Lyminge’s story
12 listed buildings, 1 of them Grade I
Historic England lists them inside Lyminge’s built-up area.
26% of its homes were built before 1919, against 15% in the typical UK town.
Explore the history →
LymingeKent
A village of 1,918 in Kent, South East.
7 places within 12 milesMap →
Photo: Peter Turner · CC BY-SA 2.0
Population
1,918
Census 2021 · Folkestone and Hythe council
Median home
£366K
79 sales in 3 years
Median age
55.1
37% are 65+ · Kent 19%
Degree level
32%
of residents 16+ · England 34%
Walk, cycle, bus
12%
of commuters · England 27%
Is Lyminge a good place to live?
Lyminge has fewer than 2,500 residents, so it gets subject grades but no overall grade. Its strongest subject is safety (A): 11.6 violent and sexual offences and 5.2 home and vehicle crimes per 1,000 residents a year, averaged Sep 2023 to Aug 2026. Its weakest is cost of living (D): median sale £366,000, 7 years of area income; rent £1,178 a month.
What makes Lyminge stand out
The 3 things Lyminge does most differently from other towns.
Walk, cycle or public transport
Getting around
12% leave the car
of commuters walk, cycle or take public transport (England’s towns 27%)
Listed buildings per 10,000 residents
History
1 Grade I, including Church of St Mary and St Ethelburga, And Remains of the Older Church to South; 2.6 times the typical UK town for its size
Historic England’s list, October 2026.
Residents 65 and over
Who lives here
37% are 65 or over
Against 18% across England’s towns
How Lyminge grades
Each subject compared with the 2,160 UK towns with an overall grade (schools within England), ordered by how far Lyminge is from typical. American towns are graded separately.
Cost of livingDOpen →SafetyAOpen →Hazard risk3.8% of homes at high or medium risk of flooding from rivers or the seaDOpen →HealthLife expectancy 83.3 for men, 84.5 for womenA−Open →SchoolsPrimary results beat 70% of towns in EnglandB+Open →Jobs & incomeMean household income £55,731; 2.3% of 16 to 64s claim unemployment benefitsCOpen →WalkabilityC+Open →
Character Graded, but not part of the overall grade.
HistoryB+Open →Outdoors83% live within 400 m of a park; 90% of land within 5 km is National Park or National LandscapeA−Open →Civic life4.7 local charities per 1,000 residents; 100% live within 1 km of a libraryA+Open →
How TownRatings grades towns →
The data
Data highlights are ordered by what stands out in Lyminge.
Who lives here
Lyminge skews older, with 37% of residents 65 or over, more than Kent’s towns or England’s towns
14% are under 15, lower than both Kent’s towns (18%) and England’s towns (18%). Those aged 15 to 24 account for 6.6% of residents. Ages in Lyminge split evenly at 55.1: half are older, half younger.
55.1median age
LymingeKentEngland
Ages · share of residents
37%
Qualifications · residents 16 and older
No qualifications17%
Apprenticeship6%
A levels or similar17%
Degree level32%
Women and men · all residents
53% women, 47% men
About 88 men for every 100 women. Across England, 51% of residents are women. Women live longer than men, so towns with many older residents have more women.
| Lyminge | Kent | England | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 15 | 14% | 18% | 18% |
| 15–24 | 6.6% | 11% | 12% |
| 25–44 | 17% | 25% | 27% |
| 45–64 | 25% | 26% | 25% |
| 65+ | 37% | 19% | 18% |
| No qualifications | 17% | 18% | 18% |
| Apprenticeship | 6.2% | 5.7% | 5.3% |
| A levels or similar | 17% | 18% | 17% |
| Degree level | 32% | 29% | 34% |
ONS Census 2021 · Kent and England: all residents of their built-up areas · OGL
SchoolsB+
Lyminge’s schools outperform 75% of towns in England on results
There is one school here; it is shown below. 65% of pupils at the 2 primary schools within 3 km met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths (three-year average). The town’s primary school has 191 pupils.
B+School Grade
| School | Level | Pupils | Letter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lyminge Church of England Primary SchoolLargest primary schoolPrimary | Primary | 191 | B+ |
Department for Education · GIAS, Key Stage 2 and GCSE resultsThe Schools page →
HousingCost of living grade D
Few households rent privately in Lyminge: 10%, fewer than in Kent’s towns and England’s towns
Social housing holds 8% of households, below Kent’s towns (14%) and England’s towns (18%) alike. Households that own their home make up 81%. The median sale, £366,000, comes from 79 standard sales inside Lyminge’s built-up area from September 2023 to August 2026.
£366Kmedian sale
Median sale price · Sep 2023 to Aug 2026
Lyminge£366K
Typical UK town£277K
| By type | Median | Sales |
|---|---|---|
| Detached | £485,000 | 29 |
| Semi-detached | £355,000 | 35 |
| Terraced | £345,000 | 8 |
| Flat or maisonette | £139,950 | 7 |
81%
of households own their home · England 61%
10%
rent privately · England 21%
£1,178
average private rent a month, Folkestone and Hythe council area
£2,562
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
Crime per resident in Lyminge is lower than in 90% of UK towns
46 crimes and 8 reports of anti-social behaviour: that is what police recorded inside Lyminge’s built-up area in the 12 months to August 2026. There were 4 anti-social behaviour reports per 1,000 residents (not graded), lower than both Kent’s towns (9.4) and England’s towns (7.8).
11.6violent and sexual offences per 1,000 a yearASafety Grade
Compared with UK towns its sizeLess crime per resident than 80% 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 & sexual21
Burglary7
Other theft6
Drugs4
Public order3
Damage & arson2
Vehicle crime1
Weapons1
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.
