Smalley’s story
2 listed buildings
Historic England lists them inside Smalley’s built-up area.
10% of its homes were built before 1919, against 15% in the typical UK town.
Explore the history →
SmalleyDerbyshire
Some 2,201 people live in this village, in Derbyshire, East Midlands. Mortgage-free owners make up 41% of households.
7 places within 12 milesMap →
Photo: Adam Foster · CC BY-SA 2.0
Population
2,201
Census 2021 · Amber Valley council
Median home
£297K
124 sales in 3 years
Median age
44.6
23% are 65+ · Derbyshire 20%
Degree level
34%
of residents 16+ · England 34%
Walk, cycle, bus
5%
of commuters · England 27%
Is Smalley a good place to live?
On jobs & income it is strong: the mean household earns £48,342 a year. Its lowest grade is for walkability: 5% of commuters walk, cycle or take public transport. Homes sell for a median £297,497, about 6.1 years of what households in the Amber Valley council area earn. Schools are weaker too — primary results beat 23% of towns in England; secondary results beat 38% of towns in England.
Figures: income, ONS · claimants, DWP · commuting, Census 2021 · prices, HM Land Registry, the last three years. Smalley is graded on each subject, but towns under 2,500 get no overall grade.
How Smalley grades
Each subject compared with the 2,160 UK towns with an overall grade (schools within England), ordered by how far Smalley is from typical. American towns are graded separately.
Smalley is graded on each subject, but towns under 2,500 get no overall grade.
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 →Jobs & incomeAhead of most towns comparedB+Open →SchoolsPrimary results beat 23% of towns in England; secondary results beat 38% of towns in EnglandCOpen →SafetyBased on crimes reported per residentCOpen →HealthLife expectancy 81.1 for men, 82.9 for womenC+Open →Cost of livingAbout average among the towns comparedBOpen →
Character Graded, but not part of the overall grade.
History2 listed buildingsDOpen →Outdoors100% live within 400 m of a park; 2.9 ha of public green space per 1,000 residentsA−Open →Civic life1.8 local charities per 1,000 residents; 0% live within 1 km of a libraryC−Open →
How TownRatings grades towns →
What makes Smalley stand out
The 3 things Smalley does most differently from other towns.
Walk, cycle or public transport
Getting around
5% leave the car
of commuters walk, cycle or take public transport (England’s towns 27%)
Residents 65 and over
Who lives here
23% are 65 or over
Against 18% across England’s towns
Own outright
Housing
41% own outright
of households own their home with no mortgage (England’s towns 32%)
The data
Data highlights are ordered by what stands out in Smalley.
Work & commuteJobs & income grade B+
Only 24% of Smalley’s commuters work within 5 km, fewer than in Derbyshire’s towns or England’s towns
5%walk, cycle or ride
The Census was taken on 21 March 2021, in lockdown, so 31% of workers were mainly at home; shares here are of those who travelled.
Unemployment benefit claims came to 1.7% of 16 to 64s in 2026, below Derbyshire’s towns (2.2%) and England’s towns (2.3%) alike. The car carried 92% of commuters at the census. About 3% of its commuters stay in Smalley for work. Each working resident is matched by 1.1 jobs locally.
How commuters got to work · March 2021
Driving92%
Bus2%
On foot2%
Bicycle1%
24%
of commuters travel under 5 km · England 45%
31%
worked mainly from home in March 2021
£48K
mean household income, before tax
1.7%
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
SchoolsC
Smalley’s schools fall behind 73% of towns in England on results
CSchool Grade
56% of pupils at the 15 primary schools within 3 km met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths (three-year average). The one school in town appears below. GCSE results at the 3 secondary schools within 3 km: 43% of pupils get a strong pass (grade 5+) in English and maths, and the Attainment 8 average is 43.9.
| School | Level | Pupils | Letter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Richardson Endowed Primary SchoolLargest primary schoolPrimary | Primary | 184 | C− |
Department for Education · GIAS, Key Stage 2 and GCSE resultsThe Schools page →
History
All 2 of Smalley’s listed buildings are Grade II
2listed buildingsDHistory Grade
The heritage lists give each building’s grade but not its age, so we don’t say which is oldest.
