Billington’s story
No listed buildings inside Billington’s built-up area
23% of its homes were built before 1919, against 15% in the typical UK town.
Explore the history →
BillingtonLancashire
Primary school results beat 94% of towns in England. 1,743 people live in this village in Lancashire, North West.
7 places within 12 milesMap →
Photo: Alexander P Kapp · CC BY-SA 2.0
Population
1,743
Census 2021 · Ribble Valley council
Median home
£225K
83 sales in 3 years
Median age
48.6
24% are 65+ · Lancashire 20%
Degree level
38%
of residents 16+ · England 34%
Walk, cycle, bus
11%
of commuters · England 27%
Is Billington a good place to live?
Homes are affordable: homes sell for a median £225,000, about 4.3 times local household income. It also does well on safety — 10.7 violent or sexual offences per 1,000 residents a year, plus 7.3 home and vehicle crimes. Hazard risk is higher than most: 3.9% of homes face a high or medium risk of river or sea flooding. Walkability is weaker too: on the way to work, 11% walk, cycle or take a bus or train.
Figures: prices, HM Land Registry, the last three years · crime, police.uk, averaged Sep 2023 to Aug 2026 · flood risk, Environment Agency · commuting, Census 2021. An overall grade needs 2,500 residents, so Billington is graded subject by subject only.
What makes Billington stand out
The 3 things Billington 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%)
Primary results, towns in England
Schools
Primary results beat 94%
of towns in England, on Key Stage 2 reading, writing and maths
Secondary results beat 36%. Department for Education.
Claimant rate, against UK towns
Work
of 16 to 64s in 2026: fewer than in 91% of UK towns
DWP claimant count, January to August 2026.
How Billington grades
Each subject compared with the 2,160 UK towns with an overall grade (schools within England), ordered by how far Billington is from typical. American towns are graded separately.
Cost of livingHomes are very affordable for local incomesAOpen →Jobs & incomeIn the top fifth of the towns comparedAOpen →SafetyGraded on crime per residentAOpen →Hazard riskAmong the most exposed to natural hazardsDOpen →HealthAhead of most towns comparedA−Open →SchoolsPrimary results beat 94% of towns in England; secondary results beat 36% of towns in EnglandB+Open →WalkabilityGraded on how easily people get around without a carCOpen →
Character Graded, but not part of the overall grade.
History0 listed buildingsDOpen →Outdoors0% live within 400 m of a park; 14% of land within 5 km is National Park or National LandscapeC−Open →Civic life0 local charities per 1,000 residents; 46% live within 1 km of a libraryC−Open →
How TownRatings grades towns →
The data
Data highlights are ordered by what stands out in Billington.
HousingCost of living grade A
More households own their home in Billington than in Lancashire’s towns or across England’s towns: 80%
11% of households rent privately. Social housing holds 8% of households, below both Lancashire’s towns (13%) and England’s towns (18%). Private rents average £818 a month across the Ribble Valley council area.
£225Kmedian sale
Median sale price · Sep 2023 to Aug 2026
Billington£225K
Typical UK town£277K
| By type | Median | Sales |
|---|---|---|
| Detached | £450,000 | 23 |
| Semi-detached | £244,750 | 24 |
| Terraced | £186,500 | 36 |
80%
of households own their home · England 61%
11%
rent privately · England 21%
£818
average private rent a month, Ribble Valley council area
£2,374
council tax, Band D, 2026–27
HM Land Registry Price Paid · ONS private rents · MHCLG / Welsh Government council tax · ONS Census 2021 tenure · OGL
SchoolsB+
Exam results at Billington’s schools top 69% of towns in England
GCSE results at the one secondary school within 3 km: 39% of pupils get a strong pass (grade 5+) in English and maths, and the Attainment 8 average is 45. The one school in town appears below. At the 5 primary schools within 3 km, 74% of pupils reach the expected standard in reading, writing and maths (three-year average).
