Shelley’s story
3 listed buildings
Historic England lists them inside Shelley’s built-up area.
6% of its homes were built before 1919, against 15% in the typical UK town.
Explore the history →
ShelleyEssex
The village has 2,405 residents and lies in Essex, East of England.
7 places within 12 milesMap →
Photo: John Salmon · CC BY-SA 2.0
Population
2,405
Census 2021 · Epping Forest council
Median home
£405K
76 sales in 3 years
Median age
39.3
17% are 65+ · Essex 20%
Degree level
21%
of residents 16+ · England 34%
Walk, cycle, bus
16%
of commuters · England 27%
Is Shelley a good place to live?
On walkability it is strong — 16% of commuters get to work on foot, by bike or by public transport. Housing is expensive: homes sell for a median £405,000, about 6.3 times local household income. It also trails on safety — 28.8 violent or sexual offences per 1,000 residents a year, plus 15.8 home and vehicle crimes. Among UK towns of 1,000 to 2,500 people, it has less crime per resident than 13%.
Figures: commuting, Census 2021 · prices, HM Land Registry, the last three years · crime, police.uk, averaged Sep 2023 to Aug 2026. An overall grade needs 2,500 residents, so Shelley is graded subject by subject only.
What makes Shelley stand out
The 3 things Shelley does most differently from other towns.
Rent against income, UK towns
Renting
£1,844 a month
Average private rent, 34% of what households in the area earn: more than in 99% of UK towns
ONS private rents, Epping Forest council area.
Degree level, 16+
Education
Degree-level qualifications, residents 16+ (England’s towns 34%)
Essex 27%.
Median sale, £ thousands
Housing
1.5 times the typical UK town’s £277K
Standard sales, September 2023 to August 2026.
How Shelley grades
Each subject compared with the 2,160 UK towns with an overall grade (schools within England), ordered by how far Shelley is from typical. American towns are graded separately.
Cost of livingRent £1,844 a monthCOpen →SafetyWeaker than most of the towns comparedCOpen →Jobs & incomeBased on what households earn, poverty and workCOpen →Hazard risk0% of homes at high or medium risk of flooding from rivers or the seaB+Open →SchoolsPrimary results beat 68% of towns in England; secondary results beat 11% of towns in EnglandC+Open →WalkabilityEasier than most to get around on footBOpen →HealthLife expectancy 81.2 for men, 86 for womenB−Open →
Character Graded, but not part of the overall grade.
History3 listed buildingsDOpen →Outdoors100% live within 400 m of a park; 0.7 ha of public green space per 1,000 residentsC+Open →Civic life1.7 local charities per 1,000 residents; 21% live within 1 km of a libraryC+Open →
How TownRatings grades towns →
The data
Data highlights are ordered by what stands out in Shelley.
Who lives here
A town of families: 23% of people in Shelley are under 15, more than in Essex’s towns and across England’s towns
People 65 and over make up 17% of the town, lower than both Essex’s towns (20%) and England’s towns (18%). Young adults of 15 to 24 account for a tenth of the town. The age that splits Shelley in two is 39.3. Among adults, 21% have a degree.
39.3median age
ShelleyEssexEngland
Ages · share of residents
17%
Qualifications · residents 16 and older
No qualifications26%
Apprenticeship6%
A levels or similar15%
Degree level21%
Women and men · all residents
52% women, 48% men
About 92 men for every 100 women. Across England, 51% of residents are women.
| Shelley | Essex | England | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 15 | 23% | 18% | 18% |
| 15–24 | 10% | 11% | 12% |
| 25–44 | 25% | 26% | 27% |
| 45–64 | 25% | 26% | 25% |
| 65+ | 17% | 20% | 18% |
| No qualifications | 26% | 19% | 18% |
| Apprenticeship | 6.3% | 5.5% | 5.3% |
| A levels or similar | 15% | 17% | 17% |
| Degree level | 21% | 27% | 34% |
ONS Census 2021 · Essex and England: all residents of their built-up areas · OGL
SchoolsC+
Exam results at Shelley’s schools trail 63% of towns in England
GCSE results at the one secondary school within 3 km: 31% of pupils get a strong pass (grade 5+) in English and maths, and the Attainment 8 average is 40. Its two schools are below. Between them, one primary and one secondary teach 625 pupils in Shelley.
