Layer-de-la-Haye’s story
21 listed buildings, 1 of them Grade II*
Historic England lists them inside Layer-de-la-Haye’s built-up area.
13% of its homes were built before 1919, against 15% in the typical UK town.
Explore the history →
Layer-de-la-HayeEssex
In Essex, East of England, this village has 1,338 residents.
7 places within 12 milesMap →
Photo: Michael Garlick · CC BY-SA 2.0
Population
1,338
Census 2021 · Colchester council
Median home
£473K
41 sales in 3 years
Median age
49.1
26% are 65+ · Essex 20%
Degree level
31%
of residents 16+ · England 34%
Walk, cycle, bus
9%
of commuters · England 27%
Is Layer-de-la-Haye a good place to live?
Layer-de-la-Haye’s strongest subject is health: life expectancy 83.4 for men, 85.4 for women. Households here earn well (A): the mean household earns £66,072 a year. Few people walk, cycle or take the bus to work: on the way to work, 9% walk, cycle or take a bus or train. Housing is expensive: a typical home costs £472,500 and rent runs £1,197 a month.
Figures: life expectancy and income, ONS · claimants, DWP · commuting, Census 2021 · prices, HM Land Registry, the last three years. Layer-de-la-Haye is graded on each subject, but towns under 2,500 get no overall grade.
What makes Layer-de-la-Haye stand out
The 3 things Layer-de-la-Haye 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 Malting Green House; 6.4 times the typical UK town for its size
Historic England’s list, October 2026.
Median sale, £ thousands
Housing
1.7 times the typical UK town’s £277K
Standard sales, September 2023 to August 2026.
How Layer-de-la-Haye grades
Each subject compared with the 2,160 UK towns with an overall grade (schools within England), ordered by how far Layer-de-la-Haye is from typical. American towns are graded separately.
Layer-de-la-Haye is graded on each subject, but towns under 2,500 get no overall grade.
HealthBased on how healthy residents are for their agesAOpen →Jobs & incomeIncomes and work are among the strongest comparedAOpen →Hazard risk0% of homes at high or medium risk of flooding from rivers or the seaAOpen →WalkabilityIn the bottom fifth of the towns comparedDOpen →SafetyBased on crimes reported per residentA−Open →SchoolsPrimary results beat 53% of towns in England; secondary results beat 87% of towns in EnglandB+Open →Cost of livingMedian sale £472,500, 7.7 years of area incomeC+Open →
Character Graded, but not part of the overall grade.
HistoryMore history than most townsBOpen →Outdoors79% live within 400 m of a park; 9.5 ha of public green space per 1,000 residentsB+Open →Civic life1.5 local charities per 1,000 residents; 0% live within 1 km of a libraryDOpen →
How TownRatings grades towns →
Nearby attractions
All attractions →Colchester Castle and 18 more in and around Layer-de-la-Haye
Museums, castles, gardens and days out in and near Layer-de-la-Haye. Best known first.
CastleColchester Castle4 km outside town, to the northeast
ZooColchester Zoo2.1 km outside town, to the northwest
Abbey or priory · English HeritageSt. Botolph's Priory3.8 km outside town, to the northeast
FortBalkerne Gate3.6 km outside town, to the northeast
Historic houseLayer Marney Tower4 km outside town, to the southwest
Abbey or priory · English HeritageSt. John's Abbey Gatehouse3.5 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 (6)
- Colchester Castle: George Gastin, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Colchester Zoo: Angela Tuff, CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
- St. Botolph's Priory: Maria, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Balkerne Gate: Tanya2501, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Layer Marney Tower: Poliphilo, CC0, Wikimedia Commons
- St. John's Abbey Gatehouse: Saltmarsh, CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
The data
Data highlights are ordered by what stands out in Layer-de-la-Haye.
Health
Life expectancy in Layer-de-la-Haye is longer than in 86% of UK towns
3.3% of residents report bad or very bad health. Layer-de-la-Haye has no GP practice of its own; the nearest is 2.4 miles away. At the census, 14% of people here had a disability, below Essex’s towns (17%) and England’s towns (17%) alike.
