Ruspidge’s story
1 listed building
Historic England lists them inside Ruspidge’s built-up area.
31% of its homes were built before 1919, against 15% in the typical UK town.
Explore the history →
RuspidgeGloucestershire
In Gloucestershire, South West, this village has 2,431 residents.
7 places within 12 milesMap →
Photo: Eric Soons · CC BY-SA 2.0
Population
2,431
Census 2021 · Forest of Dean council
Median home
£243K
88 sales in 3 years
Median age
45.2
21% are 65+ · Gloucestershire 20%
Degree level
24%
of residents 16+ · England 34%
Walk, cycle, bus
8%
of commuters · England 27%
Is Ruspidge a good place to live?
Ruspidge’s best grade is for cost of living: the median home sold for £242,750, 4.9 years of area income. Work and incomes lag: mean household income £43,140; 2.4% of 16 to 64s claim unemployment benefits. It also trails on walkability: on the way to work, 8% walk, cycle or take a bus or train. Schools lag (C−): primary results beat 52% of towns in England; secondary results beat 1% of towns in England.
Figures: prices, HM Land Registry, the last three years · income, ONS · claimants, DWP · commuting, Census 2021. With fewer than 2,500 residents, Ruspidge 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 Ruspidge stand out
The 3 things Ruspidge does most differently from other towns.
Walk, cycle or public transport
Getting around
8% leave the car
of commuters walk, cycle or take public transport (England’s towns 27%)
Homes built before 1919
History
31% of homes built before 1919
Against 15% in the typical UK town
Valuation Office Agency, homes by build period.
Secondary results, towns in England
Schools
Secondary results trail 99%
of towns in England, on GCSE results (Attainment 8, English and maths)
Primary results beat 52%. Department for Education.
How Ruspidge grades
Each subject compared with the 2,160 UK towns with an overall grade (schools within England), ordered by how far Ruspidge is from typical. American towns are graded separately.
With fewer than 2,500 residents, Ruspidge has subject grades but no overall one.
WalkabilityAmong the hardest places to get around without a carDOpen →Jobs & incomeNear the bottom of the towns comparedC−Open →SchoolsPrimary results beat 52% of towns in England; secondary results beat 1% of towns in EnglandC−Open →Cost of livingGraded on home prices against local incomesA−Open →Hazard risk1.6% of homes at high or medium risk of flooding from rivers or the seaC−Open →HealthLife expectancy 78.7 for men, 82.6 for womenC−Open →SafetyAbout average among the towns comparedB−Open →
Character Graded, but not part of the overall grade.
History1 listed buildingCOpen →Outdoors46% live within 400 m of a park; 2 ha of public green space per 1,000 residentsC+Open →Civic life3.3 local charities per 1,000 residents; 14% live within 1 km of a libraryA−Open →
How TownRatings grades towns →
The data
Data highlights are ordered by what stands out in Ruspidge.
Work & commuteJobs & income grade C−
The car carries 90% of commuters in Ruspidge, more than in both Gloucestershire’s towns and England’s towns
The Census was taken on 21 March 2021, in lockdown, so 23% of workers were mainly at home; shares here are of those who travelled.
Short trips to work, under 5 km: 26%, below Gloucestershire’s towns (45%) and England’s towns (45%) alike. At the census, nearly a quarter of workers worked mainly from home. 3% of commuters who live in Ruspidge also work there. For every resident in work, Ruspidge has 0.3 jobs.
8%walk, cycle or ride
How commuters got to work · March 2021
Driving90%
On foot5%
Bus2%
Bicycle1%
26%
of commuters travel under 5 km · England 45%
23%
worked mainly from home in March 2021
£43K
mean household income, before tax
2.4%
of 16 to 64s claim unemployment benefits (2026)
D
Walkability: more walkable than 14% of UK towns
ONS Census 2021, method of travel and distance to work · ONS small-area income · DWP claimant count · OGL
SchoolsC−
Exam results at Ruspidge’s schools trail 78% of towns in England
At the 4 primary schools within 3 km, 62% of pupils reach the expected standard in reading, writing and maths (three-year average). The town has one school, shown below. GCSE results at the one secondary school within 3 km: 18% of pupils get a strong pass (grade 5+) in English and maths, and the Attainment 8 average is 32.9.
