Chivenor and Wrafton’s story
6 listed buildings
Historic England lists them inside Chivenor and Wrafton’s built-up area.
8% of its homes were built before 1919, against 15% in the typical UK town.
Explore the history →
Chivenor and WraftonDevon
Home to 1,953 people, this village lies in Devon, South West. It skews young: one resident in 6 is 15 to 24.
7 places within 12 milesMap →
Photo: Lewis Clarke · CC BY-SA 2.0
Population
1,953
Census 2021 · North Devon council
Median home
£300K
62 sales in 3 years
Median age
31.9
10% are 65+ · Devon 24%
Degree level
26%
of residents 16+ · England 34%
Walk, cycle, bus
28%
of commuters · England 27%
Is Chivenor and Wrafton a good place to live?
Fewer journeys need a car: 28% of commuters get to work on foot, by bike or by public transport. Safety is a strength too — 20.5 violent and sexual offences and 3.4 home and vehicle crimes per 1,000 residents a year. Its lowest grade is for cost of living (C−) — the median home sold for £300,000, 6.3 years of area income. Natural hazards weigh more here: 14.7% of homes at high or medium risk of flooding from rivers or the sea. The rest of its grades are middling: B− for schools and B− for health.
Figures: commuting, Census 2021 · crime, police.uk, averaged Sep 2023 to Aug 2026 · prices, HM Land Registry, the last three years · flood risk, Environment Agency · life expectancy, ONS. An overall grade needs 2,500 residents, so Chivenor and Wrafton is graded subject by subject only.
Devon And Cornwall Police published 33 of the 36 months; rates are per year over the months published.
What makes Chivenor and Wrafton stand out
The 2 things Chivenor and Wrafton does most differently from other towns.
How Chivenor and Wrafton grades
Each subject compared with the 2,160 UK towns with an overall grade (schools within England), ordered by how far Chivenor and Wrafton is from typical. American towns are graded separately.
An overall grade needs 2,500 residents, so Chivenor and Wrafton is graded subject by subject only.
Hazard riskAmong the weakest of the towns comparedD−Open →WalkabilityBased on walking, cycling and transit to everyday placesAOpen →Cost of livingRent £846 a monthC−Open →SafetyLess crime than in most townsB+Open →Jobs & incomeMean household income £51,785; 2.6% of 16 to 64s claim unemployment benefitsC+Open →SchoolsPrimary results beat 39% of towns in England; secondary results beat 58% of towns in EnglandB−Open →HealthLife expectancy 79.8 for men, 82.6 for womenB−Open →
Character Graded, but not part of the overall grade.
HistoryGraded on historic places and the town’s ageC−Open →Outdoors0% live within 400 m of a park; 17% of land within 5 km is National Park or National LandscapeC−Open →Civic life1 local charities per 1,000 residents; 0% live within 1 km of a libraryDOpen →
How TownRatings grades towns →
The data
Data highlights are ordered by what stands out in Chivenor and Wrafton.
Work & commuteJobs & income grade C+
Chivenor and Wrafton is more walkable than 94% of UK towns
The Census was taken on 21 March 2021, in lockdown, so 30% of workers were mainly at home; shares here are of those who travelled.
Jobs per working resident: 1.1. Short trips to work, under 5 km: 44%, about level with England’s towns (45%) and below Devon’s towns (51%). Work in town: 18% of resident commuters.
28%walk, cycle or ride
How commuters got to work · March 2021
Driving71%
On foot16%
Bicycle8%
Bus3%
44%
of commuters travel under 5 km · England 45%
30%
worked mainly from home in March 2021
£52K
mean household income, before tax
2.6%
of 16 to 64s claim unemployment benefits (2026)
A
Walkability: more walkable than 94% of UK towns
ONS Census 2021, method of travel and distance to work · ONS small-area income · DWP claimant count · OGL
History
All 6 of Chivenor and Wrafton’s listed buildings are Grade II
The heritage lists give each building’s grade but not its age, so we don’t say which is oldest.
