Horton Heath’s story
4 listed buildings
Historic England lists them inside Horton Heath’s built-up area.
3% of its homes were built before 1919, against 15% in the typical UK town.
Explore the history →
Horton HeathHampshire
Population 3,047: a town in Hampshire, South East. Over-65s are only 13% of the population.
7 places within 12 milesMap →
Photo: Peter Facey · CC BY-SA 2.0
Population
3,047
Census 2021 · Eastleigh council
Median home
£370K
121 sales in 3 years
Median age
41
13% are 65+ · Hampshire 20%
Degree level
38%
of residents 16+ · England 34%
Walk, cycle, bus
9%
of commuters · England 27%
TownGrade
A+
#12 of 76 in Hampshire
Is Horton Heath a good place to live?
A strong record with one exception. The local economy does well: households earn a mean £69,511 a year, and 1.5% of 16 to 64s claim unemployment benefits. With an A+ overall, Horton Heath sits #12 of 76 in Hampshire. On that grade it does better than 97% of UK towns. It is strong on health as well (A) — life expectancy 82.1 for men, 85.7 for women. Homes sell for a median £370,000, about 5.8 years of what households in the Eastleigh council area earn. What holds it back is walkability — 9% of commuters get to work on foot, by bike or by public transport.
Figures: income and life expectancy, ONS · claimants, DWP · commuting, Census 2021 · prices, HM Land Registry, the last three years.
What makes Horton Heath stand out
The 3 things Horton Heath does most differently from other towns.
Walk, cycle or public transport
Getting around
9% leave the car
of commuters walk, cycle or take public transport (England’s towns 27%)
93%of UK towns of 2,500 to 10,000 people
Safety
of UK towns of 2,500 to 10,000 people
Per resident, police.uk, 3 years.
Residents 65 and over
Who lives here
Only 13% are 65 or over
Against 18% across England’s towns
How Horton Heath grades
Each subject compared with the 2,160 UK towns with an overall grade (schools within England), ordered by how far Horton Heath is from typical. American towns are graded separately.
Jobs & incomeIn the top fifth of the towns comparedA+Open →HealthGraded on how healthy residents areAOpen →SafetyVery little crime by comparisonAOpen →WalkabilityIn the bottom fifth of the towns comparedDOpen →SchoolsPrimary results beat 81% of towns in England; secondary results beat 57% of towns in EnglandB+Open →Cost of livingRent £1,214 a monthBOpen →Hazard risk0.3% of homes at high or medium risk of flooding from rivers or the seaB−Open →
Character Graded, but not part of the overall grade.
HistoryBased on listed places, the town’s age and notable peopleDOpen →Outdoors100% live within 400 m of a park; 13% of land within 5 km is National Park or National LandscapeA+Open →Civic life1.6 local charities per 1,000 residents; 21% live within 1 km of a libraryC+Open →
How TownRatings grades towns →
The data
Data highlights are ordered by what stands out in Horton Heath.
History
Horton Heath’s listed buildings: 4, all Grade II
The heritage lists give each building’s grade but not its age, so we don’t say which is oldest.
The pre-1919 share of homes is 3%. Relative to its size, Horton Heath keeps 13 listed buildings per 10,000 residents, below both Hampshire’s towns (26) and England’s towns (39).
4listed buildingsDHistory Grade
Listed buildings by grade · Historic England
Grade I0
Grade II*0
Grade II4
0
scheduled monuments
0
registered parks and gardens
3%
of homes built before 1919 · typical UK town 15%
13
listed buildings per 10,000 residents · typical UK town 24
Historic England list, October 2026 · Valuation Office Agency, homes by build period · OGL
SchoolsB+
School results in Horton Heath are better than in 73% of towns in England
Horton Heath’s two primaries and one secondary have 2,255 pupils between them. Below are two of its 3 schools, each with why it was picked. GCSE results at the 3 secondary schools within 3 km: 48% of pupils get a strong pass (grade 5+) in English and maths, and the Attainment 8 average is 46.6.
