Donisthorpe’s story
4 listed buildings
Historic England lists them inside Donisthorpe’s built-up area.
33% of its homes were built before 1919, against 15% in the typical UK town.
Explore the history →
DonisthorpeLeicestershire
1,204 residents make their home in this village in Leicestershire, East Midlands.
7 places within 12 milesMap →
Photo: Mat Fascione · CC BY-SA 2.0
Population
1,204
Census 2021 · North West Leicestershire council
Median home
£219K
47 sales in 3 years
Median age
43.1
13% are 65+ · Leicestershire 17%
Degree level
33%
of residents 16+ · England 34%
Walk, cycle, bus
6%
of commuters · England 27%
Is Donisthorpe a good place to live?
Where it does best is cost of living — a typical home costs £219,000 and rent runs £914 a month. It is hard to get around without a car: on the way to work, 6% walk, cycle or take a bus or train. The rest of its grades are middling: B− for safety and B− for jobs & income. Hazard risk is lower than in most UK towns (A).
Figures: prices, HM Land Registry, the last three years · commuting, Census 2021 · crime, police.uk, averaged Sep 2023 to Aug 2026 · income, ONS · claimants, DWP · flood risk, Environment Agency. Below 2,500 residents there is no overall grade, so Donisthorpe has its subject grades alone.
What makes Donisthorpe stand out
The 3 things Donisthorpe does most differently from other towns.
Walk, cycle or public transport
Getting around
6% leave the car
of commuters walk, cycle or take public transport (England’s towns 27%)
Homes built before 1919
History
33% of homes built before 1919
Against 15% in the typical UK town
Valuation Office Agency, homes by build period.
Residents 65 and over
Who lives here
Only 13% are 65 or over
Against 18% across England’s towns
How Donisthorpe grades
Each subject compared with the 2,160 UK towns with an overall grade (schools within England), ordered by how far Donisthorpe is from typical. American towns are graded separately.
WalkabilityAmong the hardest places to get around without a carD−Open →Cost of livingMedian sale £219,000, 4 years of area incomeAOpen →Hazard risk0% of homes at high or medium risk of flooding from rivers or the seaAOpen →SchoolsPrimary results beat 31% of towns in EnglandCOpen →HealthLife expectancy 80.1 for men, 83.2 for womenC+Open →SafetyClose to the middle of the towns comparedB−Open →Jobs & incomeMean household income £54,724; 1.8% of 16 to 64s claim unemployment benefitsB−Open →
Character Graded, but not part of the overall grade.
HistoryBased on listed places, the town’s age and notable peopleB−Open →Outdoors100% live within 400 m of a park; 38.4 ha of public green space per 1,000 residentsAOpen →Civic life1.7 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 Donisthorpe.
Work & commuteJobs & income grade B−
Long commutes are the norm in Donisthorpe: just 22% travel under 5 km, below Leicestershire’s towns and England’s towns
The Census was taken on 21 March 2021, in lockdown, so 34% of workers were mainly at home; shares here are of those who travelled.
The car took 93% of commuters, higher than both Leicestershire’s towns (77%) and England’s towns (70%). There are 0.4 jobs in Donisthorpe for each resident in work. 2% of commuters who live in Donisthorpe also work there.
6%walk, cycle or ride
How commuters got to work · March 2021
Driving93%
On foot2%
Bus1%
Bicycle1%
Train1%
22%
of commuters travel under 5 km · England 45%
34%
worked mainly from home in March 2021
£55K
mean household income, before tax
1.8%
of 16 to 64s claim unemployment benefits (2026)
D−
Walkability: more walkable than 4% of UK towns
ONS Census 2021, method of travel and distance to work · ONS small-area income · DWP claimant count · OGL
SchoolsC
Donisthorpe’s schools fall behind 73% of towns in England on results
At the 7 primary schools within 3 km, 58% of pupils reach the expected standard in reading, writing and maths (three-year average). There is one school here; it is shown below. 207 pupils attend Donisthorpe’s one primary school.
CSchool Grade
| School | Level | Pupils | Letter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Donisthorpe Primary SchoolLargest primary schoolPrimary | Primary | 207 | C+ |
Department for Education · GIAS, Key Stage 2 and GCSE resultsThe Schools page →
HousingCost of living grade A
Donisthorpe is a town of owners: 83% of households own their home, above Leicestershire’s towns and England’s towns
13% of households are private tenants. Social housing holds 4% of households, below both Leicestershire’s towns (15%) and England’s towns (18%). Behind the median of £219,000: 47 standard sales inside Donisthorpe’s built-up area, September 2023 to August 2026.
