Higher Walton’s story
2 listed buildings, 1 of them Grade II*
Historic England lists them inside Higher Walton’s built-up area.
36% of its homes were built before 1919, against 15% in the typical UK town.
Explore the history →
Higher WaltonLancashire
A village in Lancashire, North West, home to 1,607 people.
7 places within 12 milesMap →
Photo: Galatas · CC BY-SA 2.0
Population
1,607
Census 2021 · South Ribble council
Median home
£163K
81 sales in 3 years
Median age
39.8
16% are 65+ · Lancashire 20%
Degree level
29%
of residents 16+ · England 34%
Walk, cycle, bus
14%
of commuters · England 27%
Is Higher Walton a good place to live?
Where it does best is cost of living: the median home sold for £162,500, 3.3 years of area income. Crime is low (B+): 17.6 violent and sexual offences and 6.4 home and vehicle crimes per 1,000 residents a year. School results trail most towns: primary results beat 16% of towns in England; secondary results beat 36% of towns in England. Its other grades sit near the middle: B for health, C+ for jobs & income, B− for walkability and C+ for hazard risk.
Figures: prices, HM Land Registry, the last three years · crime, police.uk, averaged Sep 2023 to Aug 2026 · life expectancy and income, ONS · claimants, DWP · commuting, Census 2021 · flood risk, Environment Agency. Below 2,500 residents there is no overall grade, so Higher Walton has its subject grades alone.
What makes Higher Walton stand out
The 3 things Higher Walton does most differently from other towns.
Homes built before 1919
History
Against 15% in the typical UK town
Valuation Office Agency, homes by build period.
Walk, cycle or public transport
Getting around
14% leave the car
of commuters walk, cycle or take public transport (England’s towns 27%)
Median sale, £ thousands
Housing
41% below the typical UK town’s £277K
Standard sales, September 2023 to August 2026.
How Higher Walton grades
Each subject compared with the 2,160 UK towns with an overall grade (schools within England), ordered by how far Higher Walton is from typical. American towns are graded separately.
Below 2,500 residents there is no overall grade, so Higher Walton has its subject grades alone.
Cost of livingRent £805 a monthAOpen →SchoolsPrimary results beat 16% of towns in England; secondary results beat 36% of towns in EnglandC−Open →SafetyBased on crimes reported per residentB+Open →HealthBased on how healthy residents are for their agesBOpen →Hazard risk0.4% of homes at high or medium risk of flooding from rivers or the seaC+Open →Jobs & incomeMean household income £50,611C+Open →WalkabilityClose to the middle of the towns comparedB−Open →
Character Graded, but not part of the overall grade.
History2 listed buildingsC+Open →Outdoors61% live within 400 m of a park; 2.2 ha of public green space per 1,000 residentsC−Open →Civic life0.6 local charities per 1,000 residents; 0% live within 1 km of a libraryD−Open →
How TownRatings grades towns →
The data
Data highlights are ordered by what stands out in Higher Walton.
HousingCost of living grade A
Most households in Higher Walton own their home: 71%, more than in Lancashire’s towns or across England’s towns
Private renters make up 17% of households, below both Lancashire’s towns (21%) and England’s towns (21%). Just over one in ten households live in social housing. Half of the 81 standard sales inside Higher Walton’s built-up area from September 2023 to August 2026 went for more than £162,500.
£163Kmedian sale
Median sale price · Sep 2023 to Aug 2026
Higher Walton£163K
Typical UK town£277K
| By type | Median | Sales |
|---|---|---|
| Detached | £366,000 | 8 |
| Semi-detached | £176,000 | 29 |
| Terraced | £139,333 | 44 |
71%
of households own their home · England 61%
17%
rent privately · England 21%
£805
average private rent a month, South Ribble council area
£2,430
council tax, Band D, 2026–27
HM Land Registry Price Paid · ONS private rents · MHCLG / Welsh Government council tax · ONS Census 2021 tenure · OGL
SchoolsC−
On exam results, Higher Walton’s schools trail 79% of towns in England
Its one school is below. At the 20 primary schools within 3 km, 53% of pupils reach the expected standard in reading, writing and maths (three-year average). 81 pupils attend Higher Walton’s one primary school.