B+School Grade
| School | Level | Pupils | Letter |
|---|---|---|---|
| St Augustine's Roman Catholic High School, a Voluntary AcademyLargest secondary schoolSecondary | Secondary | 1,117 | C+ |
Department for Education · GIAS, Key Stage 2 and GCSE resultsThe Schools page →
Safety
Crime per resident in Billington is lower than in 88% of UK towns
Among the 1,541 UK towns of 1,000 to 2,500 people, Billington has less crime per resident than 76% of them. The town logged 30 reported offences in a year (to August 2026), plus 5 complaints of anti-social conduct. There were 6.5 anti-social behaviour reports per 1,000 residents (not graded), below Lancashire’s towns (17.3) and England’s towns (7.8) alike. Violence and sexual offences made up 57% of the total.
10.7violent and sexual offences per 1,000 a yearASafety Grade
Compared with UK towns its sizeLess crime per resident than 76% 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 & sexual17
Public order3
Other theft3
Burglary3
Damage & arson2
Vehicle crime2
Shoplifting0
Drugs0
Anti-social5
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.
10.7
violent and sexual offences per 1,000 residents a year, averaged Sep 2023 to Aug 2026
7.3
burglary, vehicle crime and damage per 1,000 a year, averaged Sep 2023 to Aug 2026
6.5
anti-social behaviour reports per 1,000 (not graded)
30
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
No listed buildings in Billington
The heritage lists give each building’s grade but not its age, so we don’t say which is oldest.
Homes from before 1919 make up nearly a quarter of the total, about level with Lancashire’s towns (22%) and above England’s towns (16%). Historic England’s list has no building inside Billington’s built-up area.
0listed buildingsDHistory Grade
Listed buildings by grade · Historic England
Grade I0
Grade II*0
Grade II0
0
scheduled monuments
0
registered parks and gardens
23%
of homes built before 1919 · typical UK town 15%
0
listed buildings per 10,000 residents · typical UK town 24
Historic England list, October 2026 · Valuation Office Agency, homes by build period · OGL
Health
Bad health is less common in Billington than in Lancashire’s towns or across England’s towns: 3.8% of residents
Disability touches 15% of Billington’s population. 84% of the town’s residents described their health as good or very good at the census, above both Lancashire’s towns (80%) and England’s towns (82%). There is no GP practice in the town: the nearest is 0.7 miles off. Life expectancy here is 85.4 for women and 81.2 for men (2019–23).
84%good or very good healthA−Health Grade
General health, self-reported
Good or very good 84%Fair 12%Bad or very bad 4%
| Census 2021 | Billington | Lancashire | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Good or very good health | 84% | 80% | 82% |
| Bad or very bad health | 3.8% | 6.3% | 5.2% |
| Disabled (Equality Act) | 15% | 20% | 17% |
81.2
life expectancy at birth, men (2019–23)
85.4
life expectancy at birth, women
ONS Census 2021, general health and disability · OHID Fingertips, life expectancy 2019–23 · OGL · A young population flatters these answers, which are not age-adjusted; the Health Grade instead uses measures that allow for age, such as life expectancy and early deaths.
Work & commuteJobs & income grade A
Commuters in Billington travel far: only 20% go under 5 km, fewer than in Lancashire’s towns and across England’s towns
The Census was taken on 21 March 2021, in lockdown, so 27% of workers were mainly at home; shares here are of those who travelled.
1.3% of 16 to 64s claimed unemployment benefits in 2026, below both Lancashire’s towns (2.3%) and England’s towns (2.3%). The car carried 86% of commuters at the census. The average household earns £57K a year before tax.
11%walk, cycle or ride
How commuters got to work · March 2021
Driving86%
On foot7%
Bus3%
Bicycle1%
Train1%
20%
of commuters travel under 5 km · England 45%
27%
worked mainly from home in March 2021
£57K
mean household income, before tax
1.3%
of 16 to 64s claim unemployment benefits (2026)
C
Walkability: more walkable than 35% 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 Billington than in Lancashire’s towns or England’s towns: 14% are under 15
Degrees are held by 38% of adults. People 65 and over make up 24% of the town, higher than both Lancashire’s towns (20%) and England’s towns (18%). Aged 15 to 24: 9.6% of residents. The middle age in Billington is 48.6.