£219Kmedian sale
Median sale price · Sep 2023 to Aug 2026
Donisthorpe£219K
Typical UK town£277K
| By type | Median | Sales |
|---|---|---|
| Detached | £365,000 | 17 |
| Semi-detached | £194,650 | 13 |
| Terraced | £187,500 | 15 |
83%
of households own their home · England 61%
13%
rent privately · England 21%
£914
average private rent a month, North West Leicestershire council area
£2,418
council tax, Band D, 2026–27
HM Land Registry Price Paid · ONS private rents · MHCLG / Welsh Government council tax · ONS Census 2021 tenure · OGL
Health
Fewer people in Donisthorpe live with a disability than in Leicestershire’s towns or across England’s towns: 15%
There is no GP practice in Donisthorpe: the nearest is 1.6 miles off. 4.2% of residents described their health as bad or very bad, lower than both Leicestershire’s towns (4.7%) and England’s towns (5.2%). The nearest A&E to Donisthorpe is Queens Hospital, 8.4 miles away.
84%good or very good healthC+Health Grade
General health, self-reported
Good or very good 84%Fair 12%Bad or very bad 4%
| Census 2021 | Donisthorpe | Leicestershire | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Good or very good health | 84% | 83% | 82% |
| Bad or very bad health | 4.2% | 4.7% | 5.2% |
| Disabled (Equality Act) | 15% | 16% | 17% |
80.1
life expectancy at birth, men (2019–23)
83.2
life expectancy at birth, women
ONS Census 2021, general health and disability · OHID Fingertips, life expectancy 2019–23 · OGL · The census answers take no account of age, so a young town looks healthier; the Health Grade relies on age-adjusted measures, life expectancy and early deaths among them.
Safety
Donisthorpe has more crime per resident than 54% of UK towns
Police figures for Donisthorpe’s built-up area: 51 crimes and 12 anti-social behaviour reports in the 12 months to August 2026. Among the 1,541 UK towns of 1,000 to 2,500 people, Donisthorpe has more crime per resident than 73% of them. Homes see 10.2 burglaries and acts of damage per 1,000 residents a year.
23.8violent and sexual offences per 1,000 a yearB−Safety Grade
Compared with UK towns its sizeLess crime per resident than 27% of the 1,541 UK towns of 1,000 to 2,500 people: more crime than most for its size. Context only, not part of the grade.
Reports by type · Sep 2025 to Aug 2026
Violence & sexual37
Damage & arson3
Vehicle crime3
Public order2
Other theft2
Burglary2
Other crime2
Shoplifting0
Anti-social12
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.
23.8
violent and sexual offences per 1,000 residents a year, averaged Sep 2023 to Aug 2026
10.2
burglary, vehicle crime and damage per 1,000 a year, averaged Sep 2023 to Aug 2026
9.1
anti-social behaviour reports per 1,000 (not graded)
51
crimes recorded in the 12 months to August 2026
data.police.uk street-level crime · points inside the ONS built-up-area boundary · OGL
History
Donisthorpe keeps more of its old housing than Leicestershire’s towns or England’s towns: 33% built before 1919
The heritage lists give each building’s grade but not its age, so we don’t say which is oldest.
None of the 4 listed buildings reaches Grade II* or Grade I; all are Grade II.
4listed buildingsB−History Grade
Listed buildings by grade · Historic England
Grade I0
Grade II*0
Grade II4
0
scheduled monuments
0
registered parks and gardens
33%
of homes built before 1919 · typical UK town 15%
33
listed buildings per 10,000 residents · typical UK town 24
Historic England list, October 2026 · Valuation Office Agency, homes by build period · OGL
Who lives here
Donisthorpe has fewer older residents than Leicestershire’s towns or England’s towns: 13% are 65 or over
Those aged 15 to 24 account for 11% of residents. Half of Donisthorpe is older than 43.1, half younger. Degrees are held by a third of adults, above Leicestershire’s towns (30%) and close to England’s towns (34%).
