of UK towns of 1,000 to 2,500 people
Safety
Less crime than 96%
of UK towns of 1,000 to 2,500 people
Per resident, police.uk, 3 years.
Residents 65 and over
Who lives here
32% are 65 or over
Against 18% across England’s towns
How Scotby grades
Each subject compared with the 2,160 UK towns with an overall grade (schools within England), ordered by how far Scotby is from typical. American towns are graded separately.
Cost of livingD−Open →SafetyA+Open →SchoolsPrimary results beat 14% of towns in England; secondary results beat 13% of towns in EnglandDOpen →HealthLife expectancy 81.9 for men, 84.8 for womenA−Open →WalkabilityC−Open →Jobs & income1.3% of 16 to 64s claim unemployment benefitsB+Open →Hazard risk1.2% of homes at high or medium risk of flooding from rivers or the seaCOpen →
Character Graded, but not part of the overall grade.
History9% of homes built before 1919COpen →Outdoors75% live within 400 m of a park; 3 ha of public green space per 1,000 residentsC−Open →Civic life3.8 local charities per 1,000 residents; 0% live within 1 km of a libraryBOpen →
How TownRatings grades towns →
Nearby attractions
All attractions →Carlisle Cathedral and 8 more in and around Scotby
Museums, castles, gardens and days out in and near Scotby. Best known first.
CathedralCarlisle Cathedral3.4 km outside town, to the west
Castle · English HeritageCarlisle Castle3.7 km outside town, to the west
CastleCorby Castle2.6 km outside town, to the east
MuseumTullie House3.6 km outside town, to the westMuseumMuseumGuildhall Museum3.3 km outside town, to the westMuseumMuseumCumbria's Museum of Military Life3.7 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 (4)
- Carlisle Cathedral: Diliff, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Carlisle Castle: John Gibson, CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Corby Castle: Lynne Kirton, CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Tullie House: Raymond Knapman, CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
The data
Data highlights are ordered by what stands out in Scotby.
Who lives here
Degrees are more common in Scotby than in Cumbria’s towns or across England’s towns: 43% of adults
The 15-to-24 age group makes up 6.8% of residents. Nearly a third of residents are 65 or over, above both Cumbria’s towns (23%) and England’s towns (18%). Scotby has a median age of 53.3 years.
53.3median age
ScotbyCumbriaEngland
Ages · share of residents
32%
Qualifications · residents 16 and older
No qualifications14%
Apprenticeship6%
A levels or similar15%
Degree level43%
Women and men · all residents
52% women, 48% men
About 92 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.
| Scotby | Cumbria | England | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 15 | 15% | 15% | 18% |
| 15–24 | 6.8% | 9.9% | 12% |
| 25–44 | 19% | 23% | 27% |
| 45–64 | 27% | 28% | 25% |
| 65+ | 32% | 23% | 18% |
| No qualifications | 14% | 19% | 18% |
| Apprenticeship | 5.7% | 8% | 5.3% |
| A levels or similar | 15% | 18% | 17% |
| Degree level | 43% | 28% | 34% |
ONS Census 2021 · Cumbria and England: all residents of their built-up areas · OGL
SchoolsD
School results in Scotby are weaker than in 91% of towns in England
At the 10 primary schools within 3 km, 53% of pupils reach the expected standard in reading, writing and maths (three-year average). Below is its only school. GCSE results at the 2 secondary schools within 3 km: nearly a third of pupils get a strong pass (grade 5+) in English and maths, and the Attainment 8 average is 40.8.
DSchool Grade
| School | Level | Pupils | Letter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Scotby CofE Primary SchoolLargest primary schoolPrimary | Primary | 215 | B+ |
Department for Education · GIAS, Key Stage 2 and GCSE resultsThe Schools page →
HousingCost of living grade D−
Scotby is a town of owners: 84% of households own their home, above Cumbria’s towns and England’s towns
Private renters make up 11% of households, below both Cumbria’s towns (15%) and England’s towns (21%). The social rented sector houses 5% of households. From September 2023 to August 2026, 128 homes sold inside Scotby’s built-up area at standard prices; the middle one went for £273,750.
£274Kmedian sale
Median sale price · Sep 2023 to Aug 2026
Scotby£274K
Typical UK town£277K
| By type | Median | Sales |
|---|---|---|
| Detached | £370,000 | 41 |
| Semi-detached | £270,000 | 55 |
| Terraced | £151,250 | 18 |
| Flat or maisonette | £122,500 | 14 |
84%
of households own their home · England 61%
11%
rent privately · England 21%
£681
average private rent a month, Cumberland council area
£2,507
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
Crime per resident in Scotby is lower than in 98% of UK towns
39 crimes and 1 reports of anti-social behaviour: that is what police recorded inside Scotby’s built-up area in the 12 months to August 2026. Just over half of the crimes fell under violence and sexual offences. Anti-social behaviour, shown but not graded, came to 2.2 reports per 1,000, lower than both Cumbria’s towns (3.5) and England’s towns (7.8).
