Furness Vale’s story
2 listed buildings
Historic England lists them inside Furness Vale’s built-up area.
40% of its homes were built before 1919, against 15% in the typical UK town.
Explore the history →
Furness ValeDerbyshire
This village in Derbyshire, East Midlands has a population of 1,069. 43% of households own their home outright.
7 places within 12 milesMap →
Photo: Dave Dunford Dave.Dunford · Public domain
Population
1,069
Census 2021 · High Peak council
Median home
£213K
63 sales in 3 years
Median age
51.2
24% are 65+ · Derbyshire 20%
Degree level
30%
of residents 16+ · England 34%
Walk, cycle, bus
22%
of commuters · England 27%
Is Furness Vale a good place to live?
Furness Vale’s standout strength is safety: police record 15.3 violent and sexual offences per 1,000 residents a year, and 6.2 home and vehicle crimes. A median £213,000 buys a home here, 4.2 times what households in the High Peak council area earn in a year. It is easy to get around without a car (A−): on the way to work, 22% walk, cycle or take a bus or train. Natural hazards are less of a worry than in most UK towns (A).
Figures: crime, police.uk, averaged Sep 2023 to Aug 2026 · commuting, Census 2021 · prices, HM Land Registry, the last three years · incomes, ONS · flood risk, Environment Agency. With fewer than 2,500 residents, Furness Vale has subject grades but no overall one.
What makes Furness Vale stand out
The 3 things Furness Vale does most differently from other towns.
Homes built before 1919
History
Against 15% in the typical UK town
Valuation Office Agency, homes by build period.
Residents 65 and over
Who lives here
24% are 65 or over
Against 18% across England’s towns
Own outright
Housing
43% own outright
of households own their home with no mortgage (England’s towns 32%)
How Furness Vale grades
Each subject compared with the 2,160 UK towns with an overall grade (schools within England), ordered by how far Furness Vale is from typical. American towns are graded separately.
With fewer than 2,500 residents, Furness Vale has subject grades but no overall one.
Hazard risk0% of homes at high or medium risk of flooding from rivers or the seaAOpen →WalkabilityGraded on how easily people get around without a carA−Open →SafetyLess crime than in most townsA−Open →Cost of livingBetter than most of the towns comparedB+Open →Jobs & incomeMean household income £53,342B+Open →HealthLife expectancy 80.6 for men, 84.6 for womenB+Open →SchoolsPrimary results beat 28% of towns in England; secondary results beat 63% of towns in EnglandC+Open →
Character Graded, but not part of the overall grade.
History2 listed buildingsC+Open →Outdoors78% live within 400 m of a park; 36% of land within 5 km is National Park or National LandscapeA−Open →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 Furness Vale.
Work & commuteJobs & income grade B+
Commuters in Furness Vale travel far: only 35% go under 5 km, fewer than in both Derbyshire’s towns and England’s towns
The Census was taken on 21 March 2021, in lockdown, so 25% of workers were mainly at home; shares here are of those who travelled.
Unemployment benefit claims reached 1.7% of 16 to 64s in 2026. Just over three quarters of commuters drove, lower than Derbyshire’s towns (80%) yet higher than England’s towns (70%). Jobs per working resident: 0.7. About 8% of its commuters stay in Furness Vale for work.
22%walk, cycle or ride
How commuters got to work · March 2021
Driving76%
On foot12%
Bus5%
Bicycle3%
Train2%
35%
of commuters travel under 5 km · England 45%
25%
worked mainly from home in March 2021
£53K
mean household income, before tax
1.7%
of 16 to 64s claim unemployment benefits (2026)
A−
Walkability: more walkable than 83% of UK towns
ONS Census 2021, method of travel and distance to work · ONS small-area income · DWP claimant count · OGL
SchoolsC+
On exam results, Furness Vale’s schools trail 55% of towns in England
The one school in town appears below. 57% of pupils at the 11 primary schools within 3 km met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths (three-year average). Secondary results at the one secondary school within 3 km: an Attainment 8 score of 48.5, with 47% at grade 5 or above in English and maths.