43.1median age
DonisthorpeLeicestershireEngland
Ages · share of residents
11%
Qualifications · residents 16 and older
No qualifications16%
Apprenticeship5%
A levels or similar21%
Degree level33%
Women and men · all residents
51% women, 49% men
About an even split. Across England, 51% of residents are women.
| Donisthorpe | Leicestershire | England | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 15 | 18% | 18% | 18% |
| 15–24 | 11% | 14% | 12% |
| 25–44 | 24% | 26% | 27% |
| 45–64 | 34% | 25% | 25% |
| 65+ | 13% | 17% | 18% |
| No qualifications | 16% | 20% | 18% |
| Apprenticeship | 5.3% | 5.5% | 5.3% |
| A levels or similar | 21% | 18% | 17% |
| Degree level | 33% | 30% | 34% |
ONS Census 2021 · Leicestershire and England: all residents of their built-up areas · OGL
Nearby attractions
All attractions →Ashby de la Zouch Castle and 5 more in and around Donisthorpe
Museums, castles, gardens and days out in and near Donisthorpe. Best known first.
Castle · English HeritageAshby de la Zouch Castle4.2 km outside town, to the northeastGardenGardenBluebell Arboretum4.7 km outside town, to the northeastMuseumMuseumAshby de la Zouch Museum4.1 km outside town, to the northeastMuseumMuseumMoira Furnace Museum600 m outside town, to the northwestTheme parkTheme parkConkers1.6 km outside town, to the northwestMuseumMuseumSir John Moore Museum4.4 km outside town, to the southPlaces: © OpenStreetMap contributors · Wikidata
Photos: each place’s Wikidata image, from Wikimedia Commons under the licence below (our copy, resized).
Photo credits (1)
- Ashby de la Zouch Castle: Pahazzard, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
Keep exploring
Everything we know about Donisthorpe
14pages on Donisthorpe
The big questions
SafetyB−23.8 violent and sexual offences per 1,000 residents a year, averaged Sep 2023 to Aug 2026Cost of livingAMedian home £219K · rent £914 a monthHousing14 sold in 12 months · busiest street Moira RoadSchoolsC1 state schoolHealthC+Life expectancy 80.1 (men), 83.2 (women)Work & commuteB−49% of working residents work in the townFlood & hazardsA0% of homes at high or medium flood risk
Out and about
Donisthorpe’s neighbours
The nearest built-up areas, from ONS’s 2022 boundaries. See them on the map →
MoiraMeashamOverseal and Castle GresleyBlackfordbyAppleby MagnaAshby-de-la-ZouchWoodvilleDonisthorpe
How the neighbours grade
| Town | People | Miles | Overall | Cost | Safety | Health |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Donisthorpe | 1,204 | — | — | A | B− | C+ |
| Moira | 3,198 | 1 | B | A | B | C |
| Measham | 5,373 | 1.5 | C+ | A | C | C+ |
| Overseal and Castle Gresley | 5,055 | 2.3 | B− | A+ | B− | C |
| Blackfordby | 1,071 | 2.3 | — | B+ | A− | C+ |
| Appleby Magna | 1,301 | 2.7 | — | B− | B− | B− |
| Ashby-de-la-Zouch | 15,121 | 2.8 | B+ | B+ | C | B− |
| Woodville | 7,255 | 3 | C | A+ | C− | C− |
Blackfordby and Appleby Magna have fewer than 2,500 residents, so they get subject grades but no overall grade. People: Census 2021. Miles: centre to centre.
Questions about Donisthorpe
How many listed buildings are there in Donisthorpe?
That is 1.4 times the typical UK town for its size.
Who lives in Donisthorpe?
A young village. At the 2021 Census, 18% of residents were under 15 and 24% were 25 to 44, against 18% and 27% across England’s towns; only 13% were 65 or over.
Are schools in Donisthorpe good?
Primary results trail 69% of towns in England (Department for Education, Key Stage 2). One state school is inside the town; places are handled by Leicestershire council.
Is Donisthorpe expensive to live in?
Homes cost less than in most UK towns: the median sale over three years was £219,000, against £277,000 in the typical UK town. By type: terraced houses £187,500, semi-detached houses £194,650 and detached houses £365,000.
About Donisthorpe
Village in Leicestershire, England
Donisthorpe is a built-up area of 1,204 people, in the North West Leicestershire 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
- 1,204 (Census 2021)
- Council
- North West Leicestershire
- County
- Leicestershire
- Region
- East Midlands
- Area
- 0.2 sq mi (0.6 km²)
- ONS code
- E63002417
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.