Surfleet’s story
3 listed buildings, 1 of them Grade I
Historic England lists them inside Surfleet’s built-up area.
16% of its homes were built before 1919, against 15% in the typical UK town.
Explore the history →
SurfleetLincolnshire
Some 1,042 people live in this village, in Lincolnshire, East Midlands.
7 places within 12 milesMap →
Photo: Dave Hitchborne · CC BY-SA 2.0
Population
1,042
Census 2021 · South Holland council
Median home
£260K
94 sales in 3 years
Median age
53.8
31% are 65+ · Lincolnshire 22%
Degree level
24%
of residents 16+ · England 34%
Walk, cycle, bus
6%
of commuters · England 27%
Is Surfleet a good place to live?
Hazard risk is its weak spot (D−): just over two in five homes at high or medium risk of flooding from rivers or the sea. Getting around depends on the car: 6% of commuters walk, cycle or take public transport. The median home sold for £260,000, 6 times what households in the South Holland council area earn in a year. Its remaining grades are unremarkable: B− for safety and C+ for health.
Figures: flood risk, Environment Agency · commuting, Census 2021 · prices, HM Land Registry, the last three years · incomes and life expectancy, ONS · crime, police.uk, averaged Sep 2023 to Aug 2026. Surfleet is graded on each subject, but towns under 2,500 get no overall grade.
What makes Surfleet stand out
The 3 things Surfleet 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%)
Flood risk, against UK towns
Flood risk
42% of homes at risk
High or medium risk of flooding from rivers or the sea: more than in 99% of UK towns
Environment Agency flood maps, defences counted.
Residents 65 and over
Who lives here
31% are 65 or over
Against 18% across England’s towns
How Surfleet grades
Each subject compared with the 2,160 UK towns with an overall grade (schools within England), ordered by how far Surfleet is from typical. American towns are graded separately.
Surfleet is graded on each subject, but towns under 2,500 get no overall grade.
Hazard riskIn the bottom fifth of the towns comparedD−Open →WalkabilityBased on walking, cycling and transit to everyday placesD−Open →Jobs & income2.3% of 16 to 64s claim unemployment benefitsCOpen →SchoolsPrimary results beat 36% of towns in EnglandCOpen →Cost of livingRent £775 a monthC+Open →HealthClose to the middle of the towns comparedC+Open →Safety22.7 violent and sexual offences and 8.3 home and vehicle crimes per 1,000 residents a year, averaged Sep 2023 to Aug 2026B−Open →
Character Graded, but not part of the overall grade.
History3 listed buildings, 1 Grade IC+Open →Outdoors0% live within 400 m of a park; 4.2 ha of public green space per 1,000 residentsC−Open →Civic life4.8 local charities per 1,000 residents; 0% live within 1 km of a libraryB+Open →
How TownRatings grades towns →
The data
Data highlights are ordered by what stands out in Surfleet.
Who lives here
Surfleet skews older, with 31% of residents 65 or over, more than Lincolnshire’s towns or England’s towns
24% of adults hold a degree. Young adults of 15 to 24 are 8% of residents, lower than both Lincolnshire’s towns (11%) and England’s towns (12%). In addition, the share of residents under 15 is 14%. Ages in Surfleet split evenly at 53.8: half are older, half younger.
53.8median age
SurfleetLincolnshireEngland
Ages · share of residents
31%
Qualifications · residents 16 and older
No qualifications20%
Apprenticeship7%
A levels or similar17%
Degree level24%
Women and men · all residents
52% women, 48% men
About 94 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.
| Surfleet | Lincolnshire | England | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 15 | 14% | 16% | 18% |
| 15–24 | 8% | 11% | 12% |
| 25–44 | 16% | 23% | 27% |
| 45–64 | 31% | 27% | 25% |
| 65+ | 31% | 22% | 18% |
| No qualifications | 20% | 21% | 18% |
| Apprenticeship | 6.8% | 6.7% | 5.3% |
| A levels or similar | 17% | 18% | 17% |
| Degree level | 24% | 25% | 34% |
ONS Census 2021 · Lincolnshire and England: all residents of their built-up areas · OGL
SchoolsC
Exam results at Surfleet’s schools trail 67% of towns in England
Key Stage 2 results at the 3 primary schools within 3 km: nearly three in five pupils meet the expected standard in reading, writing and maths (three-year average). Below is its only school. The town’s primary school has 56 pupils.
CSchool Grade
| School | Level | Pupils | Letter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Surfleet Primary SchoolLargest primary schoolPrimary | Primary | 56 | D |
Department for Education · GIAS, Key Stage 2 and GCSE resultsThe Schools page →
Work & commuteJobs & income grade C
More commuters in Surfleet drive than in Lincolnshire’s towns or England’s towns: 92%
The Census was taken on 21 March 2021, in lockdown, so 29% of workers were mainly at home; shares here are of those who travelled.
Surfleet counts 0.4 jobs per working resident. Nearly a third of commuters travelled under 5 km, lower than both Lincolnshire’s towns (46%) and England’s towns (45%). Before tax, the average household brings in £46K a year.
6%walk, cycle or ride
How commuters got to work · March 2021
Driving92%
On foot4%
Bicycle1%
Train1%
32%
of commuters travel under 5 km · England 45%
29%
worked mainly from home in March 2021
£46K
mean household income, before tax
2.3%
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
HousingCost of living grade C+
Few households rent privately in Surfleet: 12%, fewer than in Lincolnshire’s towns and England’s towns
Households that own their home make up 79%. 8% live in social housing, lower than both Lincolnshire’s towns (14%) and England’s towns (18%). From September 2023 to August 2026, 94 homes sold inside Surfleet’s built-up area at standard prices; the middle one went for £260,000.
