Waddington’s story
8 listed buildings
Historic England lists them inside Waddington’s built-up area.
5% of its homes were built before 1919, against 15% in the typical UK town.
Explore the history →
WaddingtonLincolnshire
6,828 people live in this town in Lincolnshire, East Midlands.
7 places within 12 milesMap →
Photo: PCPaul · Public domain
Population
6,828
Census 2021 · North Kesteven council
Median home
£230K
291 sales in 3 years
Median age
38.7
19% are 65+ · Lincolnshire 22%
Degree level
30%
of residents 16+ · England 34%
Walk, cycle, bus
21%
of commuters · England 27%
TownGrade
A
Not ranked: garrison
Is Waddington a good place to live?
Waddington’s strongest subject is cost of living: the median home sold for £230,000, 4.3 years of area income. Overall, Waddington earns an A, better than 91% of UK towns. Safety is a strength too (A−): police record 18.2 violent and sexual offences per 1,000 residents a year, and 5 home and vehicle crimes. Health outcomes fall short of most towns: life expectancy 79 for men, 82.6 for women.
Figures: prices, HM Land Registry, the last three years · crime, police.uk, averaged Sep 2023 to Aug 2026 · life expectancy, ONS. Waddington is a military garrison town: most residents serve or work for the armed forces and live in service housing, so it keeps its grades but isn’t ranked against other towns.
What makes Waddington stand out
The 2 things Waddington does most differently from other towns.
81%of UK towns of 2,500 to 10,000 people
Safety
of UK towns of 2,500 to 10,000 people
Per resident, police.uk, 3 years.
Rent against income, UK towns
Renting
£824 a month
Average private rent, 18% of what households in the area earn: less than in 92% of UK towns
ONS private rents, North Kesteven council area.
How Waddington grades
Each subject compared with the 2,160 UK towns with an overall grade (schools within England), ordered by how far Waddington is from typical. American towns are graded separately.
Cost of livingAmong the best of the towns comparedA+Open →Hazard risk0% of homes at high or medium risk of flooding from rivers or the seaAOpen →WalkabilityBased on walking, cycling and transit to everyday placesA−Open →SafetyLess crime than in most townsA−Open →Jobs & incomeMean household income £53,598; 1.7% of 16 to 64s claim unemployment benefitsB+Open →HealthBehind most towns comparedC+Open →SchoolsPrimary results beat 46% of towns in England; secondary results beat 43% of towns in EnglandC+Open →
Character Graded, but not part of the overall grade.
HistoryBased on listed places, the town’s age and notable peopleDOpen →Outdoors87% live within 400 m of a park; 2.3 ha of public green space per 1,000 residentsCOpen →Civic life1.6 local charities per 1,000 residents; 52% live within 1 km of a libraryB−Open →
How TownRatings grades towns →
The data
Data highlights are ordered by what stands out in Waddington.
HousingCost of living grade A+
Most households in Waddington own their home: 70%, more than in Lincolnshire’s towns or across England’s towns
7% live in social housing, below Lincolnshire’s towns (14%) and England’s towns (18%) alike. Private rents average £824 a month across the North Kesteven council area. From September 2023 to August 2026, 291 homes sold inside Waddington’s built-up area at standard prices; the middle one went for £230,000.
£230Kmedian sale
Median sale price · Sep 2023 to Aug 2026
Waddington£230K
Typical UK town£277K
| By type | Median | Sales |
|---|---|---|
| Detached | £280,000 | 144 |
| Semi-detached | £219,950 | 105 |
| Terraced | £188,750 | 39 |
70%
of households own their home · England 61%
£824
average private rent a month, North Kesteven council area
£2,327
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+
Exam results at Waddington’s schools trail 57% of towns in England
Waddington All Saints Academy’s results beat 77% of schools in England like it. One of its 2 schools is below, with the reason it’s listed. At the town’s 2 primary schools, 61% of pupils reach the expected standard in reading, writing and maths (three-year average).
