More weak spots than strong ones. Crime runs high (D): 47.5 violent and sexual offences and 20.8 home and vehicle crimes per 1,000 residents a year. Only 14% of UK towns of 10,000 to 50,000 people have more crime per resident. It takes 6 years of household income in the Monmouthshire council area to buy the median home, at £300,000. Its best grade is for walkability: on the way to work, 20% walk, cycle or take a bus or train. All told, that adds up to a D− overall and a rank of #27 of 38 in Gwent. Nationally, it does better than 4% of UK towns. Jobs & income is weaker too (D): mean household income £43,697; 3.2% of 16 to 64s claim unemployment benefits.

Figures: commuting, Census 2021 · crime, police.uk, averaged Sep 2023 to Aug 2026 · prices, HM Land Registry, the last three years · incomes, ONS · claimants, DWP.

This town's Health Grade uses ONS's small-area life expectancy and healthy life expectancy for 2019 to 2023, and two Census 2021 measures, bad health and disability, adjusted for age. English towns' grades also use OHID's small-area early deaths, hospital admissions and child obesity, which OHID publishes for England only.

StrongestA⁻WalkabilityWeakestDSafety DJobs & income

What makes Abergavenny stand out

The 3 things Abergavenny does most differently from other towns.

Picked automatically from the data

Listed buildings per 10,000 residents

History

2 Grade I, including Abergavenny Castle (ruins); 7.2 times the typical UK town for its size

Cadw’s list, October 2026.

Residents 65 and over

Who lives here

27% are 65 or over

Against 21% across Wales’s towns

Walk, cycle or public transport

Getting around

20% walk, cycle or ride

of commuters walk, cycle or take public transport (Wales’s towns 16%)

How Abergavenny grades

Each subject compared with the 2,160 UK towns with an overall grade (schools within Wales), ordered by how far Abergavenny is from typical. American towns are graded separately.

How grading works

SafetyAmong the weakest of the towns comparedDOpen →Jobs & incomeGraded on incomes, poverty and employmentDOpen →WalkabilityEasier than most to get around on footA⁻Open →Health7.6% in bad or very bad health, 23% disabled (adjusted for age in the grade)C⁻Open →Cost of livingBelow the middle of the towns comparedC⁻Open →Hazard risk1.4% of homes at high or medium risk of flooding from rivers or the seaCOpen →

SchoolsNot published in Wales–

Character Graded, but not part of the overall grade.

History27% of homes built before 1919A⁺Open →Outdoors83% live within 400 m of a park; 60% of land within 5 km is National Park or National LandscapeAOpen →Civic life2.8 local charities per 1,000 residents; 51% live within 1 km of a libraryA⁻Open →

How TownRatings grades towns →

Remains of the Castle at Abergavenny, 18th century · Photo: Smith, Warwick, 1749-1831 Alken, Samuel, fl. 1780-1798 · CC0

Abergavenny’s story

Abergavenny in pictures

Cadw lists 241 buildings inside Abergavenny’s built-up area, 2 of them Grade I, and 3 scheduled monuments.

27% of its homes were built before 1919, against 15% in the typical UK town.

The archive holds 8 old photos and postcards going back to 1750.

c. 1826Front View of the New Market Place, Abergavenny : Erected in the year…
c. 1850Abergavenny & Blorenge mountain from the asylum
c. 1875Haymaking near Abergavenny

Explore the history →

The data

Data highlights are ordered by what stands out in Abergavenny.

History

More of the land in Abergavenny is conservation area than in Gwent’s towns or Wales’s towns: 30%

The heritage lists give each building’s grade but not its age, so we don’t say which is oldest.

Only one town in Gwent has more listed buildings for its size than Abergavenny. The town’s listed buildings include Abergavenny Castle (ruins), Grade I. It counts 241 listed buildings on the national list (Cadw): 2 Grade I, 8 Grade II*.