£260Kmedian sale
Median sale price · Sep 2023 to Aug 2026
Surfleet£260K
Typical UK town£277K
| By type | Median | Sales |
|---|---|---|
| Detached | £315,000 | 59 |
| Semi-detached | £212,500 | 34 |
79%
of households own their home · England 61%
12%
rent privately · England 21%
£775
average private rent a month, South Holland council area
£2,228
council tax, Band D, 2026–27
HM Land Registry Price Paid · ONS private rents · MHCLG / Welsh Government council tax · ONS Census 2021 tenure · OGL
History
Among Surfleet’s 3 listed buildings: the Church of St Lawrence, Grade I
The heritage lists give each building’s grade but not its age, so we don’t say which is oldest.
Surfleet’s listed buildings include the Church of St Lawrence, Grade I. For its size, Surfleet has 29 listed buildings per 10,000 residents, below Lincolnshire’s towns (42) and England’s towns (39) alike. The pre-1919 share of homes is 16%.
3listed buildingsC+History Grade
Listed buildings by grade · Historic England
Grade I1
Grade II*0
Grade II2
Among them · Grade I
- Church of St Lawrence Grade I
0
scheduled monuments
0
registered parks and gardens
16%
of homes built before 1919 · typical UK town 15%
29
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 Surfleet than in Lincolnshire’s towns or across England’s towns: 3.9% of residents
There is no GP practice in Surfleet: the nearest is 2.3 miles off. The nearest A&E to Surfleet is Pilgrim Hospital, 11.4 miles away. Life expectancy here is 83.3 for women and 79.6 for men (2019–23).
81%good or very good healthC+Health Grade
General health, self-reported
Good or very good 81%Fair 15%Bad or very bad 4%
| Census 2021 | Surfleet | Lincolnshire | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Good or very good health | 81% | 79% | 82% |
| Bad or very bad health | 3.9% | 5.9% | 5.2% |
| Disabled (Equality Act) | 18% | 20% | 17% |
79.6
life expectancy at birth, men (2019–23)
83.3
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.
Safety
Surfleet records less crime per resident than 53% of UK towns
Over the year to August 2026, 42 offences were reported in Surfleet, along with 25 incidents of anti-social behaviour. There were 19.8 anti-social behaviour reports per 1,000 residents (not graded), above Lincolnshire’s towns (9.5) and England’s towns (7.8) alike. 45% of the crimes fell under violence and sexual offences.
22.7violent and sexual offences per 1,000 a yearB−Safety Grade
Compared with UK towns its sizeLess crime per resident than 33% 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 & sexual19
Damage & arson6
Burglary5
Vehicle crime4
Other theft3
Public order2
Drugs1
Weapons1
Anti-social25
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.
22.7
violent and sexual offences per 1,000 residents a year, averaged Sep 2023 to Aug 2026
8.3
burglary, vehicle crime and damage per 1,000 a year, averaged Sep 2023 to Aug 2026
19.8
anti-social behaviour reports per 1,000 (not graded)
42
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.
Nearby attractions
All attractions →Chain Bridge Forge Museum and 2 more in and around Surfleet
Museums, castles, gardens and days out in and near Surfleet. Best known first.
MuseumChain Bridge Forge Museum4.7 km outside town, to the southMuseumMuseumSpalding Gentlemans Society4.9 km outside town, to the southMuseumMuseumThe Pinchbeck Engine Museum of Land Drainage1.8 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)
- Chain Bridge Forge Museum: Bearas, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
Keep exploring
Everything we know about Surfleet
14pages on Surfleet
The big questions
SafetyB−22.7 violent and sexual offences per 1,000 residents a year, averaged Sep 2023 to Aug 2026Cost of livingC+Median home £260K · rent £775 a monthHousing11 sold in 12 months · busiest street Anchor AvenueSchoolsC1 state schoolHealthC+Life expectancy 79.6 (men), 83.3 (women)Work & commuteC45% of working residents work in the townFlood & hazardsD−41.8% of homes at high or medium flood risk
Out and about
Surfleet’s neighbours
The nearest built-up areas, from ONS’s 2022 boundaries. See them on the map →
GosbertonPinchbeckMoultonSpaldingSuttertonWhaplodeDoningtonSurfleet
How the neighbours grade
| Town | People | Miles | Overall | Cost | Safety | Health |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Surfleet | 1,042 | — | — | C+ | B− | C+ |
| Gosberton | 1,455 | 2.2 | — | C+ | B− | C |
| Pinchbeck | 4,275 | 2.4 | C+ | C | C+ | B |
| Moulton | 1,605 | 4 | — | C | A | B |
| Spalding | 30,552 | 4.1 | C+ | B | C− | C |
| Sutterton | 1,068 | 4.3 | — | D | C | C− |
| Whaplode | 1,106 | 5 | — | C− | C− | B− |
| Donington | 3,192 | 5.4 | D | C+ | C+ | C+ |
Gosberton, Moulton, Sutterton and Whaplode have fewer than 2,500 residents, so they get subject grades but no overall grade. People: Census 2021. Miles: centre to centre.
Questions about Surfleet
Does Surfleet flood?
Surface water isn’t included. Check a specific address on GOV.UK’s flood risk service.
Are schools in Surfleet good?
Primary results trail 64% of towns in England (Department for Education, Key Stage 2). One state school is inside the town; places are handled by Lincolnshire council.
About Surfleet
Village in Lincolnshire, England
Surfleet is a built-up area of 1,042 people, in the South Holland 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
- 1,042 (Census 2021)
- Council
- South Holland
- County
- Lincolnshire
- Region
- East Midlands
- Area
- 0.3 sq mi (0.7 km²)
- ONS code
- E63002173
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.