Ruardean’s story
7 listed buildings, 1 of them Grade II*
Historic England lists them inside Ruardean’s built-up area.
29% of its homes were built before 1919, against 15% in the typical UK town.
Explore the history →
RuardeanGloucestershire
Some 1,195 people live in this village, in Gloucestershire, South West.
7 places within 12 milesMap →
Photo: Jaggery · CC BY-SA 2.0
Population
1,195
Census 2021 · Forest of Dean council
Median home
£245K
47 sales in 3 years
Median age
52.4
29% are 65+ · Gloucestershire 20%
Degree level
28%
of residents 16+ · England 34%
Walk, cycle, bus
5%
of commuters · England 27%
Is Ruardean a good place to live?
Ruardean’s strongest is cost of living — a typical home costs £245,000 and rent runs £828 a month. Pupils here do less well than most: primary results beat 14% of towns in England. Most journeys need a car (D−): 5% of commuters get to work on foot, by bike or by public transport. The local economy is weaker than most (D): mean household income £49,534; 3.2% of 16 to 64s claim unemployment benefits.
Figures: prices, HM Land Registry, the last three years · commuting, Census 2021 · income, ONS · claimants, DWP. With fewer than 2,500 residents, Ruardean has subject grades but no overall one.
Gloucestershire Police published 29 of the 36 months; rates are per year over the months published.
What makes Ruardean stand out
The 3 things Ruardean does most differently from other towns.
Walk, cycle or public transport
Getting around
5% 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 Church of St John the Baptist; 2.4 times the typical UK town for its size
Historic England’s list, October 2026.
Residents 65 and over
Who lives here
29% are 65 or over
Against 18% across England’s towns
How Ruardean grades
Each subject compared with the 2,160 UK towns with an overall grade (schools within England), ordered by how far Ruardean is from typical. American towns are graded separately.
With fewer than 2,500 residents, Ruardean has subject grades but no overall one.
WalkabilityBased on walking, cycling and transit to everyday placesD−Open →SchoolsPrimary results beat 14% of towns in EnglandDOpen →Jobs & incomeIncomes and work are among the weakest comparedDOpen →Cost of livingMedian sale £245,000, 4.9 years of area incomeA−Open →SafetyBetter than most of the towns comparedB+Open →HealthLife expectancy 78.9 for men, 83.3 for womenC+Open →Hazard risk0.5% of homes at high or medium risk of flooding from rivers or the seaC+Open →
Character Graded, but not part of the overall grade.
HistoryGraded on historic places and the town’s ageBOpen →Outdoors100% live within 400 m of a park; 29% of land within 5 km is National Park or National LandscapeAOpen →Civic life2.5 local charities per 1,000 residents; 0% live within 1 km of a libraryCOpen →
How TownRatings grades towns →
The data
Data highlights are ordered by what stands out in Ruardean.
Work & commuteJobs & income grade D
Commuters in Ruardean travel far: only 25% go under 5 km, fewer than in Gloucestershire’s towns and across England’s towns
The Census was taken on 21 March 2021, in lockdown, so 25% of workers were mainly at home; shares here are of those who travelled.
93% of commuters drove, above Gloucestershire’s towns (78%) and England’s towns (70%) alike. There are 0.2 jobs in Ruardean for each resident in work.
5%walk, cycle or ride
How commuters got to work · March 2021
Driving93%
On foot3%
Bus1%
25%
of commuters travel under 5 km · England 45%
25%
worked mainly from home in March 2021
£50K
mean household income, before tax
3.2%
of 16 to 64s claim unemployment benefits (2026)
D−
Walkability: behind almost every UK town
ONS Census 2021, method of travel and distance to work · ONS small-area income · DWP claimant count · OGL
SchoolsD
Exam results at Ruardean’s schools trail 91% of towns in England
At the 5 primary schools within 3 km, 53% of pupils reach the expected standard in reading, writing and maths (three-year average). Below is its only school. The town’s primary school has 76 pupils.
