Istead Rise’s story
1 listed building
Historic England lists them inside Istead Rise’s built-up area.
5% of its homes were built before 1919, against 15% in the typical UK town.
Explore the history →
Istead RiseKent
Over-65s are 31% of the population. With 3,398 residents, it is a town in Kent, South East.
7 places within 12 milesMap →
Photo: David Anstiss · CC BY-SA 2.0
Population
3,398
Census 2021 · Gravesham council
Median home
£463K
111 sales in 3 years
Median age
52.2
31% are 65+ · Kent 19%
Degree level
24%
of residents 16+ · England 34%
Walk, cycle, bus
11%
of commuters · England 27%
TownGrade
B+
#15 of 87 in Kent
Is Istead Rise a good place to live?
Istead Rise does the important things well, at a cost. Jobs & income is its strong suit: households earn a mean £64,535 a year, and 1.3% of 16 to 64s claim unemployment benefits. Recorded crime is low: 9.7 violent and sexual offences and 7.6 home and vehicle crimes per 1,000 residents a year. The catch is cost of living: the median home sold for £462,500, 8.2 years of area income. Overall, that makes a B+, better than 67% of UK towns. In the ranking it comes #15 of 87 in Kent.
Figures: income, ONS · claimants, DWP · crime, police.uk, averaged Sep 2023 to Aug 2026 · prices, HM Land Registry, the last three years.
What makes Istead Rise stand out
The 3 things Istead Rise does most differently from other towns.
Walk, cycle or public transport
Getting around
11% leave the car
of commuters walk, cycle or take public transport (England’s towns 27%)
94%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
31% are 65 or over
Against 18% across England’s towns
How Istead Rise grades
Each subject compared with the 2,160 UK towns with an overall grade (schools within England), ordered by how far Istead Rise is from typical. American towns are graded separately.
Jobs & incomeGraded on incomes, poverty and employmentAOpen →Cost of livingRent £1,336 a monthDOpen →SafetyVery little crime by comparisonAOpen →Hazard risk0% of homes at high or medium risk of flooding from rivers or the seaAOpen →HealthLife expectancy 81.4 for men, 86.8 for womenA−Open →SchoolsPrimary results beat 40% of towns in England; secondary results beat 14% of towns in EnglandC−Open →WalkabilityBehind most towns comparedCOpen →
Character Graded, but not part of the overall grade.
History1 listed buildingD−Open →Outdoors82% live within 400 m of a park; 15% of land within 5 km is National Park or National LandscapeB−Open →Civic life1.8 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 Istead Rise.
Who lives here
An older town: 31% of people in Istead Rise are 65 or over, more than in both Kent’s towns and England’s towns
Children under 15 make up 14%, below both Kent’s towns (18%) and England’s towns (18%). Young adults of 15 to 24 are nearly a tenth of the population. Istead Rise has a median age of 52.2 years.
52.2median age
Istead RiseKentEngland
Ages · share of residents
31%
Qualifications · residents 16 and older
No qualifications18%
Apprenticeship8%
A levels or similar17%
Degree level24%
Women and men · all residents
50% women, 50% men
About an even split. Across England, 51% of residents are women.
| Istead Rise | Kent | England | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 15 | 14% | 18% | 18% |
| 15–24 | 9.3% | 11% | 12% |
| 25–44 | 18% | 25% | 27% |
| 45–64 | 28% | 26% | 25% |
| 65+ | 31% | 19% | 18% |
| No qualifications | 18% | 18% | 18% |
| Apprenticeship | 8.4% | 5.7% | 5.3% |
| A levels or similar | 17% | 18% | 17% |
| Degree level | 24% | 29% | 34% |
ONS Census 2021 · Kent and England: all residents of their built-up areas · OGL
SchoolsC−
Istead Rise’s schools fall behind 78% of towns in England on results
Istead Rise Primary School’s results beat 87% of schools in England like it. Below is its only school. At the 14 primary schools within 3 km, three in five pupils reach the expected standard in reading, writing and maths (three-year average).