C−School Grade
| School | Level | Pupils | Letter |
|---|---|---|---|
| St White's Primary SchoolLargest primary schoolPrimary | Primary | 245 | B− |
Department for Education · GIAS, Key Stage 2 and GCSE resultsThe Schools page →
HousingCost of living grade A−
Private renting is less common in Ruspidge than in Gloucestershire’s towns or across England’s towns: 12%
Owners make up nearly three quarters of households, higher than both Gloucestershire’s towns (68%) and England’s towns (61%). Private rents average £828 a month across the Forest of Dean council area. Behind the median of £242,750: 88 standard sales inside Ruspidge’s built-up area, September 2023 to August 2026.
£243Kmedian sale
Median sale price · Sep 2023 to Aug 2026
Ruspidge£243K
Typical UK town£277K
| By type | Median | Sales |
|---|---|---|
| Detached | £325,000 | 29 |
| Semi-detached | £235,000 | 33 |
| Terraced | £225,000 | 25 |
74%
of households own their home · England 61%
12%
rent privately · England 21%
£828
average private rent a month, Forest of Dean council area
£2,400
council tax, Band D, 2026–27
HM Land Registry Price Paid · ONS private rents · MHCLG / Welsh Government council tax · ONS Census 2021 tenure · OGL
Health
Fewer people in Ruspidge say their health is good than in Gloucestershire’s towns or across England’s towns: 80%
At the census, 5.9% of people here described their health as bad or very bad. Nearly a fifth of residents have a disability, above both Gloucestershire’s towns (17%) and England’s towns (17%). Men in Ruspidge can expect to live to 78.7, women to 82.6 (2019–23). The town has no GP practice of its own; the nearest is 1.1 miles away.
80%good or very good healthC−Health Grade
General health, self-reported
Good or very good 80%Fair 14%Bad or very bad 6%
| Census 2021 | Ruspidge | Gloucestershire | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Good or very good health | 80% | 83% | 82% |
| Bad or very bad health | 5.9% | 4.5% | 5.2% |
| Disabled (Equality Act) | 19% | 17% | 17% |
78.7
life expectancy at birth, men (2019–23)
82.6
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
Ruspidge keeps more of its old housing than Gloucestershire’s towns or England’s towns: 31% built before 1919
The heritage lists give each building’s grade but not its age, so we don’t say which is oldest.
Relative to its size, Ruspidge keeps 4 listed buildings per 10,000 residents. None of the 1 listed building reaches Grade II* or Grade I; all are Grade II.
1listed buildingsCHistory Grade
Listed buildings by grade · Historic England
Grade I0
Grade II*0
Grade II1
0
scheduled monuments
0
registered parks and gardens
31%
of homes built before 1919 · typical UK town 15%
4
listed buildings per 10,000 residents · typical UK town 24
Historic England list, October 2026 · Valuation Office Agency, homes by build period · OGL
Safety
Ruspidge records less crime per resident than 53% of UK towns
Violence and sexual offences made up 52% of the total. Reported offences in Ruspidge came to 33 over twelve months to August 2026; nuisance and anti-social incidents added 12. Burglary and damage came to 7 per 1,000 residents a year, lower than both Gloucestershire’s towns (8.1) and England’s towns (9.4).
24violent and sexual offences per 1,000 a yearB−Safety Grade
Compared with UK towns its sizeLess crime per resident than 33% 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 & sexual17
Damage & arson4
Public order3
Other theft3
Other crime3
Burglary1
Vehicle crime1
Weapons1
Anti-social12
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.
24
violent and sexual offences per 1,000 residents a year, averaged Sep 2023 to Aug 2026
7
burglary, vehicle crime and damage per 1,000 a year, averaged Sep 2023 to Aug 2026
8.9
anti-social behaviour reports per 1,000 (not graded)
33
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.
Who lives here
Degrees are less common in Ruspidge than in Gloucestershire’s towns or across England’s towns: 24% of adults
16% are under 15, near Gloucestershire’s towns (17%) and lower than England’s towns (18%). People aged 15 to 24 make up 9.1% of the town. Line up the people of Ruspidge by age and the one in the middle is 45.2. The 65-and-over age group makes up 21% of residents.
