Great Amwell’s story
42 listed buildings, 1 of them Grade II*
Historic England lists them inside Great Amwell’s built-up area.
9% of its homes were built before 1919, against 15% in the typical UK town.
Explore the history →
Great AmwellHertfordshire
The village, home to 1,017 people, lies in Hertfordshire, East of England.
7 places within 12 milesMap →
Photo: David Howard · CC BY-SA 2.0
Population
1,017
Census 2021 · East Hertfordshire council
Median home
£865K
27 sales in 3 years
Median age
50.5
23% are 65+ · Hertfordshire 17%
Degree level
41%
of residents 16+ · England 34%
Walk, cycle, bus
12%
of commuters · England 27%
Is Great Amwell a good place to live?
Households here earn well (A+): households earn a mean £67,375 a year, and 0.8% of 16 to 64s claim unemployment benefits. People here tend to be in good health (A): life expectancy is 82.5 for men and 85.1 for women. Its weakest subject is cost of living: homes sell for a median £865,000, about 12.3 times local household income. Natural hazards weigh less here than in most UK towns (A).
Figures: income and life expectancy, ONS · claimants, DWP · prices, HM Land Registry, the last three years · flood risk, Environment Agency. With fewer than 2,500 residents, Great Amwell has subject grades but no overall one.
How Great Amwell grades
Each subject compared with the 2,160 UK towns with an overall grade (schools within England), ordered by how far Great Amwell is from typical. American towns are graded separately.
With fewer than 2,500 residents, Great Amwell has subject grades but no overall one.
Jobs & incomeBased on what households earn, poverty and workA+Open →Hazard risk0% of homes at high or medium risk of flooding from rivers or the seaAOpen →HealthAmong the healthiest places comparedAOpen →Cost of livingRent £1,533 a monthC−Open →SafetyAhead of most towns comparedA−Open →WalkabilityBased on walking, cycling and transit to everyday placesC+Open →SchoolsPrimary results beat 27% of towns in England; secondary results beat 73% of towns in EnglandB−Open →
Character Graded, but not part of the overall grade.
HistoryMore history than most townsB+Open →Outdoors0% live within 400 m of a park; 5.7 ha of public green space per 1,000 residentsB−Open →Civic life3.9 local charities per 1,000 residents; 0% live within 1 km of a libraryBOpen →
How TownRatings grades towns →
What makes Great Amwell stand out
The 3 things Great Amwell does most differently from other towns.
Median sale, £ thousands
Housing
3.1 times the typical UK town’s £277K
Standard sales, September 2023 to August 2026.
Listed buildings per 10,000 residents
History
1 Grade II*, including Parish Church of St John the Baptist; 16.9 times the typical UK town for its size
Historic England’s list, October 2026.
Walk, cycle or public transport
Getting around
12% leave the car
of commuters walk, cycle or take public transport (England’s towns 27%)
48% of commuters travel under 5 km.
The data
Data highlights are ordered by what stands out in Great Amwell.
Health
Just 1% of people in Great Amwell say their health is bad or very bad, fewer than in Hertfordshire’s towns and across England’s towns
89%good or very good healthAHealth Grade
89% of Great Amwell’s residents described their health as good or very good at the census, above both Hertfordshire’s towns (85%) and England’s towns (82%). Disability touches just over a tenth of the town’s population. Women here live to 85.1 on average and men to 82.5 (2019–23). Also worth knowing: the town has no GP practice of its own; the nearest is 1.2 miles away.
General health, self-reported
Good or very good 89%Fair 10%Bad or very bad 1%
| Census 2021 | Great Amwell | Hertfordshire | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Good or very good health | 89% | 85% | 82% |
| Bad or very bad health | 1% | 3.8% | 5.2% |
| Disabled (Equality Act) | 11% | 14% | 17% |
82.5
life expectancy at birth, men (2019–23)
85.1
life expectancy at birth, women
ONS Census 2021, general health and disability · OHID Fingertips, life expectancy 2019–23 · OGL · These shares come straight from the census, without allowing for age, and young towns benefit; the Health Grade instead weighs age-adjusted measures, including life expectancy and early deaths.
