Canewdon’s story
12 listed buildings, 1 of them Grade II*
Historic England lists them inside Canewdon’s built-up area.
6% of its homes were built before 1919, against 15% in the typical UK town.
Explore the history →
CanewdonEssex
The village, home to 1,216 people, lies in Essex, East of England.
7 places within 12 milesMap →
Photo: Terryjoyce · CC BY-SA 3.0
Population
1,216
Census 2021 · Rochford council
Median home
£326K
34 sales in 3 years
Median age
37.8
17% are 65+ · Essex 20%
Degree level
24%
of residents 16+ · England 34%
Walk, cycle, bus
9%
of commuters · England 27%
Is Canewdon a good place to live?
Canewdon’s standout strength is safety: 11.8 violent or sexual offences per 1,000 residents a year, plus 7.7 home and vehicle crimes. Health outcomes fall short of most towns: men here can expect to live to 78.2, women to 80.9. It also trails on jobs & income (C−): households earn a mean £50,130 a year, and 2.9% of 16 to 64s claim unemployment benefits. Walkability is weaker too — 9% of commuters walk, cycle or take public transport. The median home sold for £326,000, 5.3 times what households in the Rochford council area earn in a year.
Figures: crime, police.uk, averaged Sep 2023 to Aug 2026 · life expectancy and income, ONS · claimants, DWP · commuting, Census 2021 · prices, HM Land Registry, the last three years. Canewdon is graded on each subject, but towns under 2,500 get no overall grade.
What makes Canewdon stand out
The 3 things Canewdon does most differently from other towns.
Walk, cycle or public transport
Getting around
9% leave the car
of commuters walk, cycle or take public transport (England’s towns 27%)
Listed buildings per 10,000 residents
History
1 Grade II*, including Church of St Nicholas; 4 times the typical UK town for its size
Historic England’s list, October 2026.
Secondary results, towns in England
Schools
Secondary results trail 93%
of towns in England, on GCSE results (Attainment 8, English and maths)
Primary results beat 45%. Department for Education.
How Canewdon grades
Each subject compared with the 2,160 UK towns with an overall grade (schools within England), ordered by how far Canewdon is from typical. American towns are graded separately.
Canewdon is graded on each subject, but towns under 2,500 get no overall grade.
Hazard risk0% of homes at high or medium risk of flooding from rivers or the seaAOpen →WalkabilityBased on walking, cycling and transit to everyday placesC−Open →SafetyVery little crime by comparisonA−Open →Jobs & incomeIn the bottom fifth of the towns comparedC−Open →HealthBased on how healthy residents are for their agesC−Open →SchoolsPrimary results beat 45% of towns in England; secondary results beat 7% of towns in EnglandC−Open →Cost of livingAbout average among the towns comparedB−Open →
Character Graded, but not part of the overall grade.
HistoryBelow the middle of the towns comparedC+Open →Outdoors100% live within 400 m of a park; 2.5 ha of public green space per 1,000 residentsBOpen →Civic life3.3 local charities per 1,000 residents; 0% live within 1 km of a libraryB−Open →
How TownRatings grades towns →
The data
Data highlights are ordered by what stands out in Canewdon.
Work & commuteJobs & income grade C−
Under 5 km to work: 12% in Canewdon, fewer than in Essex’s towns or England’s towns
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.
The car took 87% of commuters, above both Essex’s towns (74%) and England’s towns (70%). About 4% of its commuters stay in Canewdon for work. For every resident in work, Canewdon has 0.2 jobs.
9%walk, cycle or ride
How commuters got to work · March 2021
Driving87%
On foot4%
Train3%
Bus1%
12%
of commuters travel under 5 km · England 45%
£50K
mean household income, before tax
2.9%
of 16 to 64s claim unemployment benefits (2026)
C−
Walkability: more walkable than 15% of UK towns
ONS Census 2021, method of travel and distance to work · ONS small-area income · DWP claimant count · OGL
SchoolsC−
Exam results at Canewdon’s schools trail 79% of towns in England
Attainment 8 at the one secondary school within 3 km averages 39.3, and 27% of pupils get grade 5 or above in English and maths. The town has one school, shown below. Key Stage 2 results at the 5 primary schools within 3 km: just over three in five pupils meet the expected standard in reading, writing and maths (three-year average).
