Orsett’s story
19 listed buildings, 1 of them Grade I
Historic England lists them inside Orsett’s built-up area.
13% of its homes were built before 1919, against 15% in the typical UK town.
Explore the history →
OrsettEssex
1,428 people call this village in Essex, East of England home.
7 places within 12 milesMap →
Photo: AGC · CC BY-SA 2.0
Population
1,428
Census 2021 · Thurrock council
Median home
£430K
53 sales in 3 years
Median age
46.3
22% are 65+ · Essex 20%
Degree level
26%
of residents 16+ · England 34%
Walk, cycle, bus
12%
of commuters · England 27%
Is Orsett a good place to live?
Orsett does especially well on jobs & income — mean household income £66,912; 1.9% of 16 to 64s claim unemployment benefits. Housing is expensive (D): a typical home costs £430,000 and rent runs £1,380 a month. Safety is weaker too — 14.7 violent and sexual offences and 28.7 home and vehicle crimes per 1,000 residents a year. Against UK towns of 1,000 to 2,500 people, it has more crime per resident than 86%.
Figures: income, ONS · claimants, DWP · prices, HM Land Registry, the last three years · crime, police.uk, averaged Sep 2023 to Aug 2026. Below 2,500 residents there is no overall grade, so Orsett has its subject grades alone.
What makes Orsett stand out
The 3 things Orsett does most differently from other towns.
Listed buildings per 10,000 residents
History
1 Grade I, including Church of St Giles and All Saints; 5.5 times the typical UK town for its size
Historic England’s list, October 2026.
Walk, cycle or public transport
Getting around
12% leave the car
of commuters walk, cycle or take public transport (England’s towns 27%)
Median sale, £ thousands
Housing
1.6 times the typical UK town’s £277K
Standard sales, September 2023 to August 2026.
How Orsett grades
Each subject compared with the 2,160 UK towns with an overall grade (schools within England), ordered by how far Orsett is from typical. American towns are graded separately.
Hazard risk0% of homes at high or medium risk of flooding from rivers or the seaAOpen →Cost of livingMedian sale £430,000, 7.4 years of area incomeDOpen →Jobs & incomeIn the top fifth of the towns comparedA−Open →SafetyBased on crimes reported per residentCOpen →HealthLife expectancy 81.8 for men, 83.9 for womenB+Open →WalkabilityMost errands need a carC+Open →SchoolsPrimary results beat 75% of towns in England; secondary results beat 24% of towns in EnglandB−Open →
Character Graded, but not part of the overall grade.
History13% of homes built before 1919BOpen →Outdoors100% live within 400 m of a park; 4.4 ha of public green space per 1,000 residentsB−Open →Civic life4.2 local charities per 1,000 residents; 0% live within 1 km of a libraryBOpen →
How TownRatings grades towns →
The data
Data highlights are ordered by what stands out in Orsett.
HousingCost of living grade D
Most households in Orsett own their home: 76%, more than in Essex’s towns or across England’s towns
Social housing holds 8% of households, below Essex’s towns (15%) and England’s towns (18%) alike. From September 2023 to August 2026, 53 homes sold inside Orsett’s built-up area at standard prices; the middle one went for £430,000. Private tenants account for 16% of households.
£430Kmedian sale
Median sale price · Sep 2023 to Aug 2026
Orsett£430K
Typical UK town£277K
| By type | Median | Sales |
|---|---|---|
| Detached | £670,000 | 12 |
| Semi-detached | £467,500 | 16 |
| Terraced | £410,000 | 20 |
| Flat or maisonette | £265,000 | 5 |
76%
of households own their home · England 61%
16%
rent privately · England 21%
£1,380
average private rent a month, Thurrock council area
£2,255
council tax, Band D, 2026–27
HM Land Registry Price Paid · ONS private rents · MHCLG / Welsh Government council tax · ONS Census 2021 tenure · OGL
SchoolsB−
Exam results at Orsett’s schools trail 50% of towns in England
Attainment 8 at the 2 secondary schools within 3 km averages 41.9, and 38% of pupils get grade 5 or above in English and maths. Its one school is below. 66% of pupils at the 8 primary schools within 3 km met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths (three-year average).