SchoolsB−
Results at Great Amwell’s schools beat 50% of towns in England
B−School Grade
GCSE results at the 3 secondary schools within 3 km: just over half of pupils get a strong pass (grade 5+) in English and maths, and the Attainment 8 average is 49.8. Its only school is listed below. 57% of pupils at the 15 primary schools within 3 km met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths (three-year average).
| School | Level | Pupils | Letter |
|---|---|---|---|
| St John the Baptist Voluntary Aided Church of England Primary SchoolLargest primary schoolPrimary | Primary | 155 | C− |
Department for Education · GIAS, Key Stage 2 and GCSE resultsThe Schools page →
HousingCost of living grade C−
Great Amwell is a town of owners: 90% of households own their home, above Hertfordshire’s towns and England’s towns
£865Kmedian sale
Private renters make up 5% of households, below Hertfordshire’s towns (17%) and England’s towns (21%) alike. The social rented sector houses 3% of households. 27 standard sales inside Great Amwell’s built-up area from September 2023 to August 2026 put the median at £865,000.
Median sale price · Sep 2023 to Aug 2026
Great Amwell£865K
Typical UK town£277K
| By type | Median | Sales |
|---|---|---|
| Detached | £880,000 | 23 |
90%
of households own their home · England 61%
5%
rent privately · England 21%
£1,533
average private rent a month, East Hertfordshire council area
£2,369
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
Violence is recorded less often in Great Amwell than in Hertfordshire’s towns or across England’s towns: 15.1 per 1,000 residents a year
15.1violent and sexual offences per 1,000 a yearA−Safety Grade
Violence and sexual offences accounted for 32% of recorded crime. Homes saw 7.9 burglaries and acts of damage per 1,000 residents a year, below both Hertfordshire’s towns (11.4) and England’s towns (9.4). A year of reports to August 2026 adds up to 41 offences in Great Amwell and 8 cases of nuisance behaviour.
Compared with UK towns its sizeLess crime per resident than 57% 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 & sexual13
Drugs6
Damage & arson5
Other crime5
Other theft3
Burglary3
Vehicle crime3
Shoplifting2
Anti-social8
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.
15.1
violent and sexual offences per 1,000 residents a year, averaged Sep 2023 to Aug 2026
7.9
burglary, vehicle crime and damage per 1,000 a year, averaged Sep 2023 to Aug 2026
8.2
anti-social behaviour reports per 1,000 (not graded)
41
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.
History
More buildings in Great Amwell are listed than in Hertfordshire’s towns or England’s towns: 413 per 10,000 residents
42listed buildingsB+History Grade
The heritage lists give each building’s grade but not its age, so we don’t say which is oldest.
Historic England’s list names 42 listed buildings in Great Amwell: 1 Grade II*. 9% of its homes were built before 1919, below Hertfordshire’s towns (12%) and England’s towns (16%) alike. This Hertfordshire town has one registered historic park or garden.
Listed buildings by grade · Historic England
Grade I0
Grade II*1
Grade II41
Among them · Grade II*
- Parish Church of St John the Baptist Grade II*
0
scheduled monuments
1
registered park and garden
9%
of homes built before 1919 · typical UK town 15%
413
listed buildings per 10,000 residents · typical UK town 24
Historic England list, October 2026 · Valuation Office Agency, homes by build period · OGL
Work & commuteJobs & income grade A+
Fewer commuters in Great Amwell walk, cycle or take the bus or train than in Hertfordshire’s towns or England’s towns: 12%
12%walk, cycle or ride
The Census was taken on 21 March 2021, in lockdown, so 46% of workers were mainly at home; shares here are of those who travelled.
For every resident in work, Great Amwell has 2.9 jobs. 86% of commuters drove, above both Hertfordshire’s towns (73%) and England’s towns (70%). Home was the main workplace for 46% of workers at the census. About 4% of its commuters stay in Great Amwell for work.
How commuters got to work · March 2021
Driving86%
On foot5%
Train5%
Bus1%
Underground, tram1%
Bicycle1%
48%
of commuters travel under 5 km · England 45%
46%
worked mainly from home in March 2021
£67K
mean household income, before tax
0.8%
of 16 to 64s claim unemployment benefits (2026)
C+
Walkability: more walkable than 39% of UK towns
ONS Census 2021, method of travel and distance to work · ONS small-area income · DWP claimant count · OGL
Who lives here
Fewer children live in Great Amwell than in Hertfordshire’s towns or England’s towns: 15% are under 15
50.5median age
23% of residents have reached 65. Great Amwell has a median age of 50.5 years. Degrees are held by just over two in five adults, near Hertfordshire’s towns (39%) and higher than England’s towns (34%).