C+School Grade
| School | Level | Pupils | Letter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Waddington All Saints AcademyLargest primary schoolPrimary | Primary | 372 | A− |
Department for Education · GIAS, Key Stage 2 and GCSE resultsSee all 2 schools →
History
All 8 of Waddington’s listed buildings are Grade II
The heritage lists give each building’s grade but not its age, so we don’t say which is oldest.
The pre-1919 share of homes is 5%. Relative to its size, Waddington keeps 12 listed buildings per 10,000 residents, below Lincolnshire’s towns (42) and England’s towns (39) alike.
8listed buildingsDHistory Grade
Listed buildings by grade · Historic England
Grade I0
Grade II*0
Grade II8
0
scheduled monuments
0
registered parks and gardens
5%
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 B+
Only 37% of Waddington’s commuters work within 5 km, fewer than in Lincolnshire’s towns or 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.
The car carried 77% of commuters at the census. Just over a fifth of commuters walked, cycled or took the bus or train at the census, above Lincolnshire’s towns (18%) but below England’s towns (27%). The 2026 claimant rate among 16 to 64s was 1.7%.
21%walk, cycle or ride
How commuters got to work · March 2021
Driving77%
On foot11%
Bicycle7%
Bus2%
37%
of commuters travel under 5 km · England 45%
27%
worked mainly from home in March 2021
£54K
mean household income, before tax
1.7%
of 16 to 64s claim unemployment benefits (2026)
A−
Walkability: more walkable than 80% of UK towns
ONS Census 2021, method of travel and distance to work · ONS small-area income · DWP claimant count · OGL
Safety
Among the 1,308 UK towns of 2,500 to 10,000 people, Waddington records less crime per resident than four in five them
Of all the crimes, 57% were violence and sexual offences. Police figures for Waddington’s built-up area: 221 crimes and 74 anti-social behaviour reports in the 12 months to August 2026.
18.2violent and sexual offences per 1,000 a yearA−Safety Grade
Compared with UK towns its sizeLess crime per resident than 81% of the 1,308 UK towns of 2,500 to 10,000 people: less crime than most for its size. Context only, not part of the grade.
Reports by type · Sep 2025 to Aug 2026
Violence & sexual125
Damage & arson29
Public order18
Other theft14
Other crime13
Drugs6
Burglary5
Vehicle crime5
Anti-social74
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.
18.2
violent and sexual offences per 1,000 residents a year, averaged Sep 2023 to Aug 2026
5
burglary, vehicle crime and damage per 1,000 a year, averaged Sep 2023 to Aug 2026
9.2
anti-social behaviour reports per 1,000 (not graded)
221
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
84% of people in Waddington say their health is good or very good, more than in Lincolnshire’s towns or across England’s towns
Women here live to 82.6 on average and men to 79 (2019–23). At the census, 4.3% of residents said their health was bad or very bad, lower than both Lincolnshire’s towns (5.9%) and England’s towns (5.2%). 16% of residents in Waddington live with a disability. The town has no GP practice of its own; the nearest is 1 miles away.
84%good or very good healthC+Health Grade
General health, self-reported
Good or very good 84%Fair 11%Bad or very bad 4%
| Census 2021 | Waddington | Lincolnshire | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Good or very good health | 84% | 79% | 82% |
| Bad or very bad health | 4.3% | 5.9% | 5.2% |
| Disabled (Equality Act) | 16% | 20% | 17% |
79
life expectancy at birth, men (2019–23)
82.6
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.
Who lives here
A typical mix of ages for England
Degrees are held by 30% of adults. People aged 15 to 24 make up 10% of the town, lower than both Lincolnshire’s towns (11%) and England’s towns (12%). Ages in Waddington split evenly at 38.7: half are older, half younger.