B−School Grade
| School | Level | Pupils | Letter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Orsett Church of England Primary SchoolLargest primary schoolPrimary | Primary | 202 | B− |
Department for Education · GIAS, Key Stage 2 and GCSE resultsThe Schools page →
Safety
Orsett has more crime per resident than 70% of UK towns
In the 12 months to August 2026, police logged 85 crimes and 18 reports of anti-social behaviour inside Orsett’s built-up area. Violence and sexual offences made up just over a fifth of the total. Anti-social behaviour, shown but not graded, came to 6.8 reports per 1,000, between Essex’s towns (4.6) and England’s towns (7.8).
14.7violent and sexual offences per 1,000 a yearCSafety Grade
Compared with UK towns its sizeLess crime per resident than 14% of the 1,541 UK towns of 1,000 to 2,500 people: more crime than most for its size. Context only, not part of the grade.
Reports by type · Sep 2025 to Aug 2026
Vehicle crime26
Violence & sexual19
Damage & arson10
Other theft10
Burglary8
Drugs3
Other crime3
Robbery2
Anti-social18
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.
14.7
violent and sexual offences per 1,000 residents a year, averaged Sep 2023 to Aug 2026
28.7
burglary, vehicle crime and damage per 1,000 a year, averaged Sep 2023 to Aug 2026
6.8
anti-social behaviour reports per 1,000 (not graded)
85
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
85% of people in Orsett say their health is good or very good, more than in Essex’s towns or across England’s towns
One GP practice serves the town; 73% of patients rate theirs good in the GP Patient Survey. 4.4% of residents described their health as bad or very bad, below Essex’s towns (4.8%) and England’s towns (5.2%) alike. Men in Orsett can expect to live to 81.8, women to 83.9 (2019–23).
85%good or very good healthB+Health Grade
General health, self-reported
Good or very good 85%Fair 11%Bad or very bad 4%
| Census 2021 | Orsett | Essex | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Good or very good health | 85% | 83% | 82% |
| Bad or very bad health | 4.4% | 4.8% | 5.2% |
| Disabled (Equality Act) | 16% | 17% | 17% |
81.8
life expectancy at birth, men (2019–23)
83.9
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.
Work & commuteJobs & income grade A−
Under 5 km to work: 21% in Orsett, 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.
On foot, by bike or by bus and train: that was how 12% of commuters travelled at the census. Work in town: 2% of resident commuters. For every resident in work, Orsett has 0.5 jobs.
12%walk, cycle or ride
How commuters got to work · March 2021
Driving84%
Train5%
On foot2%
Bus2%
Underground, tram2%
Bicycle1%
21%
of commuters travel under 5 km · England 45%
£67K
mean household income, before tax
1.9%
of 16 to 64s claim unemployment benefits (2026)
C+
Walkability: more walkable than 37% of UK towns
ONS Census 2021, method of travel and distance to work · ONS small-area income · DWP claimant count · OGL
History
Orsett is rich in listed buildings: 133 per 10,000 residents, more than Essex’s towns or England’s towns
The heritage lists give each building’s grade but not its age, so we don’t say which is oldest.
The top grade, Grade I, goes to 1 of them. Orsett’s listed buildings include the Church of St Giles and All Saints, Grade I. It counts 19 listed buildings on the national list (Historic England): 1 Grade I. Of the town’s land, 14% lies in conservation areas, above Essex’s towns (3%) and England’s towns (7%) alike.
19listed buildingsBHistory Grade
Listed buildings by grade · Historic England
Grade I1
Grade II*0
Grade II18
Among them · Grade I
0
scheduled monuments
0
registered parks and gardens
13%
of homes built before 1919 · typical UK town 15%
133
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
Fewer children live in Orsett than in Essex’s towns or England’s towns: 15% are under 15
Orsett has a median age of 46.3 years. Just over a fifth of residents are 65 or over. Degrees are held by 26% of adults, below Essex’s towns (27%) and England’s towns (34%) alike.