C−School Grade
| School | Level | Pupils | Letter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Higher Walton Church of England Primary SchoolLargest primary schoolPrimary | Primary | 81 | D |
Department for Education · GIAS, Key Stage 2 and GCSE resultsThe Schools page →
Safety
Fewer crimes per resident in Higher Walton than in 72% of UK towns
Police recorded 58 crimes inside Higher Walton’s built-up area in the 12 months to August 2026, plus 14 reports of anti-social behaviour. Violence and sexual offences accounted for 43% of recorded crime. Anti-social behaviour, shown but not graded, came to 18.9 reports per 1,000, above Lancashire’s towns (17.2) and England’s towns (7.8) alike.
17.6violent and sexual offences per 1,000 a yearB+Safety Grade
Compared with UK towns its sizeLess crime per resident than 53% 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 & sexual25
Vehicle crime10
Other theft6
Damage & arson5
Other crime4
Bicycle theft3
Public order2
Burglary2
Anti-social14
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.
17.6
violent and sexual offences per 1,000 residents a year, averaged Sep 2023 to Aug 2026
6.4
burglary, vehicle crime and damage per 1,000 a year, averaged Sep 2023 to Aug 2026
18.9
anti-social behaviour reports per 1,000 (not graded)
58
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
Just 4.2% of people in Higher Walton say their health is bad or very bad, fewer than in Lancashire’s towns and England’s towns
There is no GP practice in Higher Walton: the nearest is 1 miles off. 83% of the town’s residents described their health as good or very good at the census, about level with England’s towns (82%) and above Lancashire’s towns (80%). Life expectancy here is 86.6 for women and 79.7 for men (2019–23).
83%good or very good healthBHealth Grade
General health, self-reported
Good or very good 83%Fair 13%Bad or very bad 4%
| Census 2021 | Higher Walton | Lancashire | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Good or very good health | 83% | 80% | 82% |
| Bad or very bad health | 4.2% | 6.3% | 5.2% |
| Disabled (Equality Act) | 17% | 20% | 17% |
79.7
life expectancy at birth, men (2019–23)
86.6
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 Higher Walton: 36% were built before 1919, more than in Lancashire’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.
Higher Walton has 2 listed buildings on Historic England’s list: 1 Grade II*. Listed buildings per head: 12 for every 10,000 residents of the town.
2listed buildingsC+History Grade
Listed buildings by grade · Historic England
Grade I0
Grade II*1
Grade II1
Among them · Grade II*
- Osbaldeston House Grade II*
0
scheduled monuments
0
registered parks and gardens
36%
of homes built before 1919 · typical UK town 15%
12
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+
Walking, cycling and public transport carry fewer commuters in Higher Walton than in Lancashire’s towns or England’s towns: 14%
The Census was taken on 21 March 2021, in lockdown, so 23% of workers were mainly at home; shares here are of those who travelled.
Among 16 to 64s, 2.7% claimed unemployment benefits in 2026. 83% of commuters drove, above both Lancashire’s towns (78%) and England’s towns (70%). For 40% of commuters, work was under 5 km away. Work in town: 3% of resident commuters.
14%walk, cycle or ride
How commuters got to work · March 2021
Driving83%
On foot7%
Bus5%
Bicycle2%
40%
of commuters travel under 5 km · England 45%
23%
worked mainly from home in March 2021
£51K
mean household income, before tax
2.7%
of 16 to 64s claim unemployment benefits (2026)
B−
Walkability: more walkable than 53% of UK towns
ONS Census 2021, method of travel and distance to work · ONS small-area income · DWP claimant count · OGL
Who lives here
Few people in Higher Walton are 65 or over: 16%, below Lancashire’s towns and England’s towns
Among adults, 29% have a degree. People aged 15 to 24 make up just over a tenth of the town, below both Lancashire’s towns (12%) and England’s towns (12%). Residents of Higher Walton have a median age of 39.8.