86%good or very good healthAHealth Grade
General health, self-reported
Good or very good 86%Fair 11%Bad or very bad 3%
| Census 2021 | Layer-de-la-Haye | Essex | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Good or very good health | 86% | 83% | 82% |
| Bad or very bad health | 3.3% | 4.8% | 5.2% |
| Disabled (Equality Act) | 14% | 17% | 17% |
83.4
life expectancy at birth, men (2019–23)
85.4
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, Layer-de-la-Haye’s schools beat 75% of towns in England
The one school in town appears below. At the 14 primary schools within 3 km, 62% of pupils reach the expected standard in reading, writing and maths (three-year average). The town’s primary school has 203 pupils.
B+School Grade
| School | Level | Pupils | Letter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Layer-de-la-Haye Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary SchoolLargest primary schoolPrimary | Primary | 203 | A− |
Department for Education · GIAS, Key Stage 2 and GCSE resultsThe Schools page →
Work & commuteJobs & income grade A
Layer-de-la-Haye is a driving town: 90% of commuters go by car, above Essex’s towns and 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.
Of the commuters living in Layer-de-la-Haye, 3% work in the town itself. 28% of commuters travelled under 5 km, lower than both Essex’s towns (41%) and England’s towns (45%). Among 16 to 64s, 1.2% claimed unemployment benefits in 2026.
9%walk, cycle or ride
How commuters got to work · March 2021
Driving90%
On foot4%
Bus2%
Bicycle2%
Train1%
28%
of commuters travel under 5 km · England 45%
£66K
mean household income, before tax
1.2%
of 16 to 64s claim unemployment benefits (2026)
D
Walkability: more walkable than 14% of UK towns
ONS Census 2021, method of travel and distance to work · ONS small-area income · DWP claimant count · OGL
Safety
Layer-de-la-Haye records less burglary and damage per resident than Essex’s towns or England’s towns, at 4.2 per 1,000 a year
Violent crime ran at 16.7 per 1,000 residents a year, below both Essex’s towns (23.1) and England’s towns (22). A year of reports to August 2026 adds up to 50 offences in Layer-de-la-Haye and 30 cases of nuisance behaviour. Violence and sexual offences made up 54% of the total.
16.7violent and sexual offences per 1,000 a yearA−Safety Grade
Compared with UK towns its sizeLess crime per resident than 65% 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 & sexual27
Public order11
Other theft5
Damage & arson2
Burglary2
Shoplifting1
Drugs1
Vehicle crime1
Anti-social30
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.
16.7
violent and sexual offences per 1,000 residents a year, averaged Sep 2023 to Aug 2026
4.2
burglary, vehicle crime and damage per 1,000 a year, averaged Sep 2023 to Aug 2026
15
anti-social behaviour reports per 1,000 (not graded)
50
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.
HousingCost of living grade C+
Private renting is less common in Layer-de-la-Haye than in Essex’s towns or across England’s towns: 5%
Social housing holds 6% of households, below both Essex’s towns (15%) and England’s towns (18%). Home ownership stands at 87% of households. Also worth knowing: the £472,500 median rests on 41 standard sales inside the built-up area (September 2023 to August 2026).
£473Kmedian sale
Median sale price · Sep 2023 to Aug 2026
Layer-de-la-Haye£473K
Typical UK town£277K
| By type | Median | Sales |
|---|---|---|
| Detached | £650,000 | 28 |
| Semi-detached | £355,000 | 11 |
87%
of households own their home · England 61%
5%
rent privately · England 21%
£1,197
average private rent a month, Colchester council area
£2,305
council tax, Band D, 2026–27
HM Land Registry Price Paid · ONS private rents · MHCLG / Welsh Government council tax · ONS Census 2021 tenure · OGL
History
Layer-de-la-Haye is rich in listed buildings: 157 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.
Grade II* covers 1 of them. Historic England’s list names 21 listed buildings in Layer-de-la-Haye: 1 Grade II*. Homes from before 1919 make up 13% of the total, above Essex’s towns (11%) but below England’s towns (16%).
