Ramsden Heath’s story
9 listed buildings
Historic England lists them inside Ramsden Heath’s built-up area, along with 1 scheduled monument.
7% of its homes were built before 1919, against 15% in the typical UK town.
Explore the history →
Ramsden HeathEssex
1,949 residents make their home in this village in Essex, East of England.
7 places within 12 milesMap →
Photo: David Howard · CC BY-SA 2.0
Population
1,949
Census 2021 · Chelmsford council
Median home
£533K
74 sales in 3 years
Median age
46.5
22% are 65+ · Essex 20%
Degree level
30%
of residents 16+ · England 34%
Walk, cycle, bus
15%
of commuters · England 27%
Is Ramsden Heath a good place to live?
Where it does best is jobs & income: the mean household earns £66,493 a year. Housing is expensive: a typical home costs £532,500 and rent runs £1,439 a month. Hazard risk is lower than in most UK towns (A). On the way to work, 15% walk, cycle or take a bus or train.
Figures: income, ONS · claimants, DWP · prices, HM Land Registry, the last three years · flood risk, Environment Agency. Ramsden Heath has fewer than 2,500 residents, so it gets subject grades but no overall grade.
What makes Ramsden Heath stand out
The 3 things Ramsden Heath does most differently from other towns.
Median sale, £ thousands
Housing
1.9 times the typical UK town’s £277K
Standard sales, September 2023 to August 2026.
Walk, cycle or public transport
Getting around
15% leave the car
of commuters walk, cycle or take public transport (England’s towns 27%)
Claimant rate, against UK towns
Work
of 16 to 64s in 2026: fewer than in 94% of UK towns
DWP claimant count, January to August 2026.
How Ramsden Heath grades
Each subject compared with the 2,160 UK towns with an overall grade (schools within England), ordered by how far Ramsden Heath is from typical. American towns are graded separately.
Ramsden Heath has fewer than 2,500 residents, so it gets subject grades but no overall grade.
Jobs & incomeNear the top of the towns comparedAOpen →Hazard risk0% of homes at high or medium risk of flooding from rivers or the seaAOpen →SchoolsPrimary results beat 89% of towns in England; secondary results beat 71% of towns in EnglandA−Open →HealthLife expectancy 80.6 for men, 85.9 for womenA−Open →SafetyGraded on crime per residentA−Open →Cost of livingMedian sale £532,500, 7.8 years of area incomeCOpen →WalkabilityBased on walking, cycling and transit to everyday placesB−Open →
Character Graded, but not part of the overall grade.
HistoryWeaker than most of the towns comparedCOpen →Outdoors82% live within 400 m of a park; 2.3 ha of public green space per 1,000 residentsCOpen →Civic life3.6 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 Ramsden Heath.
SchoolsA−
On exam results, Ramsden Heath’s schools beat 85% of towns in England
Its only school is listed below. Secondary results at the one secondary school within 3 km: an Attainment 8 score of 48.1, with 53% at grade 5 or above in English and maths. 71% of pupils at the 6 primary schools within 3 km met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths (three-year average).
A−School Grade
| School | Level | Pupils | Letter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Downham Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary SchoolLargest primary schoolPrimary | Primary | 173 | B |
Department for Education · GIAS, Key Stage 2 and GCSE resultsThe Schools page →
Health
Is Ramsden Heath a healthy place? 89% of its people say their health is good, above Essex’s towns and England’s towns
Just over one in ten residents in Ramsden Heath live with a disability; what’s more, at the census, 3.2% of residents said their health was bad or very bad, below Essex’s towns (4.8%) and England’s towns (5.2%) alike. Seeing a GP means leaving Ramsden Heath: the nearest practice is 2.2 miles away. Women here live to 85.9 on average and men to 80.6 (2019–23).