39.8median age
Higher WaltonLancashireEngland
Ages · share of residents
11%
Qualifications · residents 16 and older
No qualifications15%
Apprenticeship7%
A levels or similar22%
Degree level29%
Women and men · all residents
50% women, 50% men
About an even split. Across England, 51% of residents are women.
| Higher Walton | Lancashire | England | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 15 | 17% | 17% | 18% |
| 15–24 | 11% | 12% | 12% |
| 25–44 | 29% | 24% | 27% |
| 45–64 | 27% | 26% | 25% |
| 65+ | 16% | 20% | 18% |
| No qualifications | 15% | 20% | 18% |
| Apprenticeship | 7.2% | 6.3% | 5.3% |
| A levels or similar | 22% | 18% | 17% |
| Degree level | 29% | 29% | 34% |
ONS Census 2021 · Lancashire and England: all residents of their built-up areas · OGL
Nearby attractions
All attractions →Harris Museum and 5 more in and around Higher Walton
Museums, castles, gardens and days out in and near Higher Walton. Best known first.
MuseumHarris Museum3.5 km outside town, to the northwest
CathedralSyro-Malabar Cathedral of St Alphonsa, Preston3.6 km outside town, to the northwest
Historic houseHoghton Tower4 km outside town, to the east
MuseumMuseum of Lancashire3 km outside town, to the northwest
MuseumLancashire Infantry Museum4.3 km outside town, to the northwestMuseumMuseumDuke of Lancaster's Own Yeomanry Museum3 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 (5)
- Harris Museum: Dave Wilson, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Syro-Malabar Cathedral of St Alphonsa, Preston: Galatas, CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Hoghton Tower: Poliphilo, CC0, Wikimedia Commons
- Museum of Lancashire: JThomas, CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Lancashire Infantry Museum: JThomas, CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
Keep exploring
Everything we know about Higher Walton
15pages on Higher Walton
The big questions
SafetyB+17.6 violent and sexual offences per 1,000 residents a year, averaged Sep 2023 to Aug 2026Cost of livingAMedian home £163K · rent £805 a monthHousing33 sold in 12 months · busiest street Rosebay GardensSchoolsC−1 state schoolHealthBLife expectancy 79.7 (men), 86.6 (women)Work & commuteC+39% of working residents work in the townFlood & hazardsC+0.4% of homes at high or medium flood risk
Out and about
Higher Walton’s neighbours
The nearest built-up areas, from ONS’s 2022 boundaries. See them on the map →
Coup GreenGregson LaneBamber BridgePrestonPenworthamFarington MossWhittle-le-WoodsHigher Walton
How the neighbours grade
| Town | People | Miles | Overall | Cost | Safety | Health |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Higher Walton | 1,607 | — | — | A | B+ | B |
| Coup Green | 1,208 | 1 | — | A− | A− | B+ |
| Gregson Lane | 2,073 | 1.1 | — | A | A− | B+ |
| Bamber Bridge | 40,359 | 1.4 | C+ | A | C | C |
| Preston | 94,502 | 2.9 | C− | B+ | D− | D |
| Penwortham | 20,489 | 3.4 | A− | A− | B− | B− |
| Farington Moss | 2,692 | 3.4 | B | B+ | C+ | C+ |
| Whittle-le-Woods | 4,388 | 3.9 | A− | B | B− | B+ |
Coup Green and Gregson Lane have fewer than 2,500 residents, so they get subject grades but no overall grade. People: Census 2021. Miles: centre to centre.
Questions about Higher Walton
How many listed buildings are there in Higher Walton?
2 on Historic England’s list, 1 of them Grade II*.
Is Higher Walton expensive to live in?
Homes cost less than in most UK towns: the median sale over three years was £162,500, against £277,000 in the typical UK town. By type: terraced houses £139,333, semi-detached houses £176,000 and detached houses £366,000.
Are schools in Higher Walton good?
GCSE results trail 64% of towns in England, and primary results trail 84% (Department for Education, Attainment 8 and Key Stage 2). One state school is inside the town; places are handled by Lancashire council.
About Higher Walton
Village in Lancashire, England
Higher Walton is a built-up area of 1,607 people, in the South Ribble 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
- 1,607 (Census 2021)
- Council
- South Ribble
- County
- Lancashire
- Region
- North West
- Area
- 0.2 sq mi (0.5 km²)
- ONS code
- E63000877
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.