Herstmonceux’s story
19 listed buildings
Historic England lists them inside Herstmonceux’s built-up area.
19% of its homes were built before 1919, against 15% in the typical UK town.
Explore the history →
HerstmonceuxEast Sussex
Population 1,221: a village in East Sussex, South East.
7 places within 12 milesMap →
Photo: nick macneill · CC BY-SA 2.0
Population
1,221
Census 2021 · Wealden council
Median home
£302K
53 sales in 3 years
Median age
46.1
24% are 65+ · East Sussex 22%
Degree level
28%
of residents 16+ · England 34%
Walk, cycle, bus
8%
of commuters · England 27%
Is Herstmonceux a good place to live?
Herstmonceux does especially well on safety (A−): 15.3 violent and sexual offences and 6.6 home and vehicle crimes per 1,000 residents a year. School results are strong (A−): primary results beat 74% of towns in England. Most journeys need a car (D): on the way to work, 8% walk, cycle or take a bus or train. Incomes are on the low side: the mean household earns £56,804 a year. Buying the median home, at £302,000, takes 5.2 years of household income in the Wealden council area.
Figures: crime, police.uk, averaged Sep 2023 to Aug 2026 · commuting, Census 2021 · income, ONS · claimants, DWP · prices, HM Land Registry, the last three years. Herstmonceux has fewer than 2,500 residents, so it gets subject grades but no overall grade.
How Herstmonceux grades
Each subject compared with the 2,160 UK towns with an overall grade (schools within England), ordered by how far Herstmonceux is from typical. American towns are graded separately.
Herstmonceux has fewer than 2,500 residents, so it gets subject grades but no overall grade.
WalkabilityBased on walking, cycling and transit to everyday placesDOpen →Hazard risk0% of homes at high or medium risk of flooding from rivers or the seaAOpen →SafetyLess crime than in most townsA−Open →SchoolsPrimary results beat 74% of towns in EnglandA−Open →HealthLife expectancy 81.6 for men, 86.3 for womenA−Open →Jobs & incomeWeaker than most of the towns comparedCOpen →Cost of livingBased on what homes cost against what households earnC+Open →
Character Graded, but not part of the overall grade.
History19% of homes built before 1919B+Open →Outdoors100% live within 400 m of a park; 36% of land within 5 km is National Park or National LandscapeA−Open →Civic life3.3 local charities per 1,000 residents; 0% live within 1 km of a libraryB−Open →
How TownRatings grades towns →
What makes Herstmonceux stand out
The 3 things Herstmonceux does most differently from other towns.
Walk, cycle or public transport
Getting around
8% leave the car
of commuters walk, cycle or take public transport (England’s towns 27%)
Listed buildings per 10,000 residents
History
0 Grade II*; 6.4 times the typical UK town for its size
Historic England’s list, October 2026.
Residents 65 and over
Who lives here
24% are 65 or over
Against 18% across England’s towns
The data
Data highlights are ordered by what stands out in Herstmonceux.
Work & commuteJobs & income grade C
Herstmonceux is a driving town: 90% of commuters go by car, above East Sussex’s towns and England’s towns
8%walk, cycle or ride
The Census was taken on 21 March 2021, in lockdown, so 23% of workers were mainly at home; shares here are of those who travelled.
3.6% of 16 to 64s claimed unemployment benefits in 2026. Short trips to work, under 5 km: 10%, below both East Sussex’s towns (53%) and England’s towns (45%), and the census counted 23% of workers working mainly from home. Also worth knowing: about 3% of its commuters stay in Herstmonceux for work.
How commuters got to work · March 2021
Driving90%
On foot5%
Bus1%
Train1%
Bicycle1%
10%
of commuters travel under 5 km · England 45%
23%
worked mainly from home in March 2021
£57K
mean household income, before tax
3.6%
of 16 to 64s claim unemployment benefits (2026)
D
Walkability: more walkable than 10% of UK towns
ONS Census 2021, method of travel and distance to work · ONS small-area income · DWP claimant count · OGL
SchoolsA−
Results at Herstmonceux’s schools beat 78% of towns in England
A−School Grade
At the one primary school within 3 km, nearly two thirds of pupils reach the expected standard in reading, writing and maths (three-year average). Its only school is listed below. 203 pupils attend Herstmonceux’s one primary school.
| School | Level | Pupils | Letter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Herstmonceux Church of England Primary SchoolLargest primary schoolPrimary | Primary | 203 | B |
Department for Education · GIAS, Key Stage 2 and GCSE resultsThe Schools page →
Who lives here
Fewer people in Herstmonceux hold a degree than in East Sussex’s towns or England’s towns: 28%
46.1median age
17% are under 15, higher than East Sussex’s towns (15%) and near England’s towns (18%). Those 65 and older account for nearly a quarter of residents. Half of Herstmonceux is older than 46.1, half younger. Aged 15 to 24: 9.6% of residents.