B+School Grade
| School | Level | Pupils | Letter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fair Oak Junior SchoolLargest primary schoolPrimary | Primary | 583 | B+ |
| Wyvern CollegeLargest secondary schoolSecondary | Secondary | 1,313 | B |
Department for Education · GIAS, Key Stage 2 and GCSE resultsSee all 3 schools →
Health
Bad health is less common in Horton Heath than in Hampshire’s towns or across England’s towns: 1.6% of residents
Horton Heath has no GP practice of its own; the nearest is 1 miles away. 10% of residents have a disability, below Hampshire’s towns (17%) and England’s towns (17%) alike. Asked at the census, nine in ten residents of Horton Heath said they were in good or very good health. The nearest A&E to Horton Heath is Southampton General Hospital, 6.1 miles away.
90%good or very good healthAHealth Grade
General health, self-reported
Good or very good 90%Fair 8%Bad or very bad 2%
| Census 2021 | Horton Heath | Hampshire | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Good or very good health | 90% | 83% | 82% |
| Bad or very bad health | 1.6% | 4.3% | 5.2% |
| Disabled (Equality Act) | 10% | 17% | 17% |
82.1
life expectancy at birth, men (2019–23)
85.7
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.
Safety
Horton Heath has less crime per resident than 93% of the 1,308 UK towns of 2,500 to 10,000 people
Burglary and damage came to 6 per 1,000 residents a year, below Hampshire’s towns (8.7) and England’s towns (9.4) alike; what’s more, violent crime runs at 12.1 per 1,000 residents a year. Police figures for Horton Heath’s built-up area: 98 crimes and 36 anti-social behaviour reports in the 12 months to August 2026. Of all the crimes, 42% were violence and sexual offences.
12.1violent and sexual offences per 1,000 a yearASafety Grade
Compared with UK towns its sizeLess crime per resident than 93% of the 1,308 UK towns of 2,500 to 10,000 people: less crime than most for its size. Context only, not part of the grade.
Reports by type · Sep 2025 to Aug 2026
Violence & sexual41
Other theft21
Public order11
Burglary6
Other crime6
Damage & arson4
Vehicle crime4
Drugs2
Anti-social36
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.
12.1
violent and sexual offences per 1,000 residents a year, averaged Sep 2023 to Aug 2026
6
burglary, vehicle crime and damage per 1,000 a year, averaged Sep 2023 to Aug 2026
6
anti-social behaviour reports per 1,000 (not graded)
98
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+
The car carries 89% of commuters in Horton Heath, more than in both Hampshire’s towns and England’s towns
The Census was taken on 21 March 2021, in lockdown, so 39% of workers were mainly at home; shares here are of those who travelled.
28% of commuters travelled under 5 km to work. Working mainly from home: nearly two in five workers, above Hampshire’s towns (32%) and England’s towns (31%) alike. There are 0.5 jobs in Horton Heath for each resident in work.
9%walk, cycle or ride
How commuters got to work · March 2021
Driving89%
On foot5%
Bus2%
Bicycle1%
Train1%
28%
of commuters travel under 5 km · England 45%
39%
worked mainly from home in March 2021
£70K
mean household income, before tax
1.5%
of 16 to 64s claim unemployment benefits (2026)
D
Walkability: more walkable than 15% 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 B
Most households in Horton Heath own their home: 85%, more than in both Hampshire’s towns and England’s towns
One in ten households are private tenants. Also worth knowing: from September 2023 to August 2026, 121 homes sold inside Horton Heath’s built-up area at standard prices; the middle one went for £370,000.
£370Kmedian sale
Median sale price · Sep 2023 to Aug 2026
Horton Heath£370K
Typical UK town£277K
| By type | Median | Sales |
|---|---|---|
| Detached | £487,500 | 59 |
| Semi-detached | £350,000 | 27 |
| Terraced | £276,250 | 30 |
| Flat or maisonette | £158,000 | 5 |
85%
of households own their home · England 61%
10%
rent privately · England 21%
£1,214
average private rent a month, Eastleigh council area
£2,423
council tax, Band D, 2026–27
HM Land Registry Price Paid · ONS private rents · MHCLG / Welsh Government council tax · ONS Census 2021 tenure · OGL
Who lives here
Horton Heath has fewer older residents than Hampshire’s towns or England’s towns: 13% are 65 or over
Aged 15 to 24: 13% of residents. Typical age in Horton Heath: 41, the median. 38% of adults hold a degree, higher than both Hampshire’s towns (33%) and England’s towns (34%).