21listed buildingsBHistory Grade
Listed buildings by grade · Historic England
Grade I0
Grade II*1
Grade II20
Among them · Grade II*
- Malting Green House Grade II*
0
scheduled monuments
0
registered parks and gardens
13%
of homes built before 1919 · typical UK town 15%
157
listed buildings per 10,000 residents · typical UK town 24
Historic England list, October 2026 · Valuation Office Agency, homes by build period · OGL
Who lives here
An older town: 26% of people in Layer-de-la-Haye are 65 or over, more than in Essex’s towns and across England’s towns
17% are under 15, lower than both Essex’s towns (18%) and England’s towns (18%). Those aged 15 to 24 account for 8.5% of residents. Half the people of Layer-de-la-Haye are older than 49.1. Among adults, 31% have a degree.
49.1median age
Layer-de-la-HayeEssexEngland
Ages · share of residents
26%
Qualifications · residents 16 and older
No qualifications13%
Apprenticeship7%
A levels or similar18%
Degree level31%
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.
| Layer-de-la-Haye | Essex | England | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 15 | 17% | 18% | 18% |
| 15–24 | 8.5% | 11% | 12% |
| 25–44 | 19% | 26% | 27% |
| 45–64 | 30% | 26% | 25% |
| 65+ | 26% | 20% | 18% |
| No qualifications | 13% | 19% | 18% |
| Apprenticeship | 7.4% | 5.5% | 5.3% |
| A levels or similar | 18% | 17% | 17% |
| Degree level | 31% | 27% | 34% |
ONS Census 2021 · Essex and England: all residents of their built-up areas · OGL
Keep exploring
Everything we know about Layer-de-la-Haye
14pages on Layer-de-la-Haye
The big questions
SafetyA−16.7 violent and sexual offences per 1,000 residents a year, averaged Sep 2023 to Aug 2026Cost of livingC+Median home £473K · rent £1,197 a monthHousing11 sold in 12 months · busiest street High RoadSchoolsB+1 state schoolHealthALife expectancy 83.4 (men), 85.4 (women)Work & commuteA51% of working residents work in the townFlood & hazardsA0% of homes at high or medium flood risk
Out and about
Layer-de-la-Haye’s neighbours
The nearest built-up areas, from ONS’s 2022 boundaries. See them on the map →
BerechurchLangenhoe and AbbertonCopfordColchesterRowhedgeEight Ash GreenWivenhoeLayer-de-la-Haye
How the neighbours grade
| Town | People | Miles | Overall | Cost | Safety | Health |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Layer-de-la-Haye | 1,338 | — | — | C+ | A− | A |
| Berechurch | 7,702 | 2.3 | C+ | A | D | D |
| Langenhoe and Abberton | 1,010 | 2.3 | — | B− | A | A− |
| Copford | 1,794 | 3.4 | — | C+ | B | A− |
| Colchester | 130,259 | 3.4 | B | A− | D | C |
| Rowhedge | 2,492 | 3.8 | — | B+ | A− | C− |
| Eight Ash Green | 1,769 | 4.1 | — | B− | C+ | A |
| Wivenhoe | 7,354 | 4.5 | A | B+ | B+ | A |
Langenhoe and Abberton, Copford, Rowhedge and Eight Ash Green have fewer than 2,500 residents, so they get subject grades but no overall grade. People: Census 2021. Miles: centre to centre.
Questions about Layer-de-la-Haye
How many listed buildings are there in Layer-de-la-Haye?
That is 6.4 times the typical UK town for its size.
Is Layer-de-la-Haye expensive to live in?
Homes cost more than in most UK towns: the median sale over three years was £472,500, against £277,000 in the typical UK town. By type: semi-detached houses £355,000 and detached houses £650,000.
Is Layer-de-la-Haye safe?
About the middle for its size: 35% of the 1,541 UK towns of 1,000 to 2,500 people report less crime per resident. Against all UK towns, it grades A−.
About Layer-de-la-Haye
Village in Essex, England
Layer-de-la-Haye is a built-up area of 1,338 people, in the Colchester 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
- 1,338 (Census 2021)
- Council
- Colchester
- County
- Essex
- Region
- East of England
- Area
- 0.4 sq mi (1.1 km²)
- ONS code
- E63004207
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.