Homes from before 1919 make up a tenth of the total. For its size, Smalley has 9 listed buildings per 10,000 residents.
Listed buildings by grade · Historic England
Grade I0
Grade II*0
Grade II2
0
scheduled monuments
0
registered parks and gardens
10%
of homes built before 1919 · typical UK town 15%
9
listed buildings per 10,000 residents · typical UK town 24
Historic England list, October 2026 · Valuation Office Agency, homes by build period · OGL
Who lives here
Few people in Smalley are 15 to 24: 7%, fewer than in Derbyshire’s towns and England’s towns
44.6median age
The 65-and-over age group makes up 23% of residents. Half the people of Smalley are older than 44.6. Degrees are held by just over a third of adults, higher than Derbyshire’s towns (29%) and near England’s towns (34%).
SmalleyDerbyshireEngland
Ages · share of residents
23%
Qualifications · residents 16 and older
No qualifications16%
Apprenticeship6%
A levels or similar19%
Degree level34%
Women and men · all residents
52% women, 48% men
About 91 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.
| Smalley | Derbyshire | England | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 15 | 17% | 17% | 18% |
| 15–24 | 7% | 11% | 12% |
| 25–44 | 26% | 25% | 27% |
| 45–64 | 26% | 27% | 25% |
| 65+ | 23% | 20% | 18% |
| No qualifications | 16% | 19% | 18% |
| Apprenticeship | 6.3% | 6.5% | 5.3% |
| A levels or similar | 19% | 18% | 17% |
| Degree level | 34% | 29% | 34% |
ONS Census 2021 · Derbyshire and England: all residents of their built-up areas · OGL
Safety
Smalley records more violent crime per resident than Derbyshire’s towns or England’s towns, at 32.1 per 1,000 a year
32.1violent and sexual offences per 1,000 a yearCSafety Grade
Of all the crimes, 56% were violence and sexual offences. Over the year to August 2026, 135 offences were reported in Smalley, along with 37 incidents of anti-social behaviour. Also worth knowing: there were 13.6 anti-social behaviour reports per 1,000 residents (not graded), above both Derbyshire’s towns (8.5) and England’s towns (7.8).
Compared with UK towns its sizeLess crime per resident than 17% of the 1,541 UK towns of 1,000 to 2,500 people: more crime than most for its size. Context only, not part of the grade.
Reports by type · Sep 2025 to Aug 2026
Violence & sexual75
Public order18
Damage & arson17
Other theft10
Other crime6
Burglary4
Drugs3
Vehicle crime1
Anti-social37
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.
32.1
violent and sexual offences per 1,000 residents a year, averaged Sep 2023 to Aug 2026
8.3
burglary, vehicle crime and damage per 1,000 a year, averaged Sep 2023 to Aug 2026
13.6
anti-social behaviour reports per 1,000 (not graded)
135
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
Bad health is less common in Smalley than in Derbyshire’s towns or across England’s towns: 4.7% of residents
84%good or very good healthC+Health Grade
Asked at the census, 84% of residents of Smalley said they were in good or very good health. Seeing a GP means leaving Smalley: the nearest practice is 1.3 miles away. 19% of residents have a disability, lower than Derbyshire’s towns (20%) yet higher than England’s towns (17%).
General health, self-reported
Good or very good 84%Fair 12%Bad or very bad 5%
| Census 2021 | Smalley | Derbyshire | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Good or very good health | 84% | 80% | 82% |
| Bad or very bad health | 4.7% | 6% | 5.2% |
| Disabled (Equality Act) | 19% | 20% | 17% |
81.1
life expectancy at birth, men (2019–23)
82.9
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.
