Heather’s story
6 listed buildings, 2 of them Grade II*
Historic England lists them inside Heather’s built-up area.
15% of its homes were built before 1919, against 15% in the typical UK town.
Explore the history →
HeatherLeicestershire
1,068 people call this village in Leicestershire, East Midlands home.
7 places within 12 milesMap →
Photo: Peter Wood · CC BY-SA 2.0
Population
1,068
Census 2021 · North West Leicestershire council
Median home
£250K
38 sales in 3 years
Median age
45
23% are 65+ · Leicestershire 17%
Degree level
28%
of residents 16+ · England 34%
Walk, cycle, bus
4%
of commuters · England 27%
Is Heather a good place to live?
Heather’s best grade is for cost of living: the median home sold for £250,000, 4.6 years of area income. Getting around depends on the car (D−): 4% of commuters get to work on foot, by bike or by public transport. Schools are weaker too — primary results beat just over two in five towns in England; secondary results beat 3% of towns in England. 6 listed buildings, 0 of them Grade I.
Figures: prices, HM Land Registry, the last three years · commuting, Census 2021. Below 2,500 residents there is no overall grade, so Heather has its subject grades alone.
What makes Heather stand out
The 3 things Heather does most differently from other towns.
Walk, cycle or public transport
Getting around
4% leave the car
of commuters walk, cycle or take public transport (England’s towns 27%)
Listed buildings per 10,000 residents
History
2 Grade II*, including Church of St John the Baptist; 2.3 times the typical UK town for its size
Historic England’s list, October 2026.
Secondary results, towns in England
Schools
Secondary results trail 97%
of towns in England, on GCSE results (Attainment 8, English and maths)
Primary results beat 41%. Department for Education.
How Heather grades
Each subject compared with the 2,160 UK towns with an overall grade (schools within England), ordered by how far Heather is from typical. American towns are graded separately.
Below 2,500 residents there is no overall grade, so Heather has its subject grades alone.
WalkabilityBased on walking, cycling and transit to everyday placesD−Open →Cost of livingRent £914 a monthAOpen →SchoolsPrimary results beat 41% of towns in England; secondary results beat 3% of towns in EnglandC−Open →Hazard risk0% of homes at high or medium risk of flooding from rivers or the seaB+Open →SafetyLess crime than in most townsB+Open →HealthLife expectancy 78.4 for men, 82.5 for womenCOpen →Jobs & incomeClose to the middle of the towns comparedB−Open →
Character Graded, but not part of the overall grade.
HistoryBased on listed places, the town’s age and notable peopleC+Open →Outdoors100% live within 400 m of a park; 16.9 ha of public green space per 1,000 residentsAOpen →Civic life3.7 local charities per 1,000 residents; 0% live within 1 km of a libraryBOpen →
How TownRatings grades towns →
The data
Data highlights are ordered by what stands out in Heather.
Work & commuteJobs & income grade B−
Long commutes are the norm in Heather: just 17% travel under 5 km, below Leicestershire’s towns and England’s towns
The Census was taken on 21 March 2021, in lockdown, so 28% of workers were mainly at home; shares here are of those who travelled.
1.7% of 16 to 64s claimed unemployment benefits in 2026. The car took 94% of commuters, above Leicestershire’s towns (77%) and England’s towns (70%) alike. Income per household averages £52K a year, before tax. Work in town: 3% of resident commuters.
4%walk, cycle or ride
How commuters got to work · March 2021
Driving94%
On foot2%
Bicycle1%
17%
of commuters travel under 5 km · England 45%
28%
worked mainly from home in March 2021
£52K
mean household income, before tax
1.7%
of 16 to 64s claim unemployment benefits (2026)
D−
Walkability: behind almost every UK town
ONS Census 2021, method of travel and distance to work · ONS small-area income · DWP claimant count · OGL
SchoolsC−
Exam results at Heather’s schools trail 83% of towns in England
The town has one school, shown below. Key Stage 2 results at the 4 primary schools within 3 km: three in five pupils meet the expected standard in reading, writing and maths (three-year average). Attainment 8 at the one secondary school within 3 km averages 37.3, and 25% of pupils get grade 5 or above in English and maths.
C−School Grade
| School | Level | Pupils | Letter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Heather Primary SchoolLargest primary schoolPrimary | Primary | 115 | C |
Department for Education · GIAS, Key Stage 2 and GCSE resultsThe Schools page →
HousingCost of living grade A
Heather is a town of owners: 78% of households own their home, above Leicestershire’s towns and England’s towns
Social renters account for nearly one in ten households. 12% rent privately, below Leicestershire’s towns (19%) and England’s towns (21%) alike. From September 2023 to August 2026, 38 homes sold inside Heather’s built-up area at standard prices; the middle one went for £250,000.
£250Kmedian sale
Median sale price · Sep 2023 to Aug 2026
Heather£250K
Typical UK town£277K
| By type | Median | Sales |
|---|---|---|
| Detached | £347,500 | 20 |
| Semi-detached | £221,000 | 12 |
| Terraced | £197,500 | 6 |
78%
of households own their home · England 61%
12%
rent privately · England 21%
£914
average private rent a month, North West Leicestershire council area
£2,381
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
Heather records less violent crime per resident than Leicestershire’s towns or England’s towns, at 14.4 per 1,000 a year
Violence and sexual offences accounted for just over half of recorded crime. Police recorded 41 crimes inside Heather’s built-up area in the 12 months to August 2026, plus 3 reports of anti-social behaviour. Anti-social behaviour, shown but not graded, came to 3.1 reports per 1,000, below Leicestershire’s towns (6.9) and England’s towns (7.8) alike.