241listed buildingsA⁺History Grade

Listed buildings by grade · Cadw

Grade I2

Grade II*8

Grade II231

Among them · Grade I

Abergavenny Castle (ruins) Grade I
Church of St Mary Grade I

scheduled monuments

registered parks and gardens

27%

of homes built before 1919 · typical UK town 15%

176

listed buildings per 10,000 residents · typical UK town 24

Full pageAbergavenny’s history pageOpen the page

Listed buildings241 listed buildings Homes by age27% built before 1919 · Older homes Vs. the neighboursAhead of 6 of its 7 graded neighbours Questions“How many listed buildings are there in Abergavenny?”

Cadw list, October 2026 · Valuation Office Agency, homes by build period · OGL

Schools

5 state schools in Abergavenny

Below are two of them, each with why it was picked. Abergavenny’s four primaries and one secondary have 2,222 pupils between them. Two of them are below, each with the reason it’s listed.

School	Level	Pupils	Letter
Ysgol Gymraeg Y FenniLargest primary schoolPrimary	Primary	271	–
King Henry viii 3-19 SchoolLargest secondary schoolAll-through	All-through	1,310	–

Welsh Government · schools list · Wales publishes no school-level results, so its schools have no letters.See all 5 schools →

Safety

Per resident, Abergavenny sees more crime than nine in ten UK towns

For its size, Abergavenny records more crime per resident than 86% of the 645 UK towns of 10,000 to 50,000 people. Police figures for the town’s built-up area: 1,530 crimes and 411 anti-social behaviour reports in the 12 months to August 2026. Anti-social behaviour, shown but not graded, came to 30.8 reports per 1,000, higher than both Gwent’s towns (15) and Wales’s towns (10.4). Of all the crimes, 42% were violence and sexual offences.

47.5violent and sexual offences per 1,000 a yearDSafety Grade

Compared with UK towns its sizeLess crime per resident than 14% of the 645 UK towns of 10,000 to 50,000 people: more crime than most for its size. Context only, not part of the grade.

More crimeLess crime

Reports by type · Sep 2025 to Aug 2026

Violence & sexual645

Public order232

Damage & arson200

Shoplifting177

Other theft96

Burglary62

Vehicle crime41

Drugs33

Anti-social411

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.

47.5

violent and sexual offences per 1,000 residents a year, averaged Sep 2023 to Aug 2026

20.8

burglary, vehicle crime and damage per 1,000 a year, averaged Sep 2023 to Aug 2026

30.8

anti-social behaviour reports per 1,000 (not graded)

1,530

crimes recorded in the 12 months to August 2026

Full pageAbergavenny’s safety reportOpen the page

Safety Grade47.5 violent and sexual offences per 1,000 · Abergavenny has more crime per resident than 92% of UK towns Crime by typeViolence & sexual leads Vs. the neighboursAhead of 1 of its 7 graded neighbours Questions“Is Abergavenny safe?”

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 D

Fewer commuters in Abergavenny drive than in Gwent’s towns or across Wales’s towns: 78%

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.

There are 1.1 jobs in Abergavenny for each resident in work. 44% of commuters travelled under 5 km, above Gwent’s towns (39%) and Wales’s towns (41%) alike. Also worth knowing: about 36% of its commuters stay in Abergavenny for work.

20%walk, cycle or ride

How commuters got to work · March 2021

Driving78%

On foot18%

Bicycle1%

Train1%

Bus1%

44%

of commuters travel under 5 km · Wales 41%

26%

worked mainly from home in March 2021

£44K

mean household income, before tax

3.2%

of 16 to 64s claim unemployment benefits (2026)

A⁻

Walkability: more walkable than 79% of UK towns

Full pageAbergavenny’s work & commute pageOpen the page

Commute map20% walk, cycle or ride Jobs based here6,150 jobs based here · Health and social care is the biggest, 36%Household income£44K a year · Mean household income Getting to work44% go under 5 km · Short trips to work

ONS Census 2021, method of travel and distance to work · ONS small-area income · DWP claimant count · OGL

Who lives here

Abergavenny skews older, with 27% of residents 65 or over, more than Gwent’s towns or Wales’s towns

9.4% of residents are aged 15 to 24. Half the people of Abergavenny are older than 48.9. Degrees are held by 38% of adults, higher than both Gwent’s towns (28%) and Wales’s towns (31%).