Great AmwellHertfordshireEngland
Ages · share of residents
23%
Qualifications · residents 16 and older
No qualifications12%
Apprenticeship4%
A levels or similar16%
Degree level41%
Women and men · all residents
50% women, 50% men
About an even split. Across England, 51% of residents are women.
| Great Amwell | Hertfordshire | England | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 15 | 15% | 19% | 18% |
| 15–24 | 12% | 11% | 12% |
| 25–44 | 14% | 27% | 27% |
| 45–64 | 35% | 26% | 25% |
| 65+ | 23% | 17% | 18% |
| No qualifications | 12% | 15% | 18% |
| Apprenticeship | 3.6% | 4.5% | 5.3% |
| A levels or similar | 16% | 16% | 17% |
| Degree level | 41% | 39% | 34% |
ONS Census 2021 · Hertfordshire and England: all residents of their built-up areas · OGL
Keep exploring
Everything we know about Great Amwell
15pages on Great Amwell
The big questions
SafetyA−15.1 violent and sexual offences per 1,000 residents a year, averaged Sep 2023 to Aug 2026Cost of livingC−Median home £865K · rent £1,533 a monthHousing11 sold in 12 months · busiest street Furlong WaySchoolsB−1 state schoolHealthALife expectancy 82.5 (men), 85.1 (women)Work & commuteA+57% of working residents work in the townFlood & hazardsA0% of homes at high or medium flood risk
Out and about
Nearby attractions
All attractions →Hertford Castle Gate House and 8 more in and around Great Amwell
Museums, castles, gardens and days out in and near Great Amwell. Best known first.
CastleHertford Castle Gate House3.9 km outside town, to the west
Historic houseFanhams Hall2.4 km outside town, to the north
MuseumHertford Museum3.7 km outside town, to the west
CastleRye House Gatehouse2.3 km outside town, to the southeast
MuseumLowewood Museum3.3 km outside town, to the south
MuseumWare Museum1.6 km outside town, to the northwestPlaces: © OpenStreetMap contributors · Wikidata
Photos: each place’s Wikidata image, from Wikimedia Commons under the licence below (our copy, resized).
Photo credits (6)
- Hertford Castle Gate House: Caitlin from Hertfordshire, UK, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Fanhams Hall: Darren Smith, CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Hertford Museum: Caitlin from Hertfordshire, UK, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Rye House Gatehouse: Robert Edwards, CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Lowewood Museum: Geni, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Ware Museum: RobThinks, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
About Great Amwell
Village in Hertfordshire, England
Great Amwell is a built-up area of 1,017 people, in the East Hertfordshire 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
- 1,017 (Census 2021)
- Council
- East Hertfordshire
- County
- Hertfordshire
- Region
- East of England
- Area
- 0.3 sq mi (0.8 km²)
- ONS code
- E63004367
Great Amwell’s neighbours
The nearest built-up areas, from ONS’s 2022 boundaries. See them on the map →
Stanstead AbbottsWareHertford HeathHertfordHoddesdonRoydonLower NazeingGreat Amwell
How the neighbours grade
| Town | People | Miles | Overall | Cost | Safety | Health |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Great Amwell | 1,017 | — | — | C− | A− | A |
| Stanstead Abbotts | 3,754 | 1.2 | A− | B− | B− | A− |
| Ware | 19,631 | 1.2 | B+ | C+ | C+ | B |
| Hertford Heath | 2,830 | 1.6 | A+ | C+ | A− | A− |
| Hertford | 28,807 | 2.6 | A− | C+ | C | A− |
| Hoddesdon | 40,615 | 3 | B− | D | C | B |
| Roydon | 1,587 | 3.2 | — | C− | C | B+ |
| Lower Nazeing | 3,631 | 4.4 | B− | D | B− | B+ |
Roydon has fewer than 2,500 residents, so it gets subject grades but no overall grade. People: Census 2021. Miles: centre to centre.
Questions about Great Amwell
Is Great Amwell expensive to live in?
Homes cost more than in most UK towns: the median sale over three years was £865,000, against £277,000 in the typical UK town.
How many listed buildings are there in Great Amwell?
That is 16.9 times the typical UK town for its size.
Is Great Amwell safe?
Against all UK towns, it grades A−.
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.