HerstmonceuxEast SussexEngland
Ages · share of residents
24%
Qualifications · residents 16 and older
No qualifications16%
Apprenticeship7%
A levels or similar18%
Degree level28%
Women and men · all residents
52% women, 48% men
About 93 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.
| Herstmonceux | East Sussex | England | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 15 | 17% | 15% | 18% |
| 15–24 | 9.6% | 12% | 12% |
| 25–44 | 22% | 24% | 27% |
| 45–64 | 28% | 27% | 25% |
| 65+ | 24% | 22% | 18% |
| No qualifications | 16% | 16% | 18% |
| Apprenticeship | 7.2% | 4.9% | 5.3% |
| A levels or similar | 18% | 18% | 17% |
| Degree level | 28% | 36% | 34% |
ONS Census 2021 · East Sussex and England: all residents of their built-up areas · OGL
Safety
Herstmonceux records less crime per resident than 78% of UK towns
15.3violent and sexual offences per 1,000 a yearA−Safety Grade
Of all the crimes, 49% were violence and sexual offences. A year of reports to August 2026 adds up to 49 offences in Herstmonceux and 8 cases of nuisance behaviour. Anti-social behaviour, shown but not graded, came to 5.7 reports per 1,000, below East Sussex’s towns (9.6) and England’s towns (7.8) alike.
Compared with UK towns its sizeLess crime per resident than 62% 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 & sexual24
Damage & arson6
Public order6
Other theft3
Drugs3
Vehicle crime3
Burglary2
Weapons2
Anti-social8
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
6.6
burglary, vehicle crime and damage per 1,000 a year, averaged Sep 2023 to Aug 2026
5.7
anti-social behaviour reports per 1,000 (not graded)
49
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
Life expectancy in Herstmonceux is longer than in 81% of UK towns
82%good or very good healthA−Health Grade
One GP practice serves the town; 71% of patients rate theirs good in the GP Patient Survey. The nearest A&E to Herstmonceux is Eastbourne District General Hospital, 7.5 miles away. At the census, a fifth of people here had a disability, near East Sussex’s towns (20%) and higher than England’s towns (17%).
General health, self-reported
Good or very good 82%Fair 13%Bad or very bad 5%
| Census 2021 | Herstmonceux | East Sussex | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Good or very good health | 82% | 81% | 82% |
| Bad or very bad health | 4.9% | 5.6% | 5.2% |
| Disabled (Equality Act) | 20% | 20% | 17% |
81.6
life expectancy at birth, men (2019–23)
86.3
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.
History
More buildings in Herstmonceux are listed than in East Sussex’s towns or England’s towns: 156 per 10,000 residents
19listed buildingsB+History Grade
The heritage lists give each building’s grade but not its age, so we don’t say which is oldest.
Grade II covers all 19 listed buildings that Historic England records here.
Listed buildings by grade · Historic England
Grade I0
Grade II*0
Grade II19
0
scheduled monuments
0
registered parks and gardens
19%
of homes built before 1919 · typical UK town 15%
156
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+
Few households rent privately in Herstmonceux: 15%, fewer than in East Sussex’s towns and across England’s towns
£302Kmedian sale
Owners make up two thirds of households, above East Sussex’s towns (62%) and England’s towns (61%) alike. Private rents average £1,262 a month across the Wealden council area. The social rented sector houses 16% of households.
Median sale price · Sep 2023 to Aug 2026
Herstmonceux£302K
Typical UK town£277K
| By type | Median | Sales |
|---|---|---|
| Detached | £346,250 | 14 |
| Semi-detached | £295,000 | 16 |
| Terraced | £307,500 | 16 |
| Flat or maisonette | £169,500 | 7 |
67%
of households own their home · England 61%
15%
rent privately · England 21%
£1,262
average private rent a month, Wealden council area
£2,677
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 Herstmonceux
14pages on Herstmonceux
The big questions
SafetyA−15.3 violent and sexual offences per 1,000 residents a year, averaged Sep 2023 to Aug 2026Cost of livingC+Median home £302K · rent £1,262 a monthHousing13 sold in 12 months · busiest street West EndSchoolsA−1 state schoolHealthA−Life expectancy 81.6 (men), 86.3 (women)Work & commuteC50% of working residents work in the townFlood & hazardsA0% of homes at high or medium flood risk
Out and about
About Herstmonceux
Village in East Sussex, England
Herstmonceux is a built-up area of 1,221 people, in the Wealden 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
- 1,221 (Census 2021)
- Council
- Wealden
- County
- East Sussex
- Region
- South East
- Area
- 0.1 sq mi (0.4 km²)
- ONS code
- E63006418
Herstmonceux’s neighbours
The nearest built-up areas, from ONS’s 2022 boundaries. See them on the map →
HellinglyHailshamNinfieldHoramWesthamStone CrossPevensey BayHerstmonceux
How the neighbours grade
| Town | People | Miles | Overall | Cost | Safety | Health |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Herstmonceux | 1,221 | — | — | C+ | A− | A− |
| Hellingly | 2,616 | 2.6 | D− | C− | D | B+ |
| Hailsham | 22,560 | 3.3 | D | C | C+ | C |
| Ninfield | 1,296 | 4.5 | — | D | B− | A |
| Horam | 1,797 | 4.6 | — | C− | C+ | B+ |
| Westham | 1,861 | 5 | — | C− | B+ | B |
| Stone Cross | 5,036 | 5.2 | C | C− | B− | B |
| Pevensey Bay | 2,890 | 5.5 | C | C | A− | B− |
Ninfield, Horam and Westham have fewer than 2,500 residents, so they get subject grades but no overall grade. People: Census 2021. Miles: centre to centre.
Questions about Herstmonceux
How many listed buildings are there in Herstmonceux?
That is 6.4 times the typical UK town for its size.
How much is council tax in Herstmonceux?
Band D council tax in Herstmonceux is £2,677 for 2026–27, more than in 94% of UK towns (council, county, police and fire, plus the parish or town council). Your own bill depends on your home’s band; check it on GOV.UK.
Is Herstmonceux safe?
Against all UK towns, it grades A−.
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.