C−School Grade
| School | Level | Pupils | Letter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Canewdon Church of England Primary SchoolLargest primary schoolPrimary | Primary | 90 | B− |
Department for Education · GIAS, Key Stage 2 and GCSE resultsThe Schools page →
Safety
Crime per resident in Canewdon is lower than in 84% of UK towns
A year of reports to August 2026 adds up to 26 offences in Canewdon and 3 cases of nuisance behaviour. Anti-social behaviour, shown but not graded, came to 2.2 reports per 1,000, below both Essex’s towns (4.6) and England’s towns (7.8). Of all the crimes, 46% were violence and sexual offences. For its size, Canewdon records less crime per resident than 70% of the 1,541 UK towns of 1,000 to 2,500 people.
11.8violent and sexual offences per 1,000 a yearA−Safety Grade
Compared with UK towns its sizeLess crime per resident than 70% 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 & sexual12
Vehicle crime3
Other crime3
Public order2
Burglary2
Theft from person2
Drugs1
Bicycle theft1
Anti-social3
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.
11.8
violent and sexual offences per 1,000 residents a year, averaged Sep 2023 to Aug 2026
7.7
burglary, vehicle crime and damage per 1,000 a year, averaged Sep 2023 to Aug 2026
2.2
anti-social behaviour reports per 1,000 (not graded)
26
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 Canewdon is shorter than in 90% of UK towns
At the census, 85% of people in Canewdon called their health good or very good, higher than both Essex’s towns (83%) and England’s towns (82%). Poor health, by residents’ own account, affects 3.3% of the town. This Essex town has no GP practice of its own; the nearest is 2.5 miles away.
85%good or very good healthC−Health Grade
General health, self-reported
Good or very good 85%Fair 12%Bad or very bad 3%
| Census 2021 | Canewdon | Essex | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Good or very good health | 85% | 83% | 82% |
| Bad or very bad health | 3.3% | 4.8% | 5.2% |
| Disabled (Equality Act) | 16% | 17% | 17% |
78.2
life expectancy at birth, men (2019–23)
80.9
life expectancy at birth, women
ONS Census 2021, general health and disability · OHID Fingertips, life expectancy 2019–23 · OGL · No age adjustment applies to these census answers, which flatter younger towns; the Health Grade’s measures, life expectancy and early deaths among them, do allow for age.
History
More of the land in Canewdon is conservation area than in Essex’s towns or England’s towns: 100%
The heritage lists give each building’s grade but not its age, so we don’t say which is oldest.
Homes built before 1919 account for 6% of the housing. For its size, Canewdon has 99 listed buildings per 10,000 residents, higher than both Essex’s towns (51) and England’s towns (39). This Essex town counts 12 listed buildings on the national list (Historic England): 1 Grade II*.
12listed buildingsC+History Grade
Listed buildings by grade · Historic England
Grade I0
Grade II*1
Grade II11
Among them · Grade II*
- Church of St Nicholas Grade II*
0
scheduled monuments
0
registered parks and gardens
6%
of homes built before 1919 · typical UK town 15%
99
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 B−
Canewdon is a town of owners: 79% of households own their home, above Essex’s towns and England’s towns
Social renters account for 11% of households. 34 standard sales inside Canewdon’s built-up area from September 2023 to August 2026 put the median at £326,000. Private rents average £1,300 a month across the Rochford council area.
£326Kmedian sale
Median sale price · Sep 2023 to Aug 2026
Canewdon£326K
Typical UK town£277K
| By type | Median | Sales |
|---|---|---|
| Detached | £475,000 | 11 |
| Semi-detached | £430,000 | 5 |
| Terraced | £309,000 | 16 |
79%
of households own their home · England 61%
6%
rent privately · England 21%
£1,300
average private rent a month, Rochford council area
£2,404
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
Children make up 21% of Canewdon, above Essex’s towns and England’s towns
Nearly a quarter of adults hold a degree, below Essex’s towns (27%) and England’s towns (34%) alike. People 65 and over make up 17% of the town. The median resident of Canewdon is 37.8 years old.