DSchool Grade
| School | Level | Pupils | Letter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ruardean Church of England Primary SchoolLargest primary schoolPrimary | Primary | 76 | D− |
Department for Education · GIAS, Key Stage 2 and GCSE resultsThe Schools page →
Who lives here
Children make up only 13% of Ruardean, fewer than in Gloucestershire’s towns and across England’s towns
Those 65 and older account for 29% of residents. Ruardean has a median age of 52.4 years. Degrees are held by 28% of adults, below Gloucestershire’s towns (34%) and England’s towns (34%) alike.
52.4median age
RuardeanGloucestershireEngland
Ages · share of residents
29%
Qualifications · residents 16 and older
No qualifications18%
Apprenticeship8%
A levels or similar16%
Degree level28%
Women and men · all residents
52% women, 48% men
About 94 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.
| Ruardean | Gloucestershire | England | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 15 | 13% | 17% | 18% |
| 15–24 | 11% | 11% | 12% |
| 25–44 | 17% | 26% | 27% |
| 45–64 | 31% | 26% | 25% |
| 65+ | 29% | 20% | 18% |
| No qualifications | 18% | 15% | 18% |
| Apprenticeship | 7.6% | 5.8% | 5.3% |
| A levels or similar | 16% | 18% | 17% |
| Degree level | 28% | 34% | 34% |
ONS Census 2021 · Gloucestershire and England: all residents of their built-up areas · OGL
HousingCost of living grade A−
Most households in Ruardean own their home: 76%, more than in Gloucestershire’s towns and across England’s towns
Just over one in ten households rent privately. Social housing holds just over one in ten households, lower than both Gloucestershire’s towns (13%) and England’s towns (18%). From September 2023 to August 2026, 47 homes sold inside Ruardean’s built-up area at standard prices; the middle one went for £245,000.
£245Kmedian sale
Median sale price · Sep 2023 to Aug 2026
Ruardean£245K
Typical UK town£277K
| By type | Median | Sales |
|---|---|---|
| Detached | £365,000 | 15 |
| Semi-detached | £220,000 | 19 |
| Terraced | £232,000 | 13 |
76%
of households own their home · England 61%
11%
rent privately · England 21%
£828
average private rent a month, Forest of Dean council area
£2,388
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
Ruardean records less burglary and damage per resident than Gloucestershire’s towns or England’s towns, at 3.1 per 1,000 a year
Ruardean logged 16 reported offences in a year (to August 2026), plus 2 complaints of anti-social conduct. Violence and sexual offences made up 50% of the total. Also worth knowing: violent crime ran at 20.8 per 1,000 residents a year, below Gloucestershire’s towns (23) and England’s towns (22) alike.
20.8violent and sexual offences per 1,000 a yearB+Safety Grade
Compared with UK towns its sizeLess crime per resident than 54% 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 & sexual8
Other theft5
Damage & arson1
Drugs1
Other crime1
Shoplifting0
Public order0
Burglary0
Anti-social2
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.
20.8
violent and sexual offences per 1,000 residents a year, averaged Sep 2023 to Aug 2026
3.1
burglary, vehicle crime and damage per 1,000 a year, averaged Sep 2023 to Aug 2026
7.6
anti-social behaviour reports per 1,000 (not graded)
16
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
Disability is more common in Ruardean than in Gloucestershire’s towns or across England’s towns: 22% of residents
The nearest A&E to Ruardean is Gloucestershire Royal Hospital, 13.7 miles away. Asked at the census, three quarters of residents of Ruardean said they were in good or very good health. There is no GP practice in the town: the nearest is 1.5 miles off.
75%good or very good healthC+Health Grade
General health, self-reported
Good or very good 75%Fair 19%Bad or very bad 6%
| Census 2021 | Ruardean | Gloucestershire | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Good or very good health | 75% | 83% | 82% |
| Bad or very bad health | 5.5% | 4.5% | 5.2% |
| Disabled (Equality Act) | 22% | 17% | 17% |
78.9
life expectancy at birth, men (2019–23)
83.3
life expectancy at birth, women
ONS Census 2021, general health and disability · OHID Fingertips, life expectancy 2019–23 · OGL · These answers aren’t adjusted for age, so young towns look healthier; the Health Grade uses age-adjusted measures, including life expectancy and early deaths.