48.9median age

AbergavennyGwentWales

GwentWales

Ages · share of residents

27%

Qualifications · residents 16 and older

No qualifications19%

Apprenticeship5%

A levels or similar14%

Degree level38%

Women and men · all residents

52% women, 48% men

About 91 men for every 100 women. Across Wales, 51% of residents are women. Women live longer than men, so towns with many older residents have more women.

Ages and qualifications in Abergavenny
	Abergavenny	Gwent	Wales
Under 15	15%	18%	17%
15–24	9.4%	11%	12%
25–44	21%	26%	25%
45–64	27%	27%	26%
65+	27%	20%	21%
No qualifications	19%	23%	20%
Apprenticeship	4.6%	5.4%	5.6%
A levels or similar	14%	16%	17%
Degree level	38%	28%	31%

Full pageAbergavenny’s Who lives here pageOpen the page

Ages48.9 median age · 27% are 65 or over Households6,506 households · 63% own their home Where people were born7.2% born outside the UK Questions“What is the population of Abergavenny?”

ONS Census 2021 · Gwent and Wales: all residents of their built-up areas · OGL

Health

Most people in Abergavenny (77%) report good or very good health

3 GP practices serve the town. The nearest A&E to Abergavenny is The Grange University Hospital, 12.7 miles away. Life expectancy here is 83.1 for women and 78.8 for men (2019–23).

77%good or very good healthC⁻Health Grade

General health, self-reported

Good or very good 77%Fair 15%Bad or very bad 8%

Census 2021	Abergavenny	Gwent	Wales
Good or very good health	77%	77%	78%
Bad or very bad health	7.6%	7.7%	7.1%
Disabled (Equality Act)	23%	22%	22%

78.8

life expectancy at birth, men (2019–23)

83.1

life expectancy at birth, women

Welsh towns’ Health Grades use ONS’s small-area life expectancy and healthy life expectancy for 2019 to 2023, and two Census 2021 measures, bad health and disability, adjusted for age. English towns’ also use OHID’s small-area early deaths, hospital admissions and child obesity, which OHID publishes for England only.

Full pageAbergavenny’s health pageOpen the page

Health GradeLife expectancy: women 83.1, men 78.8 Getting care12.7 miles to A&E · The Grange University Hospital GP practices4,563 residents per practice Census health77% in good health

ONS Census 2021, general health and disability · ONS, 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.

HousingCost of living grade C⁻

Abergavenny’s grade for cost of living grade: a C−

Private rents average £994 a month across the Monmouthshire council area. 570 standard sales inside Abergavenny’s built-up area from September 2023 to August 2026 put the median at £300,000. Social housing holds just over a fifth of households.

£300Kmedian sale

Median sale price · Sep 2023 to Aug 2026

Abergavenny£300K

Typical UK town£277K

By type	Median	Sales
Detached	£430,000	172
Semi-detached	£316,500	156
Terraced	£242,500	166
Flat or maisonette	£183,500	76

63%

of households own their home · Wales 65%

15%

rent privately · Wales 17%

£994

average private rent a month, Monmouthshire council area

£2,417

council tax, Band D, 2026–27

Full pageAbergavenny’s housing & cost pageOpen the page

House pricesMedian sale £300,000 Renting£994 a month · Average private rent Council tax£2,417 Band D · Council tax, 2026–27 Owners and renters63% own their home

HM Land Registry Price Paid · ONS private rents · MHCLG / Welsh Government council tax · ONS Census 2021 tenure · OGL

Nearby attractions

Abergavenny Castle and 4 more in and around Abergavenny

Museums, castles, gardens and days out in and near Abergavenny. Best known first.

All attractions →

CastleAbergavenny Castlein town

MuseumAbergavenny Museumin town

CastleLlanover House4.4 km outside town, to the south

FortRuins of chapel2.8 km outside town, to the northeast CastleCastleCastell Y Fenniin town

Photos: each place’s Wikidata image, from Wikimedia Commons under the licence below (our copy, resized).