8.9violent and sexual offences per 1,000 a yearA+Safety Grade
Compared with UK towns its sizeLess crime per resident than 96% 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 & sexual20
Damage & arson6
Public order6
Other theft2
Drugs1
Vehicle crime1
Weapons1
Robbery1
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.
8.9
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
2.2
anti-social behaviour reports per 1,000 (not graded)
39
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.
Health
Just 4.7% of people in Scotby say their health is bad or very bad, fewer than in Cumbria’s towns and across England’s towns
Seeing a GP means leaving Scotby: the nearest practice is 0.9 miles away. Men in Scotby can expect to live to 81.9, women to 84.8 (2019–23). The nearest A&E to Scotby is Cumberland Infirmary, 3.4 miles away.
82%good or very good healthA−Health Grade
General health, self-reported
Good or very good 82%Fair 13%Bad or very bad 5%
| Census 2021 | Scotby | Cumbria | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Good or very good health | 82% | 79% | 82% |
| Bad or very bad health | 4.7% | 6.1% | 5.2% |
| Disabled (Equality Act) | 18% | 20% | 17% |
81.9
life expectancy at birth, men (2019–23)
84.8
life expectancy at birth, women
ONS Census 2021, general health and disability · OHID Fingertips, life expectancy 2019–23 · OGL · Because the census answers ignore age, a younger population lifts them; that is why the Health Grade is built on age-adjusted measures like life expectancy and early deaths.
Work & commuteJobs & income grade B+
Walking, cycling and public transport carry fewer commuters in Scotby than in Cumbria’s towns or England’s towns: 10%
The Census was taken on 21 March 2021, in lockdown, so 28% of workers were mainly at home; shares here are of those who travelled.
The average household earns £48K a year before tax. The car took 89% of commuters, above Cumbria’s towns (74%) and England’s towns (70%) alike. 43% of commuters travelled under 5 km to work.
10%walk, cycle or ride
How commuters got to work · March 2021
Driving89%
On foot6%
Bus2%
Bicycle2%
Train1%
43%
of commuters travel under 5 km · England 45%
28%
worked mainly from home in March 2021
£48K
mean household income, before tax
1.3%
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
History
Scotby’s listed buildings: 9, all Grade II
The heritage lists give each building’s grade but not its age, so we don’t say which is oldest.
Conservation areas cover a tenth of Scotby’s land, higher than both Cumbria’s towns (7%) and England’s towns (7%). This Cumbria town has 49 listed buildings for every 10,000 residents, higher than both Cumbria’s towns (45) and England’s towns (39).
9listed buildingsCHistory Grade
Listed buildings by grade · Historic England
Grade I0
Grade II*0
Grade II9
0
scheduled monuments
0
registered parks and gardens
9%
of homes built before 1919 · typical UK town 15%
49
listed buildings per 10,000 residents · typical UK town 24
Historic England list, October 2026 · Valuation Office Agency, homes by build period · OGL
Keep exploring
Everything we know about Scotby
14pages on Scotby
The big questions
SafetyA+8.9 violent and sexual offences per 1,000 residents a year, averaged Sep 2023 to Aug 2026Cost of livingD−Median home £274K · rent £681 a monthHousing43 sold in 12 months · busiest street Scotby RoadSchoolsD1 state schoolHealthA−Life expectancy 81.9 (men), 84.8 (women)Work & commuteB+44% of working residents work in the townFlood & hazardsC1.2% of homes at high or medium flood risk
Out and about
Scotby’s neighbours
The nearest built-up areas, from ONS’s 2022 boundaries. See them on the map →
WetheralWarwick BridgeCarlisleHoughtonDalstonBramptonLongtownScotby
How the neighbours grade
| Town | People | Miles | Overall | Cost | Safety | Health |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Scotby | 1,830 | — | — | D− | A+ | A− |
| Wetheral | 1,129 | 1.6 | — | D− | A | A+ |
| Warwick Bridge | 1,232 | 2.5 | — | D | B+ | A− |
| Carlisle | 77,729 | 2.6 | D | C+ | D | D |
| Houghton | 1,486 | 2.9 | — | D | A | B+ |
| Dalston | 1,541 | 5.5 | — | D− | B | B |
| Brampton | 4,187 | 6.6 | C− | C− | D | C+ |
| Longtown | 2,176 | 9 | — | C+ | D | C |
Wetheral, Warwick Bridge, Houghton, Dalston and Longtown have fewer than 2,500 residents, so they get subject grades but no overall grade. People: Census 2021. Miles: centre to centre.
Questions about Scotby
Are schools in Scotby good?
GCSE results trail 87% of towns in England, and primary results trail 86% (Department for Education, Attainment 8 and Key Stage 2). One state school is inside the town; places are handled by Cumbria council.
Does Scotby flood?
Surface water isn’t included. Check a specific address on GOV.UK’s flood risk service.
About Scotby
Village in Cumbria, England
Scotby is a built-up area of 1,830 people, in the Carlisle 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
- 1,830 (Census 2021)
- Council
- Carlisle
- County
- Cumbria
- Region
- North West
- Area
- 0.3 sq mi (0.8 km²)
- ONS code
- E63000135
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.