For its size, Chivenor and Wrafton has 31 listed buildings per 10,000 residents. Homes from before 1919 make up 8% of the total, below both Devon’s towns (24%) and England’s towns (16%).
6listed buildingsC−History Grade
Listed buildings by grade · Historic England
Grade I0
Grade II*0
Grade II6
0
scheduled monuments
0
registered parks and gardens
8%
of homes built before 1919 · typical UK town 15%
31
listed buildings per 10,000 residents · typical UK town 24
Historic England list, October 2026 · Valuation Office Agency, homes by build period · OGL
HousingCost of living grade C−
Home ownership in Chivenor and Wrafton, 48%, runs below Devon’s towns and England’s towns
Private renters make up just over a quarter of households, above Devon’s towns (21%) and England’s towns (21%) alike. Just over a fifth of households live in social housing. Half of the 62 standard sales inside Chivenor and Wrafton’s built-up area from September 2023 to August 2026 went for more than £300,000.
£300Kmedian sale
Median sale price · Sep 2023 to Aug 2026
Chivenor and Wrafton£300K
Typical UK town£277K
| By type | Median | Sales |
|---|---|---|
| Detached | £415,000 | 17 |
| Semi-detached | £340,000 | 15 |
| Terraced | £267,500 | 28 |
48%
of households own their home · England 61%
26%
rent privately · England 21%
£846
average private rent a month, North Devon council area
£2,540
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
A younger town: only 9.8% of people in Chivenor and Wrafton are 65 or over, fewer than in Devon’s towns and across England’s towns
20% are under 15, above Devon’s towns (15%) and England’s towns (18%) alike. Aged 15 to 24: 16% of residents. Line up the people of Chivenor and Wrafton by age and the one in the middle is 31.9. Degrees are held by just over a quarter of adults.
31.9median age
Chivenor and WraftonDevonEngland
Ages · share of residents
16%
Qualifications · residents 16 and older
No qualifications14%
Apprenticeship6%
A levels or similar25%
Degree level26%
Women and men · all residents
43% women, 57% men
About 76 women for every 100 men. Across England, 51% of residents are women. A large institution, such as a prison, barracks, boarding school, university or care home, can tilt a town’s split: the census counts the people living there as residents.
| Chivenor and Wrafton | Devon | England | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 15 | 20% | 15% | 18% |
| 15–24 | 16% | 12% | 12% |
| 25–44 | 36% | 23% | 27% |
| 45–64 | 19% | 26% | 25% |
| 65+ | 9.8% | 24% | 18% |
| No qualifications | 14% | 17% | 18% |
| Apprenticeship | 5.6% | 6.6% | 5.3% |
| A levels or similar | 25% | 19% | 17% |
| Degree level | 26% | 30% | 34% |
ONS Census 2021 · Devon and England: all residents of their built-up areas · OGL
Safety
Chivenor and Wrafton has less crime per resident than 73% of UK towns
Over the year to August 2026, 56 offences were reported in Chivenor and Wrafton, along with 5 incidents of anti-social behaviour. 63% of the crimes fell under violence and sexual offences. There were 5.4 anti-social behaviour reports per 1,000 residents (not graded), lower than both Devon’s towns (5.7) and England’s towns (7.8).
20.5violent and sexual offences per 1,000 a yearB+Safety Grade
Compared with UK towns its sizeLess crime per resident than 54% 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 & sexual35
Other theft6
Damage & arson4
Burglary4
Public order2
Drugs2
Bicycle theft1
Robbery1
Anti-social5
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.
20.5
violent and sexual offences per 1,000 residents a year, averaged Sep 2023 to Aug 2026
3.4
burglary, vehicle crime and damage per 1,000 a year, averaged Sep 2023 to Aug 2026
5.4
anti-social behaviour reports per 1,000 (not graded)
56
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
Disability is less common in Chivenor and Wrafton, 14% of residents, than in Devon’s towns and England’s towns
Self-reported good health: 87% of Chivenor and Wrafton’s residents. At the census, 3.4% of residents said their health was bad or very bad, below both Devon’s towns (5.9%) and England’s towns (5.2%). There is no GP practice locally: the nearest is 1.4 miles off.