45.2median age
RuspidgeGloucestershireEngland
Ages · share of residents
21%
Qualifications · residents 16 and older
No qualifications18%
Apprenticeship8%
A levels or similar19%
Degree level24%
Women and men · all residents
50% women, 50% men
About an even split. Across England, 51% of residents are women.
| Ruspidge | Gloucestershire | England | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 15 | 16% | 17% | 18% |
| 15–24 | 9.1% | 11% | 12% |
| 25–44 | 24% | 26% | 27% |
| 45–64 | 29% | 26% | 25% |
| 65+ | 21% | 20% | 18% |
| No qualifications | 18% | 15% | 18% |
| Apprenticeship | 8% | 5.8% | 5.3% |
| A levels or similar | 19% | 18% | 17% |
| Degree level | 24% | 34% | 34% |
ONS Census 2021 · Gloucestershire and England: all residents of their built-up areas · OGL
Nearby attractions
All attractions →Forest of Dean Sculpture Trail and 3 more in and around Ruspidge
Museums, castles, gardens and days out in and near Ruspidge. Best known first.
Art galleryArt galleryForest of Dean Sculpture Trail2.9 km outside town, to the west
MuseumDean Heritage Museum1.4 km outside town, to the southeastAttractionAttractionGo Ape2.3 km outside town, to the southwestAttractionAttractionLittledean Jail1.7 km outside town, to the northeast
MuseumDean Heritage Museum1.4 km outside town, to the southeastAttractionAttractionGo Ape2.3 km outside town, to the southwestAttractionAttractionLittledean Jail1.7 km outside town, to the northeastPlaces: © OpenStreetMap contributors · Wikidata
Photos: each place’s Wikidata image, from Wikimedia Commons under the licence below (our copy, resized).
Photo credits (1)
- Dean Heritage Museum: Philip Halling, CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
Keep exploring
Everything we know about Ruspidge
15pages on Ruspidge
The big questions
SafetyB−24 violent and sexual offences per 1,000 residents a year, averaged Sep 2023 to Aug 2026Cost of livingA−Median home £243K · rent £828 a monthHousing19 sold in 12 months · busiest street Buckshaft RoadSchoolsC−1 state schoolHealthC−Life expectancy 78.7 (men), 82.6 (women)Work & commuteC−44% of working residents work in the townFlood & hazardsC−1.6% of homes at high or medium flood risk
Out and about
Ruspidge’s neighbours
The nearest built-up areas, from ONS’s 2022 boundaries. See them on the map →
CinderfordNewnhamDrybrookBlakeneyYorkley and WhitecroftRuardeanMitcheldeanRuspidge
How the neighbours grade
| Town | People | Miles | Overall | Cost | Safety | Health |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ruspidge | 2,431 | — | — | A− | B− | C− |
| Cinderford | 8,778 | 1 | C | A− | C− | C− |
| Newnham | 1,054 | 2.3 | — | B− | B+ | C+ |
| Drybrook | 2,572 | 3.1 | C | B | C+ | C+ |
| Blakeney | 1,303 | 3.6 | — | B | C+ | C+ |
| Yorkley and Whitecroft | 2,678 | 3.7 | C+ | B− | B+ | B |
| Ruardean | 1,195 | 3.8 | — | A− | B+ | C+ |
| Mitcheldean | 2,163 | 4 | — | B+ | C+ | C |
Newnham, Blakeney, Ruardean and Mitcheldean have fewer than 2,500 residents, so they get subject grades but no overall grade. People: Census 2021. Miles: centre to centre.
Questions about Ruspidge
How many listed buildings are there in Ruspidge?
1 on Historic England’s list.
Are schools in Ruspidge good?
One state school is inside the town; places are handled by Gloucestershire council.
Does Ruspidge flood?
Surface water isn’t included. Check a specific address on GOV.UK’s flood risk service.
About Ruspidge
Village in Gloucestershire, England
Ruspidge is a built-up area of 2,431 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
- 2,431 (Census 2021)
- Council
- Forest of Dean
- County
- Gloucestershire
- Region
- South West
- Area
- 0.3 sq mi (0.7 km²)
- ONS code
- E63004361
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.