Abbotskerswell’s story
28 listed buildings, 2 of them Grade II*
Historic England lists them inside Abbotskerswell’s built-up area.
15% of its homes were built before 1919, against 15% in the typical UK town.
Explore the history →
AbbotskerswellDevon
A village of 1,182 in Devon, South West.
7 places within 12 milesMap →
Photo: Derek Harper · CC BY-SA 2.0
Population
1,182
Census 2021 · Teignbridge council
Median home
£325K
51 sales in 3 years
Median age
57.8
38% are 65+ · Devon 24%
Degree level
37%
of residents 16+ · England 34%
Walk, cycle, bus
11%
of commuters · England 27%
Is Abbotskerswell a good place to live?
Abbotskerswell has fewer than 2,500 residents, so it gets subject grades but no overall grade. Its strongest subject is safety (A+): 6.2 violent and sexual offences and 4.9 home and vehicle crimes per 1,000 residents a year, averaged Sep 2023 to Aug 2026. Its weakest is hazard risk (D): 3.6% of homes at high or medium risk of flooding from rivers or the sea. The median home sold for £325,000 in the last three years, 6.3 times what households in the Teignbridge council area earn in a year.
Devon And Cornwall Police published 33 of the 36 months; rates are per year over the months published.
What makes Abbotskerswell stand out
The 3 things Abbotskerswell does most differently from other towns.
Walk, cycle or public transport
Getting around
11% leave the car
of commuters walk, cycle or take public transport (England’s towns 27%)
Listed buildings per 10,000 residents
History
2 Grade II*, including Church of St Mary; 9.7 times the typical UK town for its size
Historic England’s list, October 2026.
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.
How Abbotskerswell grades
Each subject compared with the 2,160 UK towns with an overall grade (schools within England), ordered by how far Abbotskerswell is from typical. American towns are graded separately.
SafetyA+Open →Hazard riskDOpen →HealthB+Open →SchoolsPrimary results beat 23% of towns in England; secondary results beat 41% of towns in EnglandCOpen →Jobs & incomeMean household income £54,891B+Open →WalkabilityCOpen →Cost of livingrent £961 a monthCOpen →
Character Graded, but not part of the overall grade.
HistoryB+Open →Outdoors49% live within 400 m of a park; 4.2 ha of public green space per 1,000 residentsC−Open →Civic life0% live within 1 km of a libraryBOpen →
How TownRatings grades towns →
The data
Data highlights are ordered by what stands out in Abbotskerswell.
Safety
Fewer crimes per resident in Abbotskerswell than in 98% of UK towns
Anti-social behaviour, shown but not graded, came to 0.9 reports per 1,000, below both Devon’s towns (5.7) and England’s towns (7.8). A year of reports to August 2026 adds up to 18 offences in Abbotskerswell and 2 cases of nuisance behaviour. Of all the crimes, 50% were violence and sexual offences.
6.2violent 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 & sexual9
Burglary3
Drugs2
Damage & arson1
Public order1
Other theft1
Vehicle crime1
Shoplifting0
Anti-social2
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.
6.2
violent and sexual offences per 1,000 residents a year, averaged Sep 2023 to Aug 2026
4.9
burglary, vehicle crime and damage per 1,000 a year, averaged Sep 2023 to Aug 2026
0.9
anti-social behaviour reports per 1,000 (not graded)
18
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.
SchoolsC
Results at Abbotskerswell’s schools trail 72% of towns in England
Abbotskerswell Primary School’s results beat nearly four in five schools in England like it. 56% of pupils at the 13 primary schools within 3 km met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths (three-year average). The town has one school, shown below. GCSE results at the 2 secondary schools within 3 km: 41% of pupils get a strong pass (grade 5+) in English and maths, and the Attainment 8 average is 45.4.