89%good or very good healthA−Health Grade
General health, self-reported
Good or very good 89%Fair 8%Bad or very bad 3%
| Census 2021 | Ramsden Heath | Essex | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Good or very good health | 89% | 83% | 82% |
| Bad or very bad health | 3.2% | 4.8% | 5.2% |
| Disabled (Equality Act) | 12% | 17% | 17% |
80.6
life expectancy at birth, men (2019–23)
85.9
life expectancy at birth, women
ONS Census 2021, general health and disability · OHID Fingertips, life expectancy 2019–23 · OGL · A young population flatters these answers, which are not age-adjusted; the Health Grade instead uses measures that allow for age, such as life expectancy and early deaths.
Safety
Ramsden Heath records less violent crime per resident than Essex’s towns or England’s towns, at 13.7 per 1,000 a year
Of all the crimes, 51% were violence and sexual offences. Reported offences in Ramsden Heath came to 53 over twelve months to August 2026; nuisance and anti-social incidents added 7. Anti-social behaviour, shown but not graded, came to 2.7 reports per 1,000, below both Essex’s towns (4.6) and England’s towns (7.8).
13.7violent and sexual offences per 1,000 a yearA−Safety Grade
Compared with UK towns its sizeLess crime per resident than 57% 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
Other theft7
Vehicle crime7
Damage & arson5
Burglary4
Public order3
Shoplifting0
Drugs0
Anti-social7
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.
13.7
violent and sexual offences per 1,000 residents a year, averaged Sep 2023 to Aug 2026
9.4
burglary, vehicle crime and damage per 1,000 a year, averaged Sep 2023 to Aug 2026
2.7
anti-social behaviour reports per 1,000 (not graded)
53
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
Ramsden Heath’s listed buildings: 9, all Grade II
The heritage lists give each building’s grade but not its age, so we don’t say which is oldest.
7% of its homes were built before 1919, below Essex’s towns (11%) and England’s towns (16%) alike. The national list protects one ancient monument in Ramsden Heath.
9listed buildingsCHistory Grade
Listed buildings by grade · Historic England
Grade I0
Grade II*0
Grade II9
1
scheduled monument
0
registered parks and gardens
7%
of homes built before 1919 · typical UK town 15%
46
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
Private renting is less common in Ramsden Heath than in Essex’s towns or across England’s towns: 6%
Owners make up 88% of households, above Essex’s towns (67%) and England’s towns (61%) alike. From September 2023 to August 2026, 74 homes sold inside Ramsden Heath’s built-up area at standard prices; the middle one went for £532,500. That is the middle of 74 standard sales inside the town’s built-up area over three years, against £277,000 in the typical UK town.
£533Kmedian sale
Median sale price · Sep 2023 to Aug 2026
Ramsden Heath£533K
Typical UK town£277K
| By type | Median | Sales |
|---|---|---|
| Detached | £925,165 | 36 |
| Semi-detached | £492,500 | 27 |
| Flat or maisonette | £254,500 | 7 |
88%
of households own their home · England 61%
6%
rent privately · England 21%
£1,439
average private rent a month, Chelmsford council area
£2,347
council tax, Band D, 2026–27
HM Land Registry Price Paid · ONS private rents · MHCLG / Welsh Government council tax · ONS Census 2021 tenure · OGL
Work & commuteJobs & income grade A
Work tends to be further away for Ramsden Heath: 22% commute under 5 km, below Essex’s towns and England’s towns
The Census was taken on 21 March 2021, in lockdown, so 40% of workers were mainly at home; shares here are of those who travelled.
82% of commuters took the car to work at the census. Working mainly from home: 40% of workers, higher than both Essex’s towns (31%) and England’s towns (31%). Unemployment benefit claims reached 1.2% of 16 to 64s in 2026.
15%walk, cycle or ride
How commuters got to work · March 2021
Driving82%
Train9%
On foot4%
Bus1%
Bicycle1%
Underground, tram1%
22%
of commuters travel under 5 km · England 45%
40%
worked mainly from home in March 2021
£66K
mean household income, before tax
1.2%
of 16 to 64s claim unemployment benefits (2026)
B−
Walkability: more walkable than 54% of UK towns
ONS Census 2021, method of travel and distance to work · ONS small-area income · DWP claimant count · OGL
Who lives here
An older town: 22% of people in Ramsden Heath are 65 or over, more than in Essex’s towns and across England’s towns
The age that splits Ramsden Heath in two is 46.5. 30% of adults hold a degree, between Essex’s towns (27%) and England’s towns (34%). The 15-to-24 age group makes up 11% of residents.