38.7median age
WaddingtonLincolnshireEngland
Ages · share of residents
19%
Qualifications · residents 16 and older
No qualifications13%
Apprenticeship7%
A levels or similar26%
Degree level30%
Women and men · all residents
49% women, 51% men
About 105 men for every 100 women. Across England, 51% of residents are women. Waddington is a garrison town: service personnel living in barracks count as residents.
| Waddington | Lincolnshire | England | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 15 | 17% | 16% | 18% |
| 15–24 | 10% | 11% | 12% |
| 25–44 | 30% | 23% | 27% |
| 45–64 | 23% | 27% | 25% |
| 65+ | 19% | 22% | 18% |
| No qualifications | 13% | 21% | 18% |
| Apprenticeship | 7.3% | 6.7% | 5.3% |
| A levels or similar | 26% | 18% | 17% |
| Degree level | 30% | 25% | 34% |
ONS Census 2021 · Lincolnshire and England: all residents of their built-up areas · OGL
Nearby attractions
All attractions →RAF Waddington Heritage Centre and 8 more in and around Waddington
Museums, castles, gardens and days out in and near Waddington. Best known first.
MuseumMuseumRAF Waddington Heritage Centrein town
CastleSomerton Castle5 km outside town, to the south
MuseumInternational Bomber Command Centre3.4 km outside town, to the north
MuseumLincolnshire Road Transport Museum3 km outside town, to the northwestHistoric siteHistoric siteAvro Vulcanin townAttractionAttractionStarmers Pits2.5 km outside town, to the northwest
CastleSomerton Castle5 km outside town, to the southMuseumInternational Bomber Command Centre3.4 km outside town, to the northMuseumLincolnshire Road Transport Museum3 km outside town, to the northwestHistoric siteHistoric siteAvro Vulcanin townAttractionAttractionStarmers Pits2.5 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 (3)
- Somerton Castle: Richard Croft, CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
- International Bomber Command Centre: Chris, CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Lincolnshire Road Transport Museum: Rept0n1x, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
Keep exploring
Everything we know about Waddington
15pages on Waddington
The big questions
SafetyA−18.2 violent and sexual offences per 1,000 residents a year, averaged Sep 2023 to Aug 2026Cost of livingA+Median home £230K · rent £824 a monthHousing82 sold in 12 months · busiest street Hollywell RoadSchoolsC+2 state schoolsHealthC+Life expectancy 79 (men), 82.6 (women)Work & commuteB+51% of working residents work in the townFlood & hazardsA0% of homes at high or medium flood risk
Out and about
Waddington’s neighbours
The nearest built-up areas, from ONS’s 2022 boundaries. See them on the map →
Bracebridge HeathNorth HykehamSouth HykehamLincolnBranstonWashingborough and HeighingtonBassinghamWaddington
How the neighbours grade
| Town | People | Miles | Overall | Cost | Safety | Health |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Waddington | 6,828 | — | A | A+ | A− | C+ |
| Bracebridge Heath | 5,794 | 1.5 | A− | A+ | B+ | B |
| North Hykeham | 16,855 | 1.9 | A− | A | B | B− |
| South Hykeham | 1,070 | 2.7 | — | A | B− | B− |
| Lincoln | 104,553 | 3.6 | D− | C+ | D | D |
| Branston | 4,285 | 3.6 | B+ | A | B | B− |
| Washingborough and Heighington | 6,386 | 4.6 | A | A | A | B+ |
| Bassingham | 1,511 | 4.7 | — | A− | A | B− |
South Hykeham and Bassingham have fewer than 2,500 residents, so they get subject grades but no overall grade. People: Census 2021. Miles: centre to centre.
Questions about Waddington
Does Waddington flood?
Surface water isn’t included. Check a specific address on GOV.UK’s flood risk service.
How much is council tax in Waddington?
Band D council tax in Waddington is £2,327 for 2026–27, less than in 70% of UK towns (council, county, police and fire, plus the parish or town council). Your own bill depends on your home’s band; check it on GOV.UK.
About Waddington
Town in Lincolnshire, England
Waddington is a built-up area of 6,828 people, in the North Kesteven 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
- 6,828 (Census 2021)
- Council
- North Kesteven
- County
- Lincolnshire
- Region
- East Midlands
- Area
- 1.6 sq mi (4.1 km²)
- ONS code
- E63001702
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.