C−School Grade
| School | Level | Pupils | Letter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Istead Rise Primary SchoolLargest primary schoolPrimary | Primary | 211 | A |
Department for Education · GIAS, Key Stage 2 and GCSE resultsThe Schools page →
History
Istead Rise’s listed buildings: 1, 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 5%. Relative to its size, Istead Rise keeps 3 listed buildings per 10,000 residents, below both Kent’s towns (53) and England’s towns (39).
1listed buildingsD−History Grade
Listed buildings by grade · Historic England
Grade I0
Grade II*0
Grade II1
0
scheduled monuments
0
registered parks and gardens
5%
of homes built before 1919 · typical UK town 15%
3
listed buildings per 10,000 residents · typical UK town 24
Historic England list, October 2026 · Valuation Office Agency, homes by build period · OGL
HousingCost of living grade D
Istead Rise is a town of owners: 92% of households own their home, above Kent’s towns and England’s towns
1% live in social housing, lower than both Kent’s towns (14%) and England’s towns (18%). Private tenants account for 7% of households. Also worth knowing: 111 standard sales inside Istead Rise’s built-up area from September 2023 to August 2026 put the median at £462,500.
£463Kmedian sale
Median sale price · Sep 2023 to Aug 2026
Istead Rise£463K
Typical UK town£277K
| By type | Median | Sales |
|---|---|---|
| Detached | £545,000 | 36 |
| Semi-detached | £455,000 | 71 |
92%
of households own their home · England 61%
7%
rent privately · England 21%
£1,336
average private rent a month, Gravesham council area
£2,389
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
Istead Rise has less crime per resident than 94% of the 1,308 UK towns of 2,500 to 10,000 people
Istead Rise logged 79 reported offences in a year (to August 2026), plus 16 complaints of anti-social conduct. Violence and sexual offences accounted for 42% of recorded crime. There were 5.3 anti-social behaviour reports per 1,000 residents (not graded), below Kent’s towns (9.4) and England’s towns (7.8) alike.
9.7violent and sexual offences per 1,000 a yearASafety Grade
Compared with UK towns its sizeLess crime per resident than 94% 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 & sexual33
Vehicle crime12
Other theft9
Shoplifting8
Damage & arson6
Burglary5
Public order3
Drugs1
Anti-social16
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.
9.7
violent and sexual offences per 1,000 residents a year, averaged Sep 2023 to Aug 2026
7.6
burglary, vehicle crime and damage per 1,000 a year, averaged Sep 2023 to Aug 2026
5.3
anti-social behaviour reports per 1,000 (not graded)
79
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.
Health
Lifespans in Istead Rise run longer than in 81% of UK towns
At the census, 4.4% of residents said their health was bad or very bad, lower than both Kent’s towns (5.1%) and England’s towns (5.2%). One GP practice serves the town; 69% of patients rate theirs good in the GP Patient Survey. 16% of residents in Istead Rise live with a disability.
82%good or very good healthA−Health Grade
General health, self-reported
Good or very good 82%Fair 13%Bad or very bad 4%
| Census 2021 | Istead Rise | Kent | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Good or very good health | 82% | 82% | 82% |
| Bad or very bad health | 4.4% | 5.1% | 5.2% |
| Disabled (Equality Act) | 16% | 18% | 17% |
81.4
life expectancy at birth, men (2019–23)
86.8
life expectancy at birth, women
ONS Census 2021, general health and disability · OHID Fingertips, life expectancy 2019–23 · OGL · Self-reported health favours young towns, since these answers ignore age; the Health Grade leans on age-adjusted measures such as life expectancy and early deaths.
Work & commuteJobs & income grade A
Fewer commuters in Istead Rise walk, cycle or take the bus or train than in Kent’s towns or England’s towns: 11%
The Census was taken on 21 March 2021, in lockdown, so 32% of workers were mainly at home; shares here are of those who travelled.
