Hatfield Heath’s story
21 listed buildings
Historic England lists them inside Hatfield Heath’s built-up area.
16% of its homes were built before 1919, against 15% in the typical UK town.
Explore the history →
Hatfield HeathEssex
1,789 people live in this village in Essex, East of England.
7 places within 12 milesMap →
Photo: Melvyn Cousins · CC BY-SA 2.0
Population
1,789
Census 2021 · Uttlesford council
Median home
£713K
36 sales in 3 years
Median age
46.4
26% are 65+ · Essex 20%
Degree level
30%
of residents 16+ · England 34%
Walk, cycle, bus
13%
of commuters · England 27%
Is Hatfield Heath a good place to live?
Work and incomes are strong: households earn a mean £70,301 a year, and 1.5% of 16 to 64s claim unemployment benefits. Homes sell for a median £712,500, about 10.2 years of what households in the Uttlesford council area earn. Health is a strength (A): life expectancy 84 for men, 85.1 for women. Natural hazards are less of a worry than in most UK towns (A).
Figures: income and life expectancy, ONS · claimants, DWP · prices, HM Land Registry, the last three years · flood risk, Environment Agency. With fewer than 2,500 residents, Hatfield Heath has subject grades but no overall one.
What makes Hatfield Heath stand out
The 3 things Hatfield Heath does most differently from other towns.
Median sale, £ thousands
Housing
2.6 times the typical UK town’s £277K
Standard sales, September 2023 to August 2026.
Listed buildings per 10,000 residents
History
0 Grade II*; 4.8 times the typical UK town for its size
Historic England’s list, October 2026.
Walk, cycle or public transport
Getting around
13% leave the car
of commuters walk, cycle or take public transport (England’s towns 27%)
How Hatfield Heath grades
Each subject compared with the 2,160 UK towns with an overall grade (schools within England), ordered by how far Hatfield Heath is from typical. American towns are graded separately.
With fewer than 2,500 residents, Hatfield Heath has subject grades but no overall one.
Jobs & incomeGraded on incomes, poverty and employmentAOpen →HealthAmong the healthiest places comparedAOpen →Hazard risk0% of homes at high or medium risk of flooding from rivers or the seaAOpen →SafetyAhead of most towns comparedB+Open →SchoolsPrimary results beat 70% of towns in England; secondary results beat 57% of towns in EnglandB+Open →WalkabilityGraded on how easily people get around without a carC+Open →Cost of livingAbout average among the towns comparedB−Open →
Character Graded, but not part of the overall grade.
HistoryBased on listed places, the town’s age and notable peopleBOpen →Outdoors76% live within 400 m of a park; 1.3 ha of public green space per 1,000 residentsDOpen →Civic life2.2 local charities per 1,000 residents; 0% live within 1 km of a libraryCOpen →
How TownRatings grades towns →
The data
Data highlights are ordered by what stands out in Hatfield Heath.
Health
Life expectancy in Hatfield Heath is longer than in 84% of UK towns
At the census, 15% of people here had a disability, lower than both Essex’s towns (17%) and England’s towns (17%). The nearest A&E to Hatfield Heath is The Princess Alexandra Hospital, 5.9 miles away. Self-reported good health: 85% of the town’s residents. One GP practice serves the town; 72% of patients rate theirs good in the GP Patient Survey.
85%good or very good healthAHealth Grade
General health, self-reported
Good or very good 85%Fair 11%Bad or very bad 4%
| Census 2021 | Hatfield Heath | Essex | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Good or very good health | 85% | 83% | 82% |
| Bad or very bad health | 4.1% | 4.8% | 5.2% |
| Disabled (Equality Act) | 15% | 17% | 17% |
84
life expectancy at birth, men (2019–23)
85.1
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.
SchoolsB+
On exam results, Hatfield Heath’s schools beat 67% of towns in England
Its only school is listed below. Attainment 8 at the one secondary school within 3 km averages 47.1, and 47% of pupils get grade 5 or above in English and maths.