CSchool Grade
| School | Level | Pupils | Letter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Abbotskerswell Primary SchoolLargest primary schoolPrimary | Primary | 102 | A− |
Department for Education · GIAS, Key Stage 2 and GCSE resultsThe Schools page →
Health
More people in Abbotskerswell say their health is bad than in Devon’s towns or across England’s towns: 7%
Life expectancy here is 85.5 for women and 82.4 for men (2019–23). Nearly four fifths of Abbotskerswell’s residents described their health as good or very good at the census, close to Devon’s towns (80%) and below England’s towns (82%). There is no GP practice locally: the nearest is 1.5 miles off.
79%good or very good healthB+Health Grade
General health, self-reported
Good or very good 79%Fair 14%Bad or very bad 7%
| Census 2021 | Abbotskerswell | Devon | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Good or very good health | 79% | 80% | 82% |
| Bad or very bad health | 7% | 5.9% | 5.2% |
| Disabled (Equality Act) | 20% | 21% | 17% |
82.4
life expectancy at birth, men (2019–23)
85.5
life expectancy at birth, women
ONS Census 2021, general health and disability · OHID Fingertips, life expectancy 2019–23 · OGL · Self-reported health favours young towns, since these answers ignore age; the Health Grade leans on age-adjusted measures such as life expectancy and early deaths.
History
Abbotskerswell is rich in listed buildings: 237 per 10,000 residents, more than Devon’s towns or England’s towns
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 15% of the total. Abbotskerswell counts 28 listed buildings on the national list (Historic England): 2 Grade II*. Of the town’s land, 17% lies in conservation areas, near Devon’s towns (13%) and higher than England’s towns (7%).
28listed buildingsB+History Grade
Listed buildings by grade · Historic England
Grade I0
Grade II*2
Grade II26
Among them · Grade II*
- Church of St Mary Grade II*
- Town Farm Cottage Grade II*
0
scheduled monuments
0
registered parks and gardens
15%
of homes built before 1919 · typical UK town 15%
237
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+
Only 11% of commuters in Abbotskerswell go to work without a car, fewer than in Devon’s towns and England’s towns
The Census was taken on 21 March 2021, in lockdown, so 33% of workers were mainly at home; shares here are of those who travelled.
86% of commuters took the car to work at the census. Short trips to work, under 5 km: 36%, below both Devon’s towns (51%) and England’s towns (45%). Of the commuters living in Abbotskerswell, 4% work in the town itself. In 2026, 1.7% of 16 to 64s were claiming unemployment benefits.
11%walk, cycle or ride
How commuters got to work · March 2021
Driving86%
On foot8%
Bicycle2%
Train1%
36%
of commuters travel under 5 km · England 45%
33%
worked mainly from home in March 2021
£55K
mean household income, before tax
1.7%
of 16 to 64s claim unemployment benefits (2026)
C
Walkability: more walkable than 30% 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
Most households in Abbotskerswell own their home: 84%, more than in Devon’s towns or across England’s towns
Private renters make up one in ten households, below Devon’s towns (21%) and England’s towns (21%) alike. 6% of households rent from a council or housing body. 51 standard sales inside Abbotskerswell’s built-up area from September 2023 to August 2026 put the median at £325,000.
£325Kmedian sale
Median sale price · Sep 2023 to Aug 2026
Abbotskerswell£325K
Typical UK town£277K
| By type | Median | Sales |
|---|---|---|
| Detached | £362,497 | 28 |
| Semi-detached | £290,100 | 10 |
| Terraced | £275,000 | 12 |
84%
of households own their home · England 61%
10%
rent privately · England 21%
£961
average private rent a month, Teignbridge council area
£2,566
council tax, Band D, 2026–27
HM Land Registry Price Paid · ONS private rents · MHCLG / Welsh Government council tax · ONS Census 2021 tenure · OGL
Who lives here
Older residents shape Abbotskerswell: 38% are 65 or over, above Devon’s towns and England’s towns
7.8% of residents are aged 15 to 24. Children under 15 make up 11%, below both Devon’s towns (15%) and England’s towns (18%). Abbotskerswell has a median age of 57.8. Graduates make up 37% of adults.