C+School Grade
| School | Level | Pupils | Letter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Furness Vale Primary and Nursery SchoolLargest primary schoolPrimary | Primary | 72 | C+ |
Department for Education · GIAS, Key Stage 2 and GCSE resultsThe Schools page →
Who lives here
Furness Vale has fewer young adults than Derbyshire’s towns or England’s towns: 7.5% are 15 to 24
Nearly a quarter of residents have reached 65. Children under 15 make up 14%, below both Derbyshire’s towns (17%) and England’s towns (18%). Half of Furness Vale is older than 51.2, half younger.
51.2median age
Furness ValeDerbyshireEngland
Ages · share of residents
24%
Qualifications · residents 16 and older
No qualifications16%
Apprenticeship6%
A levels or similar19%
Degree level30%
Women and men · all residents
52% women, 48% men
About 94 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.
| Furness Vale | Derbyshire | England | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 15 | 14% | 17% | 18% |
| 15–24 | 7.5% | 11% | 12% |
| 25–44 | 20% | 25% | 27% |
| 45–64 | 34% | 27% | 25% |
| 65+ | 24% | 20% | 18% |
| No qualifications | 16% | 19% | 18% |
| Apprenticeship | 6.1% | 6.5% | 5.3% |
| A levels or similar | 19% | 18% | 17% |
| Degree level | 30% | 29% | 34% |
ONS Census 2021 · Derbyshire and England: all residents of their built-up areas · OGL
Safety
Crime per resident in Furness Vale is lower than in 79% of UK towns
30 crimes and 4 reports of anti-social behaviour: that is what police recorded inside Furness Vale’s built-up area in the 12 months to August 2026. Violence and sexual offences accounted for 63% of recorded crime. Also worth knowing: there were 4.7 anti-social behaviour reports per 1,000 residents (not graded), below both Derbyshire’s towns (8.7) and England’s towns (7.8).
15.3violent and sexual offences per 1,000 a yearA−Safety Grade
Compared with UK towns its sizeLess crime per resident than 63% 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 & sexual19
Public order4
Other theft2
Burglary2
Drugs2
Vehicle crime1
Shoplifting0
Damage & arson0
Anti-social4
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.
15.3
violent and sexual offences per 1,000 residents a year, averaged Sep 2023 to Aug 2026
6.2
burglary, vehicle crime and damage per 1,000 a year, averaged Sep 2023 to Aug 2026
4.7
anti-social behaviour reports per 1,000 (not graded)
30
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 B+
More households own their home in Furness Vale than in Derbyshire’s towns or across England’s towns: 71%
11% live in social housing, below both Derbyshire’s towns (16%) and England’s towns (18%). The £213,000 median rests on 63 standard sales inside the built-up area (September 2023 to August 2026). Private rents average £937 a month across the High Peak council area.
£213Kmedian sale
Median sale price · Sep 2023 to Aug 2026
Furness Vale£213K
Typical UK town£277K
| By type | Median | Sales |
|---|---|---|
| Detached | £473,750 | 8 |
| Semi-detached | £264,000 | 15 |
| Terraced | £197,500 | 33 |
| Flat or maisonette | £129,000 | 7 |
71%
of households own their home · England 61%
17%
rent privately · England 21%
£937
average private rent a month, High Peak council area
£2,399
council tax, Band D, 2026–27
HM Land Registry Price Paid · ONS private rents · MHCLG / Welsh Government council tax · ONS Census 2021 tenure · OGL
Health
Good or very good health: 80% of Furness Vale’s residents
The nearest A&E to Furness Vale is Stepping Hill Hospital, 6.3 miles away. There is no GP practice locally: the nearest is 1.3 miles off. Men in Furness Vale can expect to live to 80.6, women to 84.6 (2019–23).