46.5median age
Ramsden HeathEssexEngland
Ages · share of residents
22%
Qualifications · residents 16 and older
No qualifications13%
Apprenticeship5%
A levels or similar20%
Degree level30%
Women and men · all residents
51% women, 49% men
About an even split. Across England, 51% of residents are women.
| Ramsden Heath | Essex | England | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 15 | 18% | 18% | 18% |
| 15–24 | 11% | 11% | 12% |
| 25–44 | 19% | 26% | 27% |
| 45–64 | 31% | 26% | 25% |
| 65+ | 22% | 20% | 18% |
| No qualifications | 13% | 19% | 18% |
| Apprenticeship | 5.1% | 5.5% | 5.3% |
| A levels or similar | 20% | 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 →The Cater Museum and 3 more in and around Ramsden Heath
Museums, castles, gardens and days out in and near Ramsden Heath. Best known first.
MuseumThe Cater Museum2.9 km outside town, to the west
MuseumBarleylands Farm Museum3.3 km outside town, to the southwestWildlife parkWildlife parkBarleylands Farm Park3.2 km outside town, to the southwestZooZooImperial Birds of Prey Academy3.3 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 (2)
- The Cater Museum: Piecesofuk, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Barleylands Farm Museum: John Winfield, CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
Keep exploring
Everything we know about Ramsden Heath
14pages on Ramsden Heath
The big questions
SafetyA−13.7 violent and sexual offences per 1,000 residents a year, averaged Sep 2023 to Aug 2026Cost of livingCMedian home £533K · rent £1,439 a monthHousing21 sold in 12 months · busiest street Park LaneSchoolsA−1 state schoolHealthA−Life expectancy 80.6 (men), 85.9 (women)Work & commuteA57% of working residents work in the townFlood & hazardsA0% of homes at high or medium flood risk
Out and about
Ramsden Heath’s neighbours
The nearest built-up areas, from ONS’s 2022 boundaries. See them on the map →
BillericayRunwellCrays HillStockWickfordBasildonGalleywoodRamsden Heath
How the neighbours grade
| Town | People | Miles | Overall | Cost | Safety | Health |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ramsden Heath | 1,949 | — | — | C | A− | A− |
| Billericay | 34,068 | 2.2 | A | D | B+ | A |
| Runwell | 8,086 | 2.3 | C+ | B− | C− | C+ |
| Crays Hill | 1,218 | 2.3 | — | D | C+ | B+ |
| Stock | 1,573 | 2.3 | — | C | C+ | A− |
| Wickford | 27,533 | 3 | B | C− | B− | B |
| Basildon | 115,935 | 4.3 | D | C+ | D− | D |
| Galleywood | 6,410 | 4.3 | A− | B | C+ | B+ |
Crays Hill and Stock have fewer than 2,500 residents, so they get subject grades but no overall grade. People: Census 2021. Miles: centre to centre.
Questions about Ramsden Heath
Is Ramsden Heath expensive to live in?
Homes cost more than in most UK towns: the median sale over three years was £532,500, against £277,000 in the typical UK town. By type: flats £254,500, semi-detached houses £492,500 and detached houses £925,165.
Are schools in Ramsden Heath good?
Primary schools stand out: Key Stage 2 results beat 89% of towns in England. Secondary results beat 71%. One state school is inside the town; places are handled by Essex council.
Is Ramsden Heath safe?
Against all UK towns, it grades A−.
About Ramsden Heath
Village in Essex, England
Ramsden Heath is a built-up area of 1,949 people, in the Chelmsford 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
- 1,949 (Census 2021)
- Council
- Chelmsford
- County
- Essex
- Region
- East of England
- Area
- 0.3 sq mi (0.9 km²)
- ONS code
- E63004687
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.