History
Old homes shape Ruardean: 29% were built before 1919, more than in Gloucestershire’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.
Of Ruardean’s land, 19% lies in conservation areas, above both Gloucestershire’s towns (9%) and England’s towns (7%). This Gloucestershire town counts 7 listed buildings on the national list (Historic England): 1 Grade II*. Per 10,000 residents, Ruardean counts 59 listed buildings.
7listed buildingsBHistory Grade
Listed buildings by grade · Historic England
Grade I0
Grade II*1
Grade II6
Among them · Grade II*
- Church of St John the Baptist Grade II*
0
scheduled monuments
0
registered parks and gardens
29%
of homes built before 1919 · typical UK town 15%
59
listed buildings per 10,000 residents · typical UK town 24
Historic England list, October 2026 · Valuation Office Agency, homes by build period · OGL
Nearby attractions
All attractions →Goodrich Castle and 3 more in and around Ruardean
Museums, castles, gardens and days out in and near Ruardean. Best known first.
Castle · English HeritageGoodrich Castle4.5 km outside town, to the northwest
Heritage railwayLea Bailey Light Railway2.4 km outside town, to the northeastArt galleryArt galleryForest of Dean Sculpture Trail4.9 km outside town, to the southZooZooCoppett Hill Butterfly Site4 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)
- Goodrich Castle: kitmasterbloke, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Lea Bailey Light Railway: Des Blenkinsopp, CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
Keep exploring
Everything we know about Ruardean
14pages on Ruardean
The big questions
SafetyB+20.8 violent and sexual offences per 1,000 residents a year, averaged Sep 2023 to Aug 2026Cost of livingA−Median home £245K · rent £828 a monthHousing15 sold in 12 months · busiest street Highfield RoadSchoolsD1 state schoolHealthC+Life expectancy 78.9 (men), 83.3 (women)Work & commuteD45% of working residents work in the townFlood & hazardsC+0.5% of homes at high or medium flood risk
Out and about
Ruardean’s neighbours
The nearest built-up areas, from ONS’s 2022 boundaries. See them on the map →
DrybrookWelsh BicknorMitcheldeanCinderfordRuspidgeBerry HillRoss-on-WyeRuardean
How the neighbours grade
| Town | People | Miles | Overall | Cost | Safety | Health |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ruardean | 1,195 | — | — | A− | B+ | C+ |
| Drybrook | 2,572 | 1.5 | C | B | C+ | C+ |
| Welsh Bicknor | 1,988 | 1.6 | — | B | B+ | B− |
| Mitcheldean | 2,163 | 2.7 | — | B+ | C+ | C |
| Cinderford | 8,778 | 3.2 | C | A− | C− | C− |
| Ruspidge | 2,431 | 3.8 | — | A− | B− | C− |
| Berry Hill | 2,211 | 4.3 | — | B− | C | C+ |
| Ross-on-Wye | 10,993 | 4.3 | B− | C+ | C+ | C |
Welsh Bicknor, Mitcheldean, Ruspidge and Berry 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 Ruardean
How many listed buildings are there in Ruardean?
That is 2.4 times the typical UK town for its size.
Are schools in Ruardean good?
Primary results trail 86% of towns in England (Department for Education, Key Stage 2). One state school is inside the town; places are handled by Gloucestershire council.
About Ruardean
Village in Gloucestershire, England
Ruardean is a built-up area of 1,195 people, in the Forest of Dean 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
- 1,195 (Census 2021)
- Council
- Forest of Dean
- County
- Gloucestershire
- Region
- South West
- Area
- 0.2 sq mi (0.5 km²)
- ONS code
- E63004264
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.