41median age
Horton HeathHampshireEngland
Ages · share of residents
13%
Qualifications · residents 16 and older
No qualifications9%
Apprenticeship6%
A levels or similar21%
Degree level38%
Women and men · all residents
49% women, 51% men
About an even split. Across England, 51% of residents are women.
| Horton Heath | Hampshire | England | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 15 | 17% | 17% | 18% |
| 15–24 | 13% | 12% | 12% |
| 25–44 | 25% | 26% | 27% |
| 45–64 | 32% | 26% | 25% |
| 65+ | 13% | 20% | 18% |
| No qualifications | 8.7% | 16% | 18% |
| Apprenticeship | 6.3% | 5.7% | 5.3% |
| A levels or similar | 21% | 19% | 17% |
| Degree level | 38% | 33% | 34% |
ONS Census 2021 · Hampshire and England: all residents of their built-up areas · OGL
Nearby attractions
All attractions →Marwell Zoo and 4 more in and around Horton Heath
Museums, castles, gardens and days out in and near Horton Heath. Best known first.
ZooMarwell Zoo3.8 km outside town, to the northMuseumMuseumEastleigh Museum3.9 km outside town, to the northwestMuseumMuseumShears Mill2.9 km outside town, to the northwestHistoric siteHistoric siteSpitfire4.4 km outside town, to the westMuseumMuseumWest End Museum3.4 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 (1)
- Marwell Zoo: User:Urshankov, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
Keep exploring
Everything we know about Horton Heath
14pages on Horton Heath
The big questions
SafetyA12.1 violent and sexual offences per 1,000 residents a year, averaged Sep 2023 to Aug 2026Cost of livingBMedian home £370K · rent £1,214 a monthHousing45 sold in 12 months · busiest street Botley RoadSchoolsB+3 state schoolsHealthALife expectancy 82.1 (men), 85.7 (women)Work & commuteA+56% of working residents work in the townFlood & hazardsB−0.3% of homes at high or medium flood risk
Out and about
Horton Heath’s neighbours
The nearest built-up areas, from ONS’s 2022 boundaries. See them on the map →
BotleyHedge EndWest EndEastleighColden CommonBishop's WalthamWaltham ChaseHorton Heath
How the neighbours grade
| Town | People | Miles | Overall | Cost | Safety | Health |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Horton Heath | 3,047 | — | A+ | B | A | A |
| Botley | 5,900 | 2 | B | B− | C− | B+ |
| Hedge End | 23,195 | 2.3 | A | B+ | B | B+ |
| West End | 10,865 | 2.5 | B+ | A− | C+ | B+ |
| Eastleigh | 48,355 | 2.5 | B | A− | C− | C+ |
| Colden Common | 3,827 | 3.1 | A+ | B− | B+ | A+ |
| Bishop's Waltham | 6,957 | 3.7 | A− | B+ | B− | A |
| Waltham Chase | 2,830 | 4.3 | A | B | A− | A |
People: Census 2021. Miles: centre to centre.
Questions about Horton Heath
Who lives in Horton Heath?
A young town. At the 2021 Census, 17% of residents were under 15 and 25% were 25 to 44, against 18% and 27% across England’s towns; only 13% were 65 or over.
Is Horton Heath expensive to live in?
Homes cost more than in most UK towns: the median sale over three years was £370,000, against £277,000 in the typical UK town. By type: flats £158,000, terraced houses £276,250, semi-detached houses £350,000 and detached houses £487,500. Household incomes are higher than in 88% of UK towns, so cost of living still grades B.
About Horton Heath
Town in Hampshire, England
Horton Heath is a built-up area of 3,047 people, in the Eastleigh 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
- 3,047 (Census 2021)
- Council
- Eastleigh
- County
- Hampshire
- Region
- South East
- Area
- 0.3 sq mi (0.9 km²)
- ONS code
- E63006315
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.