Photo credits (4)

Abergavenny Castle: Jeremy Bolwell, CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
Abergavenny Museum: Jeremy Bolwell, CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
Llanover House: Vouliagmeni, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
Ruins of chapel: Philip Halling, CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia Commons

Keep exploring

Everything we know about Abergavenny

15pages on Abergavenny

The big questions

SafetyD47.5 violent and sexual offences per 1,000 residents a year, averaged Sep 2023 to Aug 2026 Cost of livingC⁻Median home £300K · rent £994 a month Housing157 sold in 12 months · busiest street Croesonen Parc Schools5 state schools (no results published in Wales)HealthC⁻Work & commuteD62% of working residents work in the town Flood & hazardsC1.4% of homes at high or medium flood risk

Out and about

OutdoorsA83% live within 400 m of a park AttractionsClimateJuly highs of 21°C (70°F), 1,110 mm of rain a year Weather

The story

Who lives hereMedian age 48.9 · 13,689 people HistoryA⁺241 listed buildings, 2 Grade I Town Hall & politicsCouncil area: Monmouthshire Famous people69 born here, among them Rebecca James

Landmarks

241 listed buildings in Abergavenny, 2 of them Grade I.

All landmarks →

Abergavenny Castle (ruins)Grade I listed

Church of St MaryGrade I listed

BurtonGrade II* listed

Trinity AlmshousesGrade II listed

Photo credits

Abergavenny Castle (ruins): Photo: Jeremy Bolwell · CC BY-SA 2.0 · Church of St Mary: Photo: Acomax · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Burton: Photo: Jeremai · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Trinity Almshouses: Photo: No Swan So Fine · CC BY-SA 4.0

Famous people from Abergavenny

69 notable people were born in Abergavenny.

See all 69 →

Rebecca JamesBritish cyclist from Wales · born 1991

Francis PymBritish politician (1922–2008)

David LewisEnglish Jesuit Catholic priest and martyr · 1616–1679

Thomas JamesExplorer, ship captain · 1593–1635

Augusta Hall, Baroness LlanoverBritish noble (1802–1896)

Lowri ThomasBritish cyclist · born 1999

Photo credits

Rebecca James: Nicola, CC BY-SA 4.0 · Francis Pym: Unknown photographer, Public domain · David Lewis: Alexander Voet the Elder, Public domain · Thomas James: Unidentified engraver, Public domain · Augusta Hall, Baroness Llanover: Charles Augustus Mornewick, Public domain · Lowri Thomas: Nicola, CC BY-SA 4.0

Abergavenny’s neighbours

The nearest built-up areas, from ONS’s 2022 boundaries. See them on the map →

All towns in Gwent →

LlanfoistGovilonGilwernBlaenavonCrickhowellPenperlleniAbersychanAbergavenny

How the neighbours grade

Town	People	Miles	Overall	Cost	Safety	Health
Abergavenny	13,689	—	D⁻	C⁻	D	C⁻
Llanfoist	2,007	1.2	—	C⁻	C⁻	C⁺
Govilon	1,342	2.2	—	D	A	B⁻
Gilwern	2,184	3.2	—	C⁻	B	B⁻
Blaenavon	5,637	4.8	D⁻	B	D⁻	D
Crickhowell	2,108	5.5	—	C	B	B⁺
Penperlleni	1,396	6.4	—	C⁻	A⁻	B⁺
Abersychan	7,495	7	D⁻	B	D	D⁻

Llanfoist, Govilon, Gilwern, Crickhowell and Penperlleni have fewer than 2,500 residents, so they get subject grades but no overall grade. People: Census 2021. Miles: centre to centre.

Questions about Abergavenny

How many listed buildings are there in Abergavenny?

241 on Cadw’s list, 2 of them Grade I and 8 Grade II*. That is 7.2 times the typical UK town for its size. Its Grade I buildings include Abergavenny Castle (ruins). It also has 3 scheduled monuments.

Does Abergavenny flood?

Surface water isn’t included. Check a specific address on Natural Resources Wales’s flood risk service.

About Abergavenny

Town in Gwent, Wales

Abergavenny is a built-up area of 13,689 people, in the Monmouthshire 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: 13,689 (Census 2021)
Council: Monmouthshire
County: Gwent
Region: Wales
Area: 1.7 sq mi (4.3 km²)
ONS code: W45000324

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) · Cadw listed buildings, scheduled monuments and registered historic parks and gardens via DataMapWales, 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.