Hightown’s story
2 listed buildings
Historic England lists them inside Hightown’s built-up area.
20% of its homes were built before 1919, against 15% in the typical UK town.
Explore the history →
HightownHampshire
With 1,296 residents, it is a village in Hampshire, South East.
7 places within 12 milesMap →
Photo: Peter Facey · CC BY-SA 2.0
Population
1,296
Census 2021 · New Forest council
Median home
£540K
21 sales in 3 years
Median age
48.4
23% are 65+ · Hampshire 20%
Degree level
45%
of residents 16+ · England 34%
Walk, cycle, bus
7%
of commuters · England 27%
Is Hightown a good place to live?
Hightown is a safe place by the numbers (A+): 7.5 violent and sexual offences and 4.9 home and vehicle crimes per 1,000 residents a year. Health is a strength: life expectancy 84 for men, 85.3 for women. Homes are dear: a typical home costs £540,000 and rent runs £1,244 a month. Walkability is weaker too — 7% of commuters walk, cycle or take public transport. Natural hazards weigh more here: 4.8% of homes face a high or medium risk of river or sea flooding.
Figures: crime, police.uk, averaged Sep 2023 to Aug 2026 · life expectancy, ONS · prices, HM Land Registry, the last three years · commuting, Census 2021 · flood risk, Environment Agency. An overall grade needs 2,500 residents, so Hightown is graded subject by subject only.
What makes Hightown stand out
The 3 things Hightown does most differently from other towns.
Walk, cycle or public transport
Getting around
7% leave the car
of commuters walk, cycle or take public transport (England’s towns 27%)
93%of UK towns of 1,000 to 2,500 people
Safety
of UK towns of 1,000 to 2,500 people
Per resident, police.uk, 3 years.
Median sale, £ thousands
Housing
1.9 times the typical UK town’s £277K
Standard sales, September 2023 to August 2026.
How Hightown grades
Each subject compared with the 2,160 UK towns with an overall grade (schools within England), ordered by how far Hightown is from typical. American towns are graded separately.
SafetyBased on crimes reported per residentA+Open →WalkabilityAmong the hardest places to get around without a carDOpen →HealthIn the top fifth of the towns comparedAOpen →Cost of livingMedian sale £540,000, 9.5 years of area incomeDOpen →Hazard riskGraded on exposure to natural hazardsDOpen →Jobs & income1.5% of 16 to 64s claim unemployment benefitsAOpen →SchoolsPrimary results beat 80% of towns in England; secondary results beat 78% of towns in EnglandA−Open →
Character Graded, but not part of the overall grade.
History2 listed buildings; 20% of homes built before 1919COpen →Outdoors100% live within 400 m of a park; 58% of land within 5 km is National Park or National LandscapeA+Open →Civic life1.5 local charities per 1,000 residents; 0% live within 1 km of a libraryC−Open →
How TownRatings grades towns →
The data
Data highlights are ordered by what stands out in Hightown.
Safety
Hightown has less crime per resident than 97% of UK towns
Over the year to August 2026, 25 offences were reported in Hightown, along with 3 incidents of anti-social behaviour. Among the 1,541 UK towns of 1,000 to 2,500 people, Hightown has less crime per resident than 93% of them. Anti-social behaviour, shown but not graded, came to 1.5 reports per 1,000, lower than both Hampshire’s towns (5.4) and England’s towns (7.8). Nearly a third of the crimes fell under violence and sexual offences.
7.5violent and sexual offences per 1,000 a yearA+Safety Grade
Compared with UK towns its sizeLess crime per resident than 93% of the 1,541 UK towns of 1,000 to 2,500 people: less crime than most for its size. Context only, not part of the grade.
Reports by type · Sep 2025 to Aug 2026
Violence & sexual8
Damage & arson5
Public order4
Other theft4
Burglary2
Vehicle crime2
Shoplifting0
Drugs0
Anti-social3
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.