C+School Grade
| School | Level | Pupils | Letter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ongar Primary SchoolLargest primary schoolPrimary | Primary | 158 | B+ |
| The Ongar AcademyLargest secondary schoolSecondary | Secondary | 467 | C− |
Department for Education · GIAS, Key Stage 2 and GCSE resultsSee all 2 schools →
History
Shelley’s listed buildings: 3, all Grade II
The heritage lists give each building’s grade but not its age, so we don’t say which is oldest.
Per 10,000 residents, Shelley counts 12 listed buildings, below both Essex’s towns (52) and England’s towns (39). Homes from before 1919 make up 6% of the total.
3listed buildingsDHistory Grade
Listed buildings by grade · Historic England
Grade I0
Grade II*0
Grade II3
0
scheduled monuments
0
registered parks and gardens
6%
of homes built before 1919 · typical UK town 15%
12
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
Social housing is more common in Shelley than in Essex’s towns or across England’s towns, at 33% of households
56% of households own their home, below Essex’s towns (67%) and England’s towns (61%) alike. Renting privately is how 9% of households live. The £405,000 median rests on 76 standard sales inside the built-up area (September 2023 to August 2026).
£405Kmedian sale
Median sale price · Sep 2023 to Aug 2026
Shelley£405K
Typical UK town£277K
| By type | Median | Sales |
|---|---|---|
| Detached | £562,500 | 10 |
| Semi-detached | £415,000 | 32 |
| Terraced | £388,000 | 23 |
| Flat or maisonette | £234,000 | 11 |
56%
of households own their home · England 61%
9%
rent privately · England 21%
£1,844
average private rent a month, Epping Forest council area
£2,306
council tax, Band D, 2026–27
HM Land Registry Price Paid · ONS private rents · MHCLG / Welsh Government council tax · ONS Census 2021 tenure · OGL
Safety
Among the 1,541 UK towns of 1,000 to 2,500 people, Shelley records more crime per resident than 87% of them
158 crimes and 15 reports of anti-social behaviour: that is what police recorded inside Shelley’s built-up area in the 12 months to August 2026. Of all the crimes, 53% were violence and sexual offences. There were 5.1 anti-social behaviour reports per 1,000 residents (not graded), higher than Essex’s towns (4.6) yet lower than England’s towns (7.8).
28.8violent and sexual offences per 1,000 a yearCSafety Grade
Compared with UK towns its sizeLess crime per resident than 13% 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
Violence & sexual83
Vehicle crime19
Other theft14
Damage & arson11
Public order9
Burglary7
Drugs6
Other crime4
Anti-social15
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.
28.8
violent and sexual offences per 1,000 residents a year, averaged Sep 2023 to Aug 2026
15.8
burglary, vehicle crime and damage per 1,000 a year, averaged Sep 2023 to Aug 2026
5.1
anti-social behaviour reports per 1,000 (not graded)
158
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.
Work & commuteJobs & income grade C
Long commutes are the norm in Shelley: just 20% travel under 5 km, below Essex’s towns and England’s towns
The Census was taken on 21 March 2021, in lockdown, so 26% of workers were mainly at home; shares here are of those who travelled.
Households had £58K a year before tax, between Essex’s towns (£63K) and England’s towns (£55K). Driving is how 81% of commuters got to work at the census. 3.9% of 16 to 64s claimed unemployment benefits in 2026.
16%walk, cycle or ride
How commuters got to work · March 2021
Driving81%
On foot7%
Underground, tram4%
Bus2%
Train2%
20%
of commuters travel under 5 km · England 45%
26%
worked mainly from home in March 2021
£58K
mean household income, before tax
3.9%
of 16 to 64s claim unemployment benefits (2026)
B
Walkability: more walkable than 62% of UK towns
ONS Census 2021, method of travel and distance to work · ONS small-area income · DWP claimant count · OGL
Health
People in Shelley live longer lives than in 74% of UK towns
One GP practice serves the town; 72% of patients rate theirs good in the GP Patient Survey. The nearest A&E to Shelley is The Princess Alexandra Hospital, 7.6 miles away. 82% of people in Shelley rate their own health good or very good.