B+School Grade
| School | Level | Pupils | Letter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hatfield Heath Primary SchoolLargest primary schoolPrimary | Primary | 210 | B+ |
Department for Education · GIAS, Key Stage 2 and GCSE resultsThe Schools page →
Safety
Violence is recorded less often in Hatfield Heath than in Essex’s towns or across England’s towns: 15.1 per 1,000 residents a year
A year of reports to August 2026 adds up to 61 offences in Hatfield Heath and 3 cases of nuisance behaviour. Violence and sexual offences made up 31% of the total. Anti-social behaviour, shown but not graded, came to 1.9 reports per 1,000, below both Essex’s towns (4.6) and England’s towns (7.8).
15.1violent and sexual offences per 1,000 a yearB+Safety Grade
Compared with UK towns its sizeLess crime per resident than 53% 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 & sexual19
Shoplifting10
Damage & arson9
Vehicle crime7
Public order5
Other theft4
Burglary3
Drugs2
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.
15.1
violent and sexual offences per 1,000 residents a year, averaged Sep 2023 to Aug 2026
8.9
burglary, vehicle crime and damage per 1,000 a year, averaged Sep 2023 to Aug 2026
1.9
anti-social behaviour reports per 1,000 (not graded)
61
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.
History
Hatfield Heath is rich in listed buildings: 117 per 10,000 residents, more than in Essex’s towns and across England’s towns
The heritage lists give each building’s grade but not its age, so we don’t say which is oldest.
Every one of Hatfield Heath’s 21 listed buildings sits at Grade II, the most common listing. Homes from before 1919 make up 16% of the total, above Essex’s towns (11%) and close to England’s towns (16%).
21listed buildingsBHistory Grade
Listed buildings by grade · Historic England
Grade I0
Grade II*0
Grade II21
0
scheduled monuments
0
registered parks and gardens
16%
of homes built before 1919 · typical UK town 15%
117
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 A
Under 5 km to work: 13% in Hatfield Heath, fewer than in Essex’s towns and across England’s towns
The Census was taken on 21 March 2021, in lockdown, so 41% of workers were mainly at home; shares here are of those who travelled.
84% of commuters drove to work at the census. Of the commuters living in Hatfield Heath, 7% work in the town itself. The census counted 41% of workers working mainly from home.
13%walk, cycle or ride
How commuters got to work · March 2021
Driving84%
On foot6%
Train4%
Bus1%
Underground, tram1%
13%
of commuters travel under 5 km · England 45%
41%
worked mainly from home in March 2021
£70K
mean household income, before tax
1.5%
of 16 to 64s claim unemployment benefits (2026)
C+
Walkability: more walkable than 44% 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 B−
Few households rent privately in Hatfield Heath: 10%, fewer than in Essex’s towns and across England’s towns
70% of households own their home, close to Essex’s towns (67%) and above England’s towns (61%). 36 standard sales inside Hatfield Heath’s built-up area from September 2023 to August 2026 put the median at £712,500. Private rents average £1,289 a month across the Uttlesford council area.
£713Kmedian sale
Median sale price · Sep 2023 to Aug 2026
Hatfield Heath£713K
Typical UK town£277K
| By type | Median | Sales |
|---|---|---|
| Detached | £897,500 | 22 |
| Semi-detached | £497,500 | 8 |
70%
of households own their home · England 61%
10%
rent privately · England 21%
£1,289
average private rent a month, Uttlesford council area
£2,297
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
Hatfield Heath skews older, with 26% of residents 65 or over, more than in Essex’s towns and across England’s towns
30% of adults hold a degree, between Essex’s towns (27%) and England’s towns (34%). Those aged 15 to 24 account for 9.5% of residents. Ages in Hatfield Heath split evenly at 46.4: half are older, half younger.
