Stock’s story
42 listed buildings, 1 of them Grade I
Historic England lists them inside Stock’s built-up area.
23% of its homes were built before 1919, against 15% in the typical UK town.
Explore the history →
StockEssex
36% of residents are 65 or over. It is a village of 1,573 residents in Essex, East of England.
7 places within 12 milesMap →
Photo: David Howard · CC BY-SA 2.0
Population
1,573
Census 2021 · Chelmsford council
Median home
£860K
75 sales in 3 years
Median age
56.5
36% are 65+ · Essex 20%
Degree level
33%
of residents 16+ · England 34%
Walk, cycle, bus
20%
of commuters · England 27%
Is Stock a good place to live?
On schools it is strong — primary results beat 94% of towns in England; secondary results beat 71% of towns in England. Jobs and pay hold up well (A): the mean household earns £66,493 a year. Its weakest subject is cost of living (C) — homes sell for a median £860,000, about 12.7 times local household income. Hazard risk is lower than in most UK towns (A).
Figures: income, ONS · claimants, DWP · prices, HM Land Registry, the last three years · flood risk, Environment Agency. Stock is graded on each subject, but towns under 2,500 get no overall grade.
What makes Stock stand out
The 3 things Stock does most differently from other towns.
Median sale, £ thousands
Housing
3.1 times the typical UK town’s £277K
Standard sales, September 2023 to August 2026.
Listed buildings per 10,000 residents
History
1 Grade I, including Church of All Saints; 11 times the typical UK town for its size
Historic England’s list, October 2026.
Residents 65 and over
Who lives here
36% are 65 or over
Against 18% across England’s towns
How Stock grades
Each subject compared with the 2,160 UK towns with an overall grade (schools within England), ordered by how far Stock is from typical. American towns are graded separately.
Stock is graded on each subject, but towns under 2,500 get no overall grade.
Jobs & income2.2% of 16 to 64s claim unemployment benefitsAOpen →SchoolsPrimary results beat 94% of towns in England; secondary results beat 71% of towns in EnglandAOpen →Hazard risk0% of homes at high or medium risk of flooding from rivers or the seaAOpen →HealthLife expectancy 80.6 for men, 85.9 for womenA−Open →Walkability20% of commuters walk, cycle or take public transportA−Open →Cost of livingHomes are harder to afford than in most townsCOpen →SafetyAbout average among the towns comparedC+Open →
Character Graded, but not part of the overall grade.
HistoryBased on listed places, the town’s age and notable peopleAOpen →Outdoors62% live within 400 m of a park; 2.2 ha of public green space per 1,000 residentsCOpen →Civic life5.7 local charities per 1,000 residents; 100% live within 1 km of a libraryA+Open →
How TownRatings grades towns →
The data
Data highlights are ordered by what stands out in Stock.
Who lives here
Fewer children live in Stock than in Essex’s towns or England’s towns: 12% are under 15
Graduates make up a third of adults. People 65 and over make up 36% of the town, above Essex’s towns (20%) and England’s towns (18%) alike. The 15-to-24 age group makes up 7.2% of residents. At 56.5, the median resident of Stock sits in the middle of the age range.
56.5median age
StockEssexEngland
Ages · share of residents
36%
Qualifications · residents 16 and older
No qualifications17%
Apprenticeship4%
A levels or similar14%
Degree level33%
Women and men · all residents
50% women, 50% men
About an even split. Across England, 51% of residents are women.
| Stock | Essex | England | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 15 | 12% | 18% | 18% |
| 15–24 | 7.2% | 11% | 12% |
| 25–44 | 14% | 26% | 27% |
| 45–64 | 30% | 26% | 25% |
| 65+ | 36% | 20% | 18% |
| No qualifications | 17% | 19% | 18% |
| Apprenticeship | 3.7% | 5.5% | 5.3% |
| A levels or similar | 14% | 17% | 17% |
| Degree level | 33% | 27% | 34% |
ONS Census 2021 · Essex and England: all residents of their built-up areas · OGL
SchoolsA
Results at Stock’s schools beat 87% of towns in England
73% of pupils at the 5 primary schools within 3 km met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths (three-year average). The town has one school, shown below. Attainment 8 at the one secondary school within 3 km averages 48.1, and 53% of pupils get grade 5 or above in English and maths.
ASchool Grade
| School | Level | Pupils | Letter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stock Church of England Primary SchoolLargest primary schoolPrimary | Primary | 202 | A− |
Department for Education · GIAS, Key Stage 2 and GCSE resultsThe Schools page →
History
More buildings in Stock are listed than in Essex’s towns or England’s towns: 267 per 10,000 residents
The heritage lists give each building’s grade but not its age, so we don’t say which is oldest.
23% of its homes were built before 1919, higher than both Essex’s towns (11%) and England’s towns (16%). Stock’s listed buildings include the Church of All Saints, Grade I. It has 42 listed buildings on Historic England’s list: 1 Grade I, 1 Grade II*.
42listed buildingsAHistory Grade
Listed buildings by grade · Historic England
Grade I1
Grade II*1
Grade II40
Among them · Grade I
- Church of All Saints Grade I
0
scheduled monuments
0
registered parks and gardens
23%
of homes built before 1919 · typical UK town 15%
267
listed buildings per 10,000 residents · typical UK town 24
Historic England list, October 2026 · Valuation Office Agency, homes by build period · OGL
Health
82% of people in Stock rate their health good or very good
Women here live to 85.9 on average and men to 80.6 (2019–23). The nearest A&E to Stock is Basildon University Hospital, 7.3 miles away. One GP practice serves the town; 91% of patients rate theirs good in the GP Patient Survey.