7.5
violent and sexual offences per 1,000 residents a year, averaged Sep 2023 to Aug 2026
4.9
burglary, vehicle crime and damage per 1,000 a year, averaged Sep 2023 to Aug 2026
1.5
anti-social behaviour reports per 1,000 (not graded)
25
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 A
More commuters in Hightown drive than in Hampshire’s towns or England’s towns: 90%
The Census was taken on 21 March 2021, in lockdown, so 42% of workers were mainly at home; shares here are of those who travelled.
Short trips to work, under 5 km: 28%, below Hampshire’s towns (46%) and England’s towns (45%) alike. Home was the main workplace for 42% of workers at the census. A household here earns £64K a year before tax, on average.
7%walk, cycle or ride
How commuters got to work · March 2021
Driving90%
On foot4%
Bicycle2%
Bus1%
28%
of commuters travel under 5 km · England 45%
42%
worked mainly from home in March 2021
£64K
mean household income, before tax
1.5%
of 16 to 64s claim unemployment benefits (2026)
D
Walkability: more walkable than 6% of UK towns
ONS Census 2021, method of travel and distance to work · ONS small-area income · DWP claimant count · OGL
Health
91% of people in Hightown say their health is good or very good, more than in both Hampshire’s towns and England’s towns
Women here live to 85.3 on average and men to 84 (2019–23). Disability touches just over a tenth of Hightown’s population, and on top of that 2.3% of residents described their health as bad or very bad, below Hampshire’s towns (4.3%) and England’s towns (5.2%) alike. The town has no GP practice of its own; the nearest is 0.9 miles away.
91%good or very good healthAHealth Grade
General health, self-reported
Good or very good 91%Fair 7%Bad or very bad 2%
| Census 2021 | Hightown | Hampshire | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Good or very good health | 91% | 83% | 82% |
| Bad or very bad health | 2.3% | 4.3% | 5.2% |
| Disabled (Equality Act) | 12% | 17% | 17% |
84
life expectancy at birth, men (2019–23)
85.3
life expectancy at birth, women
ONS Census 2021, general health and disability · OHID Fingertips, life expectancy 2019–23 · OGL · Because the census answers ignore age, a younger population lifts them; that is why the Health Grade is built on age-adjusted measures like life expectancy and early deaths.
HousingCost of living grade D
More households own their home in Hightown than in Hampshire’s towns or across England’s towns: 88%
10% of households are private tenants. Social housing holds 2% of households, lower than both Hampshire’s towns (16%) and England’s towns (18%). Also worth knowing: the £540,000 median rests on 21 standard sales inside the built-up area (September 2023 to August 2026).
£540Kmedian sale
Median sale price · Sep 2023 to Aug 2026
Hightown£540K
Typical UK town£277K
| By type | Median | Sales |
|---|---|---|
| Detached | £663,000 | 17 |
88%
of households own their home · England 61%
10%
rent privately · England 21%
£1,244
average private rent a month, New Forest council area
£2,420
council tax, Band D, 2026–27
HM Land Registry Price Paid · ONS private rents · MHCLG / Welsh Government council tax · ONS Census 2021 tenure · OGL
History
Hightown keeps more of its old housing than Hampshire’s towns or England’s towns: 20% built before 1919
The heritage lists give each building’s grade but not its age, so we don’t say which is oldest.
Hightown has 2 listed buildings on Historic England’s list, all Grade II. Scaled to its population, that is 15 listed buildings for every 10,000 people locally.
2listed buildingsCHistory Grade
Listed buildings by grade · Historic England
Grade I0
Grade II*0
Grade II2
0
scheduled monuments
0
registered parks and gardens
20%
of homes built before 1919 · typical UK town 15%
15
listed buildings per 10,000 residents · typical UK town 24
Historic England list, October 2026 · Valuation Office Agency, homes by build period · OGL
Who lives here
More people in Hightown hold a degree than in Hampshire’s towns or England’s towns: 45%
Over-65s are 23% of the population. Residents of Hightown have a median age of 48.4. Nearly one in ten residents are aged 15 to 24.