82%good or very good healthB−Health Grade
General health, self-reported
Good or very good 82%Fair 13%Bad or very bad 5%
| Census 2021 | Shelley | Essex | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Good or very good health | 82% | 83% | 82% |
| Bad or very bad health | 5% | 4.8% | 5.2% |
| Disabled (Equality Act) | 17% | 17% | 17% |
81.2
life expectancy at birth, men (2019–23)
86
life expectancy at birth, women
ONS Census 2021, general health and disability · OHID Fingertips, life expectancy 2019–23 · OGL · The census answers take no account of age, so a young town looks healthier; the Health Grade relies on age-adjusted measures, life expectancy and early deaths among them.
Nearby attractions
All attractions →Epping Ongar Railway and 4 more in and around Shelley
Museums, castles, gardens and days out in and near Shelley. Best known first.
Heritage railwayEpping Ongar Railway3.5 km outside town, to the west
FortKelvedon Hatch Secret Nuclear Bunker4.5 km outside town, to the southMuseumMuseumEpping And Ongar Railway4.9 km outside town, to the westAttractionAttractionJohn Locke4.6 km outside town, to the northwestFortFortOngar Redoubt4 km outside town, to the westPlaces: © OpenStreetMap contributors · Wikidata
Photos: each place’s Wikidata image, from Wikimedia Commons under the licence below (our copy, resized).
Photo credits (2)
- Epping Ongar Railway: PeterSkuce, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Kelvedon Hatch Secret Nuclear Bunker: Genesisman26 at English Wikipedia, Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
Keep exploring
Everything we know about Shelley
14pages on Shelley
The big questions
SafetyC28.8 violent and sexual offences per 1,000 residents a year, averaged Sep 2023 to Aug 2026Cost of livingCMedian home £405K · rent £1,844 a monthHousing24 sold in 12 months · busiest street QueenswaySchoolsC+2 state schoolsHealthB−Life expectancy 81.2 (men), 86 (women)Work & commuteC51% of working residents work in the townFlood & hazardsB+0% of homes at high or medium flood risk
Out and about
Shelley’s neighbours
The nearest built-up areas, from ONS’s 2022 boundaries. See them on the map →
Chipping OngarNorth Weald BassettBlackmoreKelvedon HatchDoddinghurstCoopersaleThornwood CommonShelley
How the neighbours grade
| Town | People | Miles | Overall | Cost | Safety | Health |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shelley | 2,405 | — | — | C | C | B− |
| Chipping Ongar | 3,922 | 0.8 | C+ | C− | C+ | B+ |
| North Weald Bassett | 4,323 | 3 | B | C− | C+ | B+ |
| Blackmore | 1,167 | 3.7 | — | C | A− | A |
| Kelvedon Hatch | 2,493 | 3.8 | — | C | B | A− |
| Doddinghurst | 4,067 | 4 | A− | C | A | A |
| Coopersale | 1,067 | 4.5 | — | C− | B+ | B+ |
| Thornwood Common | 1,030 | 4.7 | — | D | B− | B |
Blackmore, Kelvedon Hatch, Coopersale and Thornwood Common have fewer than 2,500 residents, so they get subject grades but no overall grade. People: Census 2021. Miles: centre to centre.
Questions about Shelley
Who lives in Shelley?
At the 2021 Census, 10% of Shelley’s 2,405 residents were 15 to 24 and 17% were 65 or over, against 12% and 18% across England’s towns.
Is Shelley expensive to live in?
Homes cost more than in most UK towns: the median sale over three years was £405,000, against £277,000 in the typical UK town. By type: flats £234,000, terraced houses £388,000, semi-detached houses £415,000 and detached houses £562,500.
About Shelley
Village in Essex, England
Shelley is a built-up area of 2,405 people, in the Epping Forest 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
- 2,405 (Census 2021)
- Council
- Epping Forest
- County
- Essex
- Region
- East of England
- Area
- 0.2 sq mi (0.6 km²)
- ONS code
- E63004501
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.