82%good or very good healthA−Health Grade
General health, self-reported
Good or very good 82%Fair 14%Bad or very bad 5%
| Census 2021 | Stock | Essex | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Good or very good health | 82% | 83% | 82% |
| Bad or very bad health | 4.8% | 4.8% | 5.2% |
| Disabled (Equality Act) | 16% | 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 · Read these answers with age in mind: they aren’t adjusted, so younger places do better. The Health Grade uses age-adjusted measures, life expectancy and early deaths among them.
Work & commuteJobs & income grade A
Commuters in Stock travel far: only 21% go under 5 km, fewer than in Essex’s towns and across England’s towns
The Census was taken on 21 March 2021, in lockdown, so 50% of workers were mainly at home; shares here are of those who travelled.
Half of workers worked mainly from home at the census. Of the commuters living in Stock, 8% work in the town itself. Jobs per working resident: 0.8.
20%walk, cycle or ride
How commuters got to work · March 2021
Driving78%
Train9%
On foot7%
Underground, tram2%
Bus1%
Bicycle1%
21%
of commuters travel under 5 km · England 45%
50%
worked mainly from home in March 2021
£66K
mean household income, before tax
2.2%
of 16 to 64s claim unemployment benefits (2026)
A−
Walkability: more walkable than 77% 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 C
Private renting is less common in Stock than in Essex’s towns or across England’s towns: 11%
Owners make up three quarters of households, above Essex’s towns (67%) and England’s towns (61%) alike. The £860,000 median rests on 75 standard sales inside the built-up area (September 2023 to August 2026). Private rents average £1,439 a month across the Chelmsford council area.
£860Kmedian sale
Median sale price · Sep 2023 to Aug 2026
Stock£860K
Typical UK town£277K
| By type | Median | Sales |
|---|---|---|
| Detached | £992,500 | 52 |
| Semi-detached | £685,000 | 14 |
| Terraced | £430,000 | 6 |
75%
of households own their home · England 61%
11%
rent privately · England 21%
£1,439
average private rent a month, Chelmsford council area
£2,288
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
Burglary and damage hit Stock harder than Essex’s towns or England’s towns: 14 per 1,000 residents a year
60% of the crimes fell under violence and sexual offences. Stock logged 82 reported offences in a year (to August 2026), plus 10 complaints of anti-social conduct. Among the 1,541 UK towns of 1,000 to 2,500 people, Stock has more crime per resident than 78% of them.
22.7violent and sexual offences per 1,000 a yearC+Safety Grade
Compared with UK towns its sizeLess crime per resident than 22% 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 & sexual49
Other theft10
Burglary8
Damage & arson6
Vehicle crime5
Drugs2
Public order1
Other crime1
Anti-social10
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.
22.7
violent and sexual offences per 1,000 residents a year, averaged Sep 2023 to Aug 2026
14
burglary, vehicle crime and damage per 1,000 a year, averaged Sep 2023 to Aug 2026
3.2
anti-social behaviour reports per 1,000 (not graded)
82
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.
Nearby attractions
All attractions →Hylands House and 2 more in and around Stock
Museums, castles, gardens and days out in and near Stock. Best known first.
Historic houseHylands House4.9 km outside town, to the north
Historic houseIngatestone Hall3 km outside town, to the west
MuseumThe Cater Museum3.9 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 (3)
- Hylands House: Graham Pearce, Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
- Ingatestone Hall: John S Turner, CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
- The Cater Museum: Piecesofuk, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
Keep exploring
Everything we know about Stock
15pages on Stock
The big questions
SafetyC+22.7 violent and sexual offences per 1,000 residents a year, averaged Sep 2023 to Aug 2026Cost of livingCMedian home £860K · rent £1,439 a monthHousing24 sold in 12 months · busiest street Mill RoadSchoolsA1 state schoolHealthA−Life expectancy 80.6 (men), 85.9 (women)Work & commuteA62% of working residents work in the townFlood & hazardsA0% of homes at high or medium flood risk
Out and about
Stock’s neighbours
The nearest built-up areas, from ONS’s 2022 boundaries. See them on the map →
Ramsden HeathGalleywoodBillericayIngatestoneRunwellCrays HillWrittleStock
How the neighbours grade
| Town | People | Miles | Overall | Cost | Safety | Health |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stock | 1,573 | — | — | C | C+ | A− |
| Ramsden Heath | 1,949 | 2.3 | — | C | A− | A− |
| Galleywood | 6,410 | 2.6 | A− | B | C+ | B+ |
| Billericay | 34,068 | 2.6 | A | D | B+ | A |
| Ingatestone | 5,411 | 3 | A | C | B− | A |
| Runwell | 8,086 | 4.3 | C+ | B− | C− | C+ |
| Crays Hill | 1,218 | 4.5 | — | D | C+ | B+ |
| Writtle | 4,703 | 4.6 | A | C+ | B | A− |
Ramsden Heath and Crays 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 Stock
Is Stock expensive to live in?
Homes cost more than in most UK towns: the median sale over three years was £860,000, against £277,000 in the typical UK town. By type: terraced houses £430,000, semi-detached houses £685,000 and detached houses £992,500.
How many listed buildings are there in Stock?
That is 11 times the typical UK town for its size. Its Grade I building is Church of All Saints.
Are schools in Stock good?
Secondary results beat 71%. One state school is inside the town; places are handled by Essex council.
About Stock
Village in Essex, England
Stock is a built-up area of 1,573 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
- 1,573 (Census 2021)
- Council
- Chelmsford
- County
- Essex
- Region
- East of England
- Area
- 0.5 sq mi (1.3 km²)
- ONS code
- E63004633
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.