HousingCost of living grade B
Few households rent privately in Smalley: 8%, fewer than in Derbyshire’s towns and England’s towns
£297Kmedian sale
Owners make up 80% of households. 12% live in social housing, below Derbyshire’s towns (16%) and England’s towns (18%) alike. Private rents average £799 a month across the Amber Valley council area.
Median sale price · Sep 2023 to Aug 2026
Smalley£297K
Typical UK town£277K
| By type | Median | Sales |
|---|---|---|
| Detached | £355,500 | 86 |
| Semi-detached | £245,000 | 31 |
| Terraced | £176,000 | 7 |
80%
of households own their home · England 61%
8%
rent privately · England 21%
£799
average private rent a month, Amber Valley council area
£2,366
council tax, Band D, 2026–27
HM Land Registry Price Paid · ONS private rents · MHCLG / Welsh Government council tax · ONS Census 2021 tenure · OGL
Keep exploring
Everything we know about Smalley
14pages on Smalley
The big questions
SafetyC32.1 violent and sexual offences per 1,000 residents a year, averaged Sep 2023 to Aug 2026Cost of livingBMedian home £297K · rent £799 a monthHousing31 sold in 12 months · busiest street Housley DriveSchoolsC1 state schoolHealthC+Life expectancy 81.1 (men), 82.9 (women)Work & commuteB+48% of working residents work in the townFlood & hazardsA0% of homes at high or medium flood risk
Out and about
Nearby attractions
All attractions →Codnor Castle and 4 more in and around Smalley
Museums, castles, gardens and days out in and near Smalley. Best known first.
CastleCodnor Castle4.1 km outside town, to the northeast
MuseumD.H. Lawrence Birthplace Museum4.3 km outside town, to the eastMuseumMuseumVacuum Cleaner Museum and Repairer1.1 km outside town, to the northeastAttractionAttractionThe Bottle Kiln2.9 km outside town, to the southeastWater parkWater parkSplash Pad4.9 km outside town, to the northPlaces: © OpenStreetMap contributors · Wikidata
Photos: each place’s Wikidata image, from Wikimedia Commons under the licence below (our copy, resized).
Photo credits (2)
- Codnor Castle: Douglal, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
- D.H. Lawrence Birthplace Museum: nick macneill, CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
About Smalley
Village in Derbyshire, England
Smalley is a built-up area of 2,201 people, in the Amber Valley 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
- 2,201 (Census 2021)
- Council
- Amber Valley
- County
- Derbyshire
- Region
- East Midlands
- Area
- 0.3 sq mi (0.9 km²)
- ONS code
- E63001933
Smalley’s neighbours
The nearest built-up areas, from ONS’s 2022 boundaries. See them on the map →
Kilburn and Horsley WoodhouseDenby BottlesHeanorWest HallamHolbrookRipleyLittle EatonSmalley
How the neighbours grade
| Town | People | Miles | Overall | Cost | Safety | Health |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Smalley | 2,201 | — | — | B | C | C+ |
| Kilburn and Horsley Woodhouse | 4,447 | 1.5 | B | A | B− | B− |
| Denby Bottles | 1,756 | 1.9 | — | A | B | B− |
| Heanor | 24,264 | 2.2 | C− | A | D | C− |
| West Hallam | 5,912 | 2.2 | B+ | B | A− | B+ |
| Holbrook | 1,802 | 2.9 | — | B− | A+ | B+ |
| Ripley | 20,191 | 3.4 | C | A− | D | C− |
| Little Eaton | 1,875 | 3.4 | — | C | A | A− |
Denby Bottles, Holbrook and Little Eaton have fewer than 2,500 residents, so they get subject grades but no overall grade. People: Census 2021. Miles: centre to centre.
Questions about Smalley
Is Smalley safe?
It has more crime per resident than most places its size: 83% of the 1,541 UK towns of 1,000 to 2,500 people report less.
Are schools in Smalley good?
GCSE results trail 62% of towns in England, and primary results trail 77% (Department for Education, Attainment 8 and Key Stage 2). One state school is inside the town; places are handled by Derbyshire council.
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.