48.6median age
BillingtonLancashireEngland
Ages · share of residents
24%
Qualifications · residents 16 and older
No qualifications14%
Apprenticeship8%
A levels or similar17%
Degree level38%
Women and men · all residents
51% women, 49% men
About 96 men for every 100 women. Across England, 51% of residents are women.
| Billington | Lancashire | England | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 15 | 14% | 17% | 18% |
| 15–24 | 9.6% | 12% | 12% |
| 25–44 | 21% | 24% | 27% |
| 45–64 | 31% | 26% | 25% |
| 65+ | 24% | 20% | 18% |
| No qualifications | 14% | 20% | 18% |
| Apprenticeship | 8.4% | 6.3% | 5.3% |
| A levels or similar | 17% | 18% | 17% |
| Degree level | 38% | 29% | 34% |
ONS Census 2021 · Lancashire and England: all residents of their built-up areas · OGL
Nearby attractions
All attractions →Whalley Abbey and 2 more in and around Billington
Museums, castles, gardens and days out in and near Billington. Best known first.
Abbey or priory · English HeritageWhalley Abbey100 m outside town, to the northeast
Historic houseNorthcote Manor1.2 km outside town, to the southwestHistoric houseHistoric houseMartholme3 km outside town, to the southeastPlaces: © OpenStreetMap contributors · Wikidata
Photos: each place’s Wikidata image, from Wikimedia Commons under the licence below (our copy, resized).
Photo credits (2)
- Whalley Abbey: David Dixon, CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Northcote Manor: CillaLowe, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
Keep exploring
Everything we know about Billington
14pages on Billington
The big questions
SafetyA10.7 violent and sexual offences per 1,000 residents a year, averaged Sep 2023 to Aug 2026Cost of livingAMedian home £225K · rent £818 a monthHousing22 sold in 12 months · busiest street Spinners ValeSchoolsB+1 state schoolHealthA−Life expectancy 81.2 (men), 85.4 (women)Work & commuteA41% of working residents work in the townFlood & hazardsD3.9% of homes at high or medium flood risk
Out and about
Billington’s neighbours
The nearest built-up areas, from ONS’s 2022 boundaries. See them on the map →
WhalleyLanghoOld LanghoBarrowGreat HarwoodReadClayton-le-MoorsBillington
How the neighbours grade
| Town | People | Miles | Overall | Cost | Safety | Health |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Billington | 1,743 | — | — | A | A | A− |
| Whalley | 3,411 | 0.6 | B | B− | C− | A− |
| Langho | 1,723 | 1.5 | — | A | B | A |
| Old Langho | 1,072 | 1.6 | — | B− | A+ | A− |
| Barrow | 1,388 | 1.9 | — | B | C | A |
| Great Harwood | 11,022 | 2.2 | D | B | D | C− |
| Read | 2,049 | 2.9 | — | A− | A | A |
| Clayton-le-Moors | 7,969 | 3.1 | D | B | D | D |
Langho, Old Langho, Barrow and Read have fewer than 2,500 residents, so they get subject grades but no overall grade. People: Census 2021. Miles: centre to centre.
Questions about Billington
Does Billington flood?
Surface water isn’t included. Check a specific address on GOV.UK’s flood risk service.
Are schools in Billington good?
Secondary results are closer to the middle, trailing 64%. One state school is inside the town; places are handled by Lancashire council.
About Billington
Village in Lancashire, England
Billington is a built-up area of 1,743 people, in the Ribble Valley 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
- 1,743 (Census 2021)
- Council
- Ribble Valley
- County
- Lancashire
- Region
- North West
- Area
- 0.2 sq mi (0.5 km²)
- ONS code
- E63000775
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.