48.4median age
HightownHampshireEngland
Ages · share of residents
23%
Qualifications · residents 16 and older
No qualifications9%
Apprenticeship4%
A levels or similar16%
Degree level45%
Women and men · all residents
49% women, 51% men
About an even split. Across England, 51% of residents are women.
| Hightown | Hampshire | England | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 15 | 18% | 17% | 18% |
| 15–24 | 9.4% | 12% | 12% |
| 25–44 | 19% | 26% | 27% |
| 45–64 | 31% | 26% | 25% |
| 65+ | 23% | 20% | 18% |
| No qualifications | 8.6% | 16% | 18% |
| Apprenticeship | 4.2% | 5.7% | 5.3% |
| A levels or similar | 16% | 19% | 17% |
| Degree level | 45% | 33% | 34% |
ONS Census 2021 · Hampshire and England: all residents of their built-up areas · OGL
Nearby attractions
All attractions →Somerley and 4 more in and around Hightown
Museums, castles, gardens and days out in and near Hightown. Best known first.
Historic houseSomerley4.2 km outside town, to the northwestZooZooLiberty's Owl, Raptor and Reptile Centre100 m outside town, to the southwestArt galleryArt galleryOld Fine Art Gallery1.5 km outside town, to the westCastleCastleCastle Piece4 km outside town, to the northeastRuinsRuinsIbsley HF-DF Station4.7 km outside town, to the northPlaces: © OpenStreetMap contributors · Wikidata
Photos: each place’s Wikidata image, from Wikimedia Commons under the licence below (our copy, resized).
Photo credits (1)
- Somerley: Somerley_House.JPG: Wulfrunian1 derivative work: Pasicles, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
Keep exploring
Everything we know about Hightown
14pages on Hightown
The big questions
SafetyA+7.5 violent and sexual offences per 1,000 residents a year, averaged Sep 2023 to Aug 2026Cost of livingDMedian home £540K · rent £1,244 a monthHousing6 sold in 12 monthsSchoolsA−HealthALife expectancy 84 (men), 85.3 (women)Work & commuteA52% of working residents work in the townFlood & hazardsD4.8% of homes at high or medium flood risk
Out and about
Hightown’s neighbours
The nearest built-up areas, from ONS’s 2022 boundaries. See them on the map →
RingwoodAshley HeathBransgoreThree Legged CrossWest MoorsVerwoodAlderholtHightown
How the neighbours grade
| Town | People | Miles | Overall | Cost | Safety | Health |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hightown | 1,296 | — | — | D | A+ | A |
| Ringwood | 12,789 | 0.8 | B− | C− | C | B+ |
| Ashley Heath | 7,151 | 3.1 | B | D− | A− | A |
| Bransgore | 3,688 | 4.3 | B | D | A | A |
| Three Legged Cross | 1,129 | 5.3 | — | D | C− | B− |
| West Moors | 10,432 | 5.3 | C− | D | B+ | B− |
| Verwood | 13,706 | 5.3 | A− | D | A | A− |
| Alderholt | 2,868 | 5.6 | B | D | A− | A |
Three Legged Cross has fewer than 2,500 residents, so it gets subject grades but no overall grade. People: Census 2021. Miles: centre to centre.
Questions about Hightown
Is Hightown expensive to live in?
Homes cost more than in most UK towns: the median sale over three years was £540,000, against £277,000 in the typical UK town.
Does Hightown flood?
Surface water isn’t included. Check a specific address on GOV.UK’s flood risk service.
Are schools in Hightown good?
GCSE results beat 78% of towns in England, and primary results beat 80% (Department for Education, Attainment 8 and Key Stage 2). Places are handled by Hampshire council.
About Hightown
Village in Hampshire, England
Hightown is a built-up area of 1,296 people, in the New 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
- 1,296 (Census 2021)
- Council
- New Forest
- County
- Hampshire
- Region
- South East
- Area
- 0.3 sq mi (0.9 km²)
- ONS code
- E63006544
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.