46.4median age
Hatfield HeathEssexEngland
Ages · share of residents
26%
Qualifications · residents 16 and older
No qualifications17%
Apprenticeship6%
A levels or similar17%
Degree level30%
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.
| Hatfield Heath | Essex | England | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 15 | 18% | 18% | 18% |
| 15–24 | 9.5% | 11% | 12% |
| 25–44 | 20% | 26% | 27% |
| 45–64 | 26% | 26% | 25% |
| 65+ | 26% | 20% | 18% |
| No qualifications | 17% | 19% | 18% |
| Apprenticeship | 6.2% | 5.5% | 5.3% |
| A levels or similar | 17% | 17% | 17% |
| Degree level | 30% | 27% | 34% |
ONS Census 2021 · Essex and England: all residents of their built-up areas · OGL
Nearby attractions
All attractions →Down Hall and 4 more in and around Hatfield Heath
Museums, castles, gardens and days out in and near Hatfield Heath. Best known first.
Historic houseDown Hall1.2 km outside town, to the south
MuseumSouth Mill Arts4.9 km outside town, to the northwestMuseumMuseumBishop's Stortford Museum4.9 km outside town, to the northwestPark or estatePark or estate · National TrustHatfield Forest4.5 km outside town, to the northMuseumMuseumShell House4.5 km outside town, to the northeastPlaces: © OpenStreetMap contributors · Wikidata
Photos: each place’s Wikidata image, from Wikimedia Commons under the licence below (our copy, resized).
Photo credits (2)
- Down Hall: Polly, CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
- South Mill Arts: Acabashi, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
Keep exploring
Everything we know about Hatfield Heath
14pages on Hatfield Heath
The big questions
SafetyB+15.1 violent and sexual offences per 1,000 residents a year, averaged Sep 2023 to Aug 2026Cost of livingB−Median home £713K · rent £1,289 a monthHousing16 sold in 12 months · busiest street Chelmsford RoadSchoolsB+1 state schoolHealthALife expectancy 84 (men), 85.1 (women)Work & commuteA58% of working residents work in the townFlood & hazardsA0% of homes at high or medium flood risk
Out and about
Hatfield Heath’s neighbours
The nearest built-up areas, from ONS’s 2022 boundaries. See them on the map →
Little HallingburySawbridgeworthBishop's StortfordTakeley and Little CanfieldHarlowStansted MountfitchetHadham CrossHatfield Heath
How the neighbours grade
| Town | People | Miles | Overall | Cost | Safety | Health |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hatfield Heath | 1,789 | — | — | B− | B+ | A |
| Little Hallingbury | 1,434 | 2.1 | — | B− | A− | A |
| Sawbridgeworth | 10,471 | 2.5 | A− | C+ | C+ | B+ |
| Bishop's Stortford | 40,916 | 4.2 | A | C+ | C | A |
| Takeley and Little Canfield | 5,553 | 4.8 | A− | B+ | C− | B+ |
| Harlow | 93,570 | 5.5 | D | C− | D | C− |
| Stansted Mountfitchet | 8,629 | 6 | A+ | B+ | B+ | A |
| Hadham Cross | 1,275 | 6.2 | — | C− | A− | B |
Little Hallingbury and Hadham Cross have fewer than 2,500 residents, so they get subject grades but no overall grade. People: Census 2021. Miles: centre to centre.
Questions about Hatfield Heath
Is Hatfield Heath expensive to live in?
Homes cost more than in most UK towns: the median sale over three years was £712,500, against £277,000 in the typical UK town. By type: semi-detached houses £497,500 and detached houses £897,500. Household incomes are higher than in 89% of UK towns, so cost of living still grades B−.
How many listed buildings are there in Hatfield Heath?
That is 4.8 times the typical UK town for its size.
Does Hatfield Heath flood?
Surface water isn’t included. Check a specific address on GOV.UK’s flood risk service.
About Hatfield Heath
Village in Essex, England
Hatfield Heath is a built-up area of 1,789 people, in the Uttlesford 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
- 1,789 (Census 2021)
- Council
- Uttlesford
- County
- Essex
- Region
- East of England
- Area
- 0.3 sq mi (0.9 km²)
- ONS code
- E63004314
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.