46.3median age
OrsettEssexEngland
Ages · share of residents
22%
Qualifications · residents 16 and older
No qualifications18%
Apprenticeship7%
A levels or similar18%
Degree level26%
Women and men · all residents
52% women, 48% men
About 94 men for every 100 women. Across England, 51% of residents are women.
| Orsett | Essex | England | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 15 | 15% | 18% | 18% |
| 15–24 | 11% | 11% | 12% |
| 25–44 | 22% | 26% | 27% |
| 45–64 | 30% | 26% | 25% |
| 65+ | 22% | 20% | 18% |
| No qualifications | 18% | 19% | 18% |
| Apprenticeship | 6.6% | 5.5% | 5.3% |
| A levels or similar | 18% | 17% | 17% |
| Degree level | 26% | 27% | 34% |
ONS Census 2021 · Essex and England: all residents of their built-up areas · OGL
Keep exploring
Everything we know about Orsett
15pages on Orsett
The big questions
SafetyC14.7 violent and sexual offences per 1,000 residents a year, averaged Sep 2023 to Aug 2026Cost of livingDMedian home £430K · rent £1,380 a monthHousing26 sold in 12 months · busiest street Rectory RoadSchoolsB−1 state schoolHealthB+Life expectancy 81.8 (men), 83.9 (women)Work & commuteA−49% of working residents work in the townFlood & hazardsA0% of homes at high or medium flood risk
Out and about
Famous people from Orsett
19 notable people were born in Orsett.
N
Nelly LandryBelgian-French tennis player · 1916–2010J
Jean LambertBritish politician (1950- )G
Girija ShettarBritish actress · born 1969N
Neil HarrisEnglish association football player and manager (born 1977)Photo credits
Ryan Bennett: @cfcunofficial (Chelsea Debs) London, CC BY-SA 2.0 · Alex Pritchard: Jon Candy, CC BY-SA 2.0
Orsett’s neighbours
The nearest built-up areas, from ONS’s 2022 boundaries. See them on the map →
SouthfieldsChadwell St MaryHorndon on the HillGraysEast TilburyTilburyStanford-le-HopeOrsett
How the neighbours grade
| Town | People | Miles | Overall | Cost | Safety | Health |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Orsett | 1,428 | — | — | D | C | B+ |
| Southfields | 1,167 | 1 | — | C− | A− | A− |
| Chadwell St Mary | 10,680 | 1.7 | C− | C | D | D |
| Horndon on the Hill | 1,510 | 1.8 | — | D | A− | B+ |
| Grays | 44,340 | 2.3 | C+ | C | C− | C |
| East Tilbury | 5,751 | 2.8 | C− | C | C− | C |
| Tilbury | 14,187 | 3.2 | C− | C+ | D− | D |
| Stanford-le-Hope | 29,527 | 3.2 | C+ | C | C+ | C+ |
Southfields and Horndon on the Hill have fewer than 2,500 residents, so they get subject grades but no overall grade. People: Census 2021. Miles: centre to centre.
Questions about Orsett
How many listed buildings are there in Orsett?
That is 5.5 times the typical UK town for its size. Its Grade I building is Church of St Giles and All Saints.
Is Orsett expensive to live in?
Homes cost more than in most UK towns: the median sale over three years was £430,000, against £277,000 in the typical UK town. By type: flats £265,000, terraced houses £410,000, semi-detached houses £467,500 and detached houses £670,000.
About Orsett
Village in Essex, England
Orsett is a built-up area of 1,428 people, in the Thurrock 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
- 1,428 (Census 2021)
- Council
- Thurrock
- County
- Essex
- Region
- East of England
- Area
- 0.2 sq mi (0.4 km²)
- ONS code
- E63004895
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.