80%good or very good healthB+Health Grade
General health, self-reported
Good or very good 80%Fair 14%Bad or very bad 5%
| Census 2021 | Furness Vale | Derbyshire | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Good or very good health | 80% | 80% | 82% |
| Bad or very bad health | 5.2% | 6% | 5.2% |
| Disabled (Equality Act) | 18% | 20% | 17% |
80.6
life expectancy at birth, men (2019–23)
84.6
life expectancy at birth, women
ONS Census 2021, general health and disability · OHID Fingertips, life expectancy 2019–23 · OGL · Young towns look healthier on these answers, which aren’t adjusted for age; the Health Grade uses measures that are, such as life expectancy and early deaths.
History
Old homes shape Furness Vale: 40% were built before 1919, more than in both Derbyshire’s towns and England’s towns
The heritage lists give each building’s grade but not its age, so we don’t say which is oldest.
Furness Vale has 2 listed buildings on Historic England’s list, all Grade II. Scaled to its population, Furness Vale has 19 listed buildings per 10,000 people, below both Derbyshire’s towns (26) and England’s towns (39).
2listed buildingsC+History Grade
Listed buildings by grade · Historic England
Grade I0
Grade II*0
Grade II2
0
scheduled monuments
0
registered parks and gardens
40%
of homes built before 1919 · typical UK town 15%
19
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 →Lyme Hall and 3 more in and around Furness Vale
Museums, castles, gardens and days out in and near Furness Vale. Best known first.
Historic house · National TrustLyme Hall4 km outside town, to the west
AttractionThe Lantern3.3 km outside town, to the west
MuseumNew Mills Heritage Centre1 km outside town, to the northwestAttractionAttraction · National TrustThe Cage3.6 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 (3)
- Lyme Hall: Photograph by Mike Peel (www.mikepeel.net)., CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
- The Lantern: Paul Brooker, CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
- New Mills Heritage Centre: Jon loaded here by Victuallers, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
Keep exploring
Everything we know about Furness Vale
14pages on Furness Vale
The big questions
SafetyA−15.3 violent and sexual offences per 1,000 residents a year, averaged Sep 2023 to Aug 2026Cost of livingB+Median home £213K · rent £937 a monthHousing25 sold in 12 months · busiest street Buxton RoadSchoolsC+1 state schoolHealthB+Life expectancy 80.6 (men), 84.6 (women)Work & commuteB+49% of working residents work in the townFlood & hazardsA0% of homes at high or medium flood risk
Out and about
Furness Vale’s neighbours
The nearest built-up areas, from ONS’s 2022 boundaries. See them on the map →
New MillsWhaley BridgeDisleyChinleyHayfieldHigh LaneChapel-en-le-FrithFurness Vale
How the neighbours grade
| Town | People | Miles | Overall | Cost | Safety | Health |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Furness Vale | 1,069 | — | — | B+ | A− | B+ |
| New Mills | 9,195 | 1.3 | B | B | C+ | C+ |
| Whaley Bridge | 4,618 | 1.4 | A− | C+ | B− | A− |
| Disley | 3,891 | 1.9 | A | C | A− | A |
| Chinley | 1,913 | 2.2 | — | C+ | A− | B |
| Hayfield | 1,878 | 2.8 | — | B− | B | C |
| High Lane | 4,617 | 3.4 | — | D− | — | B− |
| Chapel-en-le-Frith | 7,235 | 3.5 | B | B | B− | B− |
Chinley and Hayfield have fewer than 2,500 residents, so they get subject grades but no overall grade. High Lane has no Safety Grade: Greater Manchester Police doesn’t publish to police.uk. People: Census 2021. Miles: centre to centre.
Questions about Furness Vale
How many listed buildings are there in Furness Vale?
2 on Historic England’s list.
Is Furness Vale safe?
Against all UK towns, it grades A−.
Is Furness Vale expensive to live in?
Homes cost less than in most UK towns: the median sale over three years was £213,000, against £277,000 in the typical UK town. By type: flats £129,000, terraced houses £197,500, semi-detached houses £264,000 and detached houses £473,750.
About Furness Vale
Village in Derbyshire, England
Furness Vale is a built-up area of 1,069 people, in the High Peak 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
- High Peak
- County
- Derbyshire
- Region
- East Midlands
- Area
- 0.2 sq mi (0.5 km²)
- ONS code
- E63001457
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.