37.8median age
CanewdonEssexEngland
Ages · share of residents
11%
Qualifications · residents 16 and older
No qualifications18%
Apprenticeship7%
A levels or similar20%
Degree level24%
Women and men · all residents
51% women, 49% men
About an even split. Across England, 51% of residents are women.
| Canewdon | Essex | England | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 15 | 21% | 18% | 18% |
| 15–24 | 11% | 11% | 12% |
| 25–44 | 26% | 26% | 27% |
| 45–64 | 25% | 26% | 25% |
| 65+ | 17% | 20% | 18% |
| No qualifications | 18% | 19% | 18% |
| Apprenticeship | 6.7% | 5.5% | 5.3% |
| A levels or similar | 20% | 17% | 17% |
| Degree level | 24% | 27% | 34% |
ONS Census 2021 · Essex and England: all residents of their built-up areas · OGL
Nearby attractions
All attractions →Creeksea Place and 3 more in and around Canewdon
Museums, castles, gardens and days out in and near Canewdon. Best known first.
Historic houseCreeksea Place3.4 km outside town, to the eastMuseumMuseumBurnham-on-Crouch and District Museum4.5 km outside town, to the eastHistoric houseHistoric houseOld House3.5 km outside town, to the southwestHistoric siteHistoric siteRochford Hall3.6 km outside town, to the southwestPlaces: © OpenStreetMap contributors · Wikidata
Photos: each place’s Wikidata image, from Wikimedia Commons under the licence below (our copy, resized).
Photo credits (1)
- Creeksea Place: Clint Mann, CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
Keep exploring
Everything we know about Canewdon
15pages on Canewdon
The big questions
SafetyA−11.8 violent and sexual offences per 1,000 residents a year, averaged Sep 2023 to Aug 2026Cost of livingB−Median home £326K · rent £1,300 a monthHousing12 sold in 12 months · busiest street Althorne WaySchoolsC−1 state schoolHealthC−Life expectancy 78.2 (men), 80.9 (women)Work & commuteC−53% of working residents work in the townFlood & hazardsA0% of homes at high or medium flood risk
Out and about
Canewdon’s neighbours
The nearest built-up areas, from ONS’s 2022 boundaries. See them on the map →
AshingdonRochfordBurnham-on-CrouchLatchingdonHockley and HawkwellMaylandCold NortonCanewdon
How the neighbours grade
| Town | People | Miles | Overall | Cost | Safety | Health |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Canewdon | 1,216 | — | — | B− | A− | C− |
| Ashingdon | 6,490 | 2.5 | A | C+ | A | B+ |
| Rochford | 12,617 | 2.8 | C− | C+ | D | C |
| Burnham-on-Crouch | 7,806 | 3.3 | B | B | C | B |
| Latchingdon | 1,140 | 3.7 | — | B− | C− | B− |
| Hockley and Hawkwell | 15,430 | 3.8 | A | C | A− | A |
| Mayland | 3,740 | 4.7 | C+ | C+ | B | B |
| Cold Norton | 1,161 | 4.8 | — | C | A | B+ |
Latchingdon and Cold Norton have fewer than 2,500 residents, so they get subject grades but no overall grade. People: Census 2021. Miles: centre to centre.
Questions about Canewdon
How many listed buildings are there in Canewdon?
That is 4 times the typical UK town for its size.
Are schools in Canewdon good?
One state school is inside the town; places are handled by Essex council.
About Canewdon
Village in Essex, England
Canewdon is a built-up area of 1,216 people, in the Rochford 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
- 1,216 (Census 2021)
- Council
- Rochford
- County
- Essex
- Region
- East of England
- Area
- 0.2 sq mi (0.6 km²)
- ONS code
- E63004711
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.