14.4violent and sexual offences per 1,000 a yearB+Safety Grade
Compared with UK towns its sizeLess crime per resident than 48% 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 & sexual21
Vehicle crime7
Shoplifting3
Public order3
Burglary3
Damage & arson2
Other theft2
Drugs0
Anti-social3
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.
14.4
violent and sexual offences per 1,000 residents a year, averaged Sep 2023 to Aug 2026
11.2
burglary, vehicle crime and damage per 1,000 a year, averaged Sep 2023 to Aug 2026
3.1
anti-social behaviour reports per 1,000 (not graded)
41
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
People in Heather live shorter lives than in 75% of UK towns
The nearest A&E to Heather is Queens Hospital, 12.9 miles away. This Leicestershire town has no GP practice of its own; the nearest is 1.2 miles away. Also worth knowing: at the census, 16% of people here had a disability, about level with Leicestershire’s towns (16%) and below England’s towns (17%).
83%good or very good healthCHealth Grade
General health, self-reported
Good or very good 83%Fair 13%Bad or very bad 5%
| Census 2021 | Heather | Leicestershire | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Good or very good health | 83% | 83% | 82% |
| Bad or very bad health | 4.9% | 4.7% | 5.2% |
| Disabled (Equality Act) | 16% | 16% | 17% |
78.4
life expectancy at birth, men (2019–23)
82.5
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.
History
More buildings in Heather are listed than in Leicestershire’s towns or England’s towns: 56 per 10,000 residents
The heritage lists give each building’s grade but not its age, so we don’t say which is oldest.
15% of its homes were built before 1919, between Leicestershire’s towns (13%) and England’s towns (16%).
6listed buildingsC+History Grade
Listed buildings by grade · Historic England
Grade I0
Grade II*2
Grade II4
Among them · Grade II*
- Church of St John the Baptist Grade II*
- The Manor House with Garden Wall Grade II*
0
scheduled monuments
0
registered parks and gardens
15%
of homes built before 1919 · typical UK town 15%
56
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
Few people in Heather are 15 to 24: 8%, fewer than in both Leicestershire’s towns and England’s towns
People 65 and over make up 23% of the town, higher than both Leicestershire’s towns (17%) and England’s towns (18%). The middle age in Heather is 45. Graduates make up 28% of adults.
45median age
HeatherLeicestershireEngland
Ages · share of residents
23%
Qualifications · residents 16 and older
No qualifications19%
Apprenticeship9%
A levels or similar22%
Degree level28%
Women and men · all residents
49% women, 51% men
About an even split. Across England, 51% of residents are women.
| Heather | Leicestershire | England | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 15 | 17% | 18% | 18% |
| 15–24 | 8% | 14% | 12% |
| 25–44 | 25% | 26% | 27% |
| 45–64 | 27% | 25% | 25% |
| 65+ | 23% | 17% | 18% |
| No qualifications | 19% | 20% | 18% |
| Apprenticeship | 8.6% | 5.5% | 5.3% |
| A levels or similar | 22% | 18% | 17% |
| Degree level | 28% | 30% | 34% |
ONS Census 2021 · Leicestershire and England: all residents of their built-up areas · OGL
Nearby attractions
All attractions →Shackerstone railway station and 2 more in and around Heather
Museums, castles, gardens and days out in and near Heather. Best known first.
MuseumShackerstone railway station3.8 km outside town, to the southMuseumMuseumDonington-le-Heath Manor House3.2 km outside town, to the northeastMuseumMuseumSnibston Colliery Park4.2 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 (1)
- Shackerstone railway station: Robpics69, Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
Keep exploring
Everything we know about Heather
15pages on Heather
The big questions
SafetyB+14.4 violent and sexual offences per 1,000 residents a year, averaged Sep 2023 to Aug 2026Cost of livingAMedian home £250K · rent £914 a monthHousing7 sold in 12 months · busiest street Holyoake DriveSchoolsC−1 state schoolHealthCLife expectancy 78.4 (men), 82.5 (women)Work & commuteB−45% of working residents work in the townFlood & hazardsB+0% of homes at high or medium flood risk
Out and about
Heather’s neighbours
The nearest built-up areas, from ONS’s 2022 boundaries. See them on the map →
IbstockRavenstoneHugglescoteEllistownMeashamCoalvilleBagworthHeather
How the neighbours grade
| Town | People | Miles | Overall | Cost | Safety | Health |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Heather | 1,068 | — | — | A | B+ | C |
| Ibstock | 6,806 | 1.1 | C+ | A | C+ | C |
| Ravenstone | 1,882 | 2.1 | — | B+ | B− | B+ |
| Hugglescote | 4,630 | 2.5 | B− | B+ | B− | C+ |
| Ellistown | 2,971 | 2.6 | B− | A− | B | C+ |
| Measham | 5,373 | 3.5 | C+ | A | C | C+ |
| Coalville | 21,975 | 3.5 | C− | A | D | C− |
| Bagworth | 1,869 | 3.5 | — | B+ | B− | B |
Ravenstone and Bagworth have fewer than 2,500 residents, so they get subject grades but no overall grade. People: Census 2021. Miles: centre to centre.
Questions about Heather
How many listed buildings are there in Heather?
That is 2.3 times the typical UK town for its size.
Are schools in Heather good?
One state school is inside the town; places are handled by Leicestershire council.
Does Heather flood?
Surface water isn’t included. Check a specific address on GOV.UK’s flood risk service.
About Heather
Village in Leicestershire, England
Heather is a built-up area of 1,068 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
- 1,068 (Census 2021)
- Council
- North West Leicestershire
- County
- Leicestershire
- Region
- East Midlands
- Area
- 0.1 sq mi (0.4 km²)
- ONS code
- E63002490
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.