11.6
violent and sexual offences per 1,000 residents a year, averaged Sep 2023 to Aug 2026
5.2
burglary, vehicle crime and damage per 1,000 a year, averaged Sep 2023 to Aug 2026
4
anti-social behaviour reports per 1,000 (not graded)
46
crimes recorded in the 12 months to August 2026
data.police.uk street-level crime · points inside the ONS built-up-area boundary · OGL
Health
Lifespans in Lyminge run longer than in 77% of UK towns
The nearest A&E to Lyminge is William Harvey Hospital, 7.4 miles away. 2 GP practices serve the town; 83% of patients rate theirs good in the GP Patient Survey. Four fifths of the town’s residents described their health as good or very good at the census, lower than both Kent’s towns (82%) and England’s towns (82%).
80%good or very good healthA−Health Grade
General health, self-reported
Good or very good 80%Fair 14%Bad or very bad 6%
| Census 2021 | Lyminge | Kent | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Good or very good health | 80% | 82% | 82% |
| Bad or very bad health | 5.9% | 5.1% | 5.2% |
| Disabled (Equality Act) | 19% | 18% | 17% |
83.3
life expectancy at birth, men (2019–23)
84.5
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.
History
Old homes shape Lyminge: 26% were built before 1919, more than in Kent’s towns or England’s towns
The heritage lists give each building’s grade but not its age, so we don’t say which is oldest.
Lyminge counts 12 listed buildings on the national list (Historic England): 1 Grade I, 1 Grade II*. For its size, Lyminge has 63 listed buildings per 10,000 residents.
12listed buildingsB+History Grade
Listed buildings by grade · Historic England
Grade I1
Grade II*1
Grade II10
Among them · Grade I
0
scheduled monuments
0
registered parks and gardens
26%
of homes built before 1919 · typical UK town 15%
63
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 C
Under 5 km to work: 17% in Lyminge, fewer than in Kent’s towns or England’s towns
The Census was taken on 21 March 2021, in lockdown, so 35% of workers were mainly at home; shares here are of those who travelled.
12% of commuters went to work on foot, by bike or by public transport at the census. About 7% of its commuters stay in Lyminge for work. Also worth knowing: the car carried 86% of commuters at the census.
12%walk, cycle or ride
How commuters got to work · March 2021
Driving86%
On foot7%
Train2%
Bus2%
Bicycle1%
17%
of commuters travel under 5 km · England 45%
35%
worked mainly from home in March 2021
£56K
mean household income, before tax
2.3%
of 16 to 64s claim unemployment benefits (2026)
C+
Walkability: more walkable than 42% 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 →Saltwood Castle and 4 more in and around Lyminge
Museums, castles, gardens and days out in and near Lyminge. Best known first.
CastleSaltwood Castle4.7 km outside town, to the south
CastleWestenhanger Castle4.9 km outside town, to the southwest
MuseumKent Battle of Britain Museum4.2 km outside town, to the east
MuseumRailway Museum3.4 km outside town, to the southeastCastleCastleWestenhanger4.8 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 (4)
- Saltwood Castle: Edgepedia, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Westenhanger Castle: Ian Knox, CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Kent Battle of Britain Museum: Ron Hann, CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Railway Museum: Gareth James, CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
Keep exploring
Everything we know about Lyminge
15pages on Lyminge
The big questions
SafetyA11.6 violent and sexual offences per 1,000 residents a year, averaged Sep 2023 to Aug 2026Cost of livingDMedian home £366K · rent £1,178 a monthHousing17 sold in 12 months · busiest street Silverlands RoadSchoolsB+1 state schoolHealthA−Life expectancy 83.3 (men), 84.5 (women)Work & commuteC55% of working residents work in the townFlood & hazardsD3.8% of homes at high or medium flood risk
Out and about
Lyminge’s neighbours
The nearest built-up areas, from ONS’s 2022 boundaries. See them on the map →
HawkingeHytheLympneFolkestoneBrabourne LeesCapel-le-FerneAldingtonLyminge
How the neighbours grade
| Town | People | Miles | Overall | Cost | Safety | Health |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lyminge | 1,918 | — | — | D | A | A− |
| Hawkinge | 8,499 | 3.5 | C+ | D | B− | C |
| Hythe | 14,613 | 4 | C | D | B− | C+ |
| Lympne | 1,074 | 4.3 | — | D | A+ | B− |
| Folkestone | 51,987 | 4.6 | C− | C− | D | D |
| Brabourne Lees | 1,479 | 4.7 | — | C− | A− | B+ |
| Capel-le-Ferne | 1,962 | 5.9 | — | C− | A− | B |
| Aldington | 1,280 | 6.6 | — | C− | A− | B+ |
Lympne, Brabourne Lees, Capel-le-Ferne and Aldington have fewer than 2,500 residents, so they get subject grades but no overall grade. People: Census 2021. Miles: centre to centre.
Questions about Lyminge
How many listed buildings are there in Lyminge?
That is 2.6 times the typical UK town for its size. Its Grade I building is Church of St Mary and St Ethelburga, And Remains of the Older Church to South.
Is Lyminge safe?
Police recorded 46 crimes inside Lyminge’s built-up area in the 12 months to August 2026, 46% of them violence and sexual offences, a police category that includes harassment and stalking.
Does Lyminge flood?
Surface water isn’t included. Check a specific address on GOV.UK’s flood risk service.
About Lyminge
Village in Kent, England
Lyminge is a built-up area of 1,918 people, in the Folkestone and Hythe 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
- 1,918 (Census 2021)
- Council
- Folkestone and Hythe
- County
- Kent
- Region
- South East
- Area
- 0.3 sq mi (0.7 km²)
- ONS code
- E63005796
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.