57.8median age
AbbotskerswellDevonEngland
Ages · share of residents
38%
Qualifications · residents 16 and older
No qualifications16%
Apprenticeship6%
A levels or similar16%
Degree level37%
Women and men · all residents
53% women, 47% men
About 89 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.
| Abbotskerswell | Devon | England | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 15 | 11% | 15% | 18% |
| 15–24 | 7.8% | 12% | 12% |
| 25–44 | 14% | 23% | 27% |
| 45–64 | 30% | 26% | 25% |
| 65+ | 38% | 24% | 18% |
| No qualifications | 16% | 17% | 18% |
| Apprenticeship | 5.5% | 6.6% | 5.3% |
| A levels or similar | 16% | 19% | 17% |
| Degree level | 37% | 30% | 34% |
ONS Census 2021 · Devon and England: all residents of their built-up areas · OGL
Nearby attractions
All attractions →Compton Castle and 8 more in and around Abbotskerswell
Museums, castles, gardens and days out in and near Abbotskerswell. Best known first.
Historic house · National TrustCompton Castle3.6 km outside town, to the south
Historic house · National TrustBradley Manor1.7 km outside town, to the north
Abbey or prioryThe Priory400 m outside town, to the northeast
MuseumNewton Abbot Museum1.8 km outside town, to the north
FortDenbury Camp3.3 km outside town, to the westAttractionAttractionSt. Leonard's Tower1.8 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 (5)
- Compton Castle: Smalljim, CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Bradley Manor: Smalljim, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
- The Priory: Richard Knights, CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Newton Abbot Museum: Simon Cobb, CC0, Wikimedia Commons
- Denbury Camp: Colin Vosper, CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
Keep exploring
Everything we know about Abbotskerswell
14pages on Abbotskerswell
The big questions
SafetyA+6.2 violent and sexual offences per 1,000 residents a year, averaged Sep 2023 to Aug 2026Cost of livingCMedian home £325K · rent £961 a monthHousing20 sold in 12 months · busiest street Wilton WaySchoolsC1 state schoolHealthB+Life expectancy 82.4 (men), 85.5 (women)Work & commuteB+51% of working residents work in the townFlood & hazardsD3.6% of homes at high or medium flood risk
Out and about
Abbotskerswell’s neighbours
The nearest built-up areas, from ONS’s 2022 boundaries. See them on the map →
KingskerswellNewton AbbotIpplepenDenburyKingsteigntonMarldonTorquayAbbotskerswell
How the neighbours grade
| Town | People | Miles | Overall | Cost | Safety | Health |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Abbotskerswell | 1,182 | — | — | C | A+ | B+ |
| Kingskerswell | 3,761 | 1.6 | B− | C | C+ | B |
| Newton Abbot | 29,650 | 1.6 | C | B− | C− | C+ |
| Ipplepen | 2,150 | 1.8 | — | C | A | A− |
| Denbury | 1,482 | 2 | — | C− | C | B |
| Kingsteignton | 11,945 | 3.2 | B− | C+ | B | B− |
| Marldon | 2,073 | 3.6 | — | C | A | A |
| Torquay | 52,034 | 4.3 | D− | D | D− | C− |
Ipplepen, Denbury and Marldon have fewer than 2,500 residents, so they get subject grades but no overall grade. People: Census 2021. Miles: centre to centre.
Questions about Abbotskerswell
How many listed buildings are there in Abbotskerswell?
That is 9.7 times the typical UK town for its size.
Does Abbotskerswell flood?
Surface water isn’t included. Check a specific address on GOV.UK’s flood risk service.
Are schools in Abbotskerswell good?
GCSE results trail 59% 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 Devon council.
About Abbotskerswell
Village in Devon, England
Abbotskerswell is a built-up area of 1,182 people, in the Teignbridge 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
- 1,182 (Census 2021)
- Council
- Teignbridge
- County
- Devon
- Region
- South West
- Area
- 0.2 sq mi (0.5 km²)
- ONS code
- E63006873
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.