87%good or very good healthB−Health Grade
General health, self-reported
Good or very good 87%Fair 10%Bad or very bad 3%
| Census 2021 | Chivenor and Wrafton | Devon | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Good or very good health | 87% | 80% | 82% |
| Bad or very bad health | 3.4% | 5.9% | 5.2% |
| Disabled (Equality Act) | 14% | 21% | 17% |
79.8
life expectancy at birth, men (2019–23)
82.6
life expectancy at birth, women
ONS Census 2021, general health and disability · OHID Fingertips, life expectancy 2019–23 · OGL · Read these answers with age in mind: they aren’t adjusted, so younger places do better. The Health Grade uses age-adjusted measures, life expectancy and early deaths among them.
Nearby attractions
All attractions →Barnstaple Castle and 4 more in and around Chivenor and Wrafton
Museums, castles, gardens and days out in and near Chivenor and Wrafton. Best known first.
CastleBarnstaple Castle4.7 km outside town, to the east
MuseumMuseum of British Surfing1 km outside town, to the northwest
MuseumNorth Devon Maritime Museum4.4 km outside town, to the southwestMuseumMuseumBraunton and District Museum1 km outside town, to the northwestAttractionAttractionRemains of a Matilda tank from World War II3.9 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)
- Barnstaple Castle: Jack1956, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Museum of British Surfing: Rodw, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
- North Devon Maritime Museum: Rob Noble, CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
Keep exploring
Everything we know about Chivenor and Wrafton
14pages on Chivenor and Wrafton
The big questions
SafetyB+20.5 violent and sexual offences per 1,000 residents a year, averaged Sep 2023 to Aug 2026Cost of livingC−Median home £300K · rent £846 a monthHousing24 sold in 12 months · busiest street Thistle Bridge RoadSchoolsB−HealthB−Life expectancy 79.8 (men), 82.6 (women)Work & commuteC+56% of working residents work in the townFlood & hazardsD−14.7% of homes at high or medium flood risk
Out and about
Chivenor and Wrafton’s neighbours
The nearest built-up areas, from ONS’s 2022 boundaries. See them on the map →
BrauntonFremingtonBickingtonAppledoreBarnstapleNorthamWestward Ho!Chivenor and Wrafton
How the neighbours grade
| Town | People | Miles | Overall | Cost | Safety | Health |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chivenor and Wrafton | 1,953 | — | — | C− | B+ | B− |
| Braunton | 6,610 | 1.4 | B | D | B+ | B |
| Fremington | 5,229 | 1.7 | B− | D | A− | B− |
| Bickington | 2,105 | 2.4 | — | D | B+ | B |
| Appledore | 1,711 | 3.7 | — | D− | B | C+ |
| Barnstaple | 31,271 | 3.9 | D | C | D | C |
| Northam | 5,191 | 4.8 | C | D− | A− | C+ |
| Westward Ho! | 3,468 | 5.4 | D− | D | C | B− |
Bickington and Appledore have fewer than 2,500 residents, so they get subject grades but no overall grade. People: Census 2021. Miles: centre to centre.
Questions about Chivenor and Wrafton
Does Chivenor and Wrafton flood?
Surface water isn’t included. Check a specific address on GOV.UK’s flood risk service.
Is Chivenor and Wrafton safe?
Against all UK towns, it grades B+.
About Chivenor and Wrafton
Village in Devon, England
Chivenor and Wrafton is a built-up area of 1,953 people, in the North Devon 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
- 1,953 (Census 2021)
- Council
- North Devon
- County
- Devon
- Region
- South West
- Area
- 0.7 sq mi (1.7 km²)
- ONS code
- E63005950
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.