29% of commuters travelled under 5 km to work. The car took 86% of commuters, above both Kent’s towns (75%) and England’s towns (70%). The 2026 claimant rate among 16 to 64s was 1.3%. About 2% of its commuters stay in Istead Rise for work.
11%walk, cycle or ride
How commuters got to work · March 2021
Driving86%
Train7%
On foot3%
Bus1%
Underground, tram1%
29%
of commuters travel under 5 km · England 45%
32%
worked mainly from home in March 2021
£65K
mean household income, before tax
1.3%
of 16 to 64s claim unemployment benefits (2026)
C
Walkability: more walkable than 32% of UK towns
ONS Census 2021, method of travel and distance to work · ONS small-area income · DWP claimant count · OGL
Nearby attractions
All attractions →New Tavern Fort and 6 more in and around Istead Rise
Museums, castles, gardens and days out in and near Istead Rise. Best known first.
CastleNew Tavern Fort4.1 km outside town, to the northeast
Historic houseOwletts2.6 km outside town, to the southeast
PierGravesend town pier4.2 km outside town, to the northPierPierRoyal Terrace Pier4.2 km outside town, to the northMuseumMuseumCold War Bunker2.6 km outside town, to the northMuseumMuseumMilton Chantry4.2 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 (3)
- New Tavern Fort: Prioryman, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Owletts: David Martin, CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Gravesend town pier: Clem Rutter, Rochester Kent, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
Keep exploring
Everything we know about Istead Rise
14pages on Istead Rise
The big questions
SafetyA9.7 violent and sexual offences per 1,000 residents a year, averaged Sep 2023 to Aug 2026Cost of livingDMedian home £463K · rent £1,336 a monthHousing36 sold in 12 months · busiest street Flowerhill WaySchoolsC−1 state schoolHealthA−Life expectancy 81.4 (men), 86.8 (women)Work & commuteA54% of working residents work in the townFlood & hazardsA0% of homes at high or medium flood risk
Out and about
Istead Rise’s neighbours
The nearest built-up areas, from ONS’s 2022 boundaries. See them on the map →
MeophamGravesendNorthfleetLongfield, New Ash Green and HartleyEbbsfleet ValleyBeanShorneIstead Rise
How the neighbours grade
| Town | People | Miles | Overall | Cost | Safety | Health |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Istead Rise | 3,398 | — | B+ | D | A | A− |
| Meopham | 4,349 | 1.9 | B | D | B | A− |
| Gravesend | 58,105 | 2.1 | D | C− | D | C− |
| Northfleet | 29,892 | 2.1 | C | C | D | C− |
| Longfield, New Ash Green and Hartley | 16,077 | 2.2 | B | C− | B− | B |
| Ebbsfleet Valley | 2,989 | 2.9 | B− | C+ | D− | C+ |
| Bean | 1,633 | 3.2 | — | C+ | C | C− |
| Shorne | 1,038 | 3.6 | — | D | B | A− |
Bean and Shorne have fewer than 2,500 residents, so they get subject grades but no overall grade. People: Census 2021. Miles: centre to centre.
Questions about Istead Rise
Is Istead Rise expensive to live in?
Homes cost more than in most UK towns: the median sale over three years was £462,500, against £277,000 in the typical UK town. By type: semi-detached houses £455,000 and detached houses £545,000.
Are schools in Istead Rise good?
GCSE results trail 87% of towns in England, and primary results trail 60% (Department for Education, Attainment 8 and Key Stage 2). One state school is inside the town; places are handled by Kent council.
About Istead Rise
Town in Kent, England
Istead Rise is a built-up area of 3,398 people, in the Gravesham 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
- 3,398 (Census 2021)
- Council
- Gravesham
- County
- Kent
- Region
- South East
- Area
- 0.4 sq mi (0.9 km²)
- ONS code
- E63005114
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.