Swanton Morley’s story
7 listed buildings, 1 of them Grade I
Historic England lists them inside Swanton Morley’s built-up area.
19% of its homes were built before 1919, against 15% in the typical UK town.
Explore the history →
Swanton MorleyNorfolk
It is a village of 2,175 residents in Norfolk, East of England.
7 places within 12 milesMap →
Photo: John Salmon · CC BY-SA 2.0
Population
2,175
Census 2021 · Breckland council
Median home
£280K
105 sales in 3 years
Median age
41.5
24% are 65+ · Norfolk 24%
Degree level
22%
of residents 16+ · England 34%
Walk, cycle, bus
23%
of commuters · England 27%
Is Swanton Morley a good place to live?
Swanton Morley is a safe place by the numbers: 15.8 violent and sexual offences and 3.5 home and vehicle crimes per 1,000 residents a year. A median £280,000 buys a home here, 5.7 times what households in the Breckland council area earn in a year. Schools are its weak spot (D) — primary results beat 4% of towns in England; secondary results beat 23% of towns in England. Elsewhere it is close to typical: B for health and B− for jobs & income.
Figures: crime, police.uk, averaged Sep 2023 to Aug 2026 · prices, HM Land Registry, the last three years · incomes and life expectancy, ONS · claimants, DWP. Swanton Morley is graded on each subject, but towns under 2,500 get no overall grade.
What makes Swanton Morley stand out
The 3 things Swanton Morley does most differently from other towns.
Primary results, towns in England
Schools
Primary results trail 96%
of towns in England, on Key Stage 2 reading, writing and maths
Secondary results beat 23%. Department for Education.
Degree level, 16+
Education
Degree-level qualifications, residents 16+ (England’s towns 34%)
Norfolk 26%.
Residents 65 and over
Who lives here
24% are 65 or over
Against 18% across England’s towns
How Swanton Morley grades
Each subject compared with the 2,160 UK towns with an overall grade (schools within England), ordered by how far Swanton Morley is from typical. American towns are graded separately.
Swanton Morley is graded on each subject, but towns under 2,500 get no overall grade.
SchoolsPrimary results beat 4% of towns in England; secondary results beat 23% of towns in EnglandDOpen →WalkabilityNear the top of the towns comparedAOpen →Hazard risk0% of homes at high or medium risk of flooding from rivers or the seaAOpen →SafetyBased on crimes reported per residentA−Open →HealthLife expectancy 81 for men, 84.9 for womenBOpen →Cost of livingRent £928 a monthC+Open →Jobs & incomeMean household income £53,448; 1.8% of 16 to 64s claim unemployment benefitsB−Open →
Character Graded, but not part of the overall grade.
HistoryAbout average among the towns comparedC+Open →Outdoors94% live within 400 m of a parkC+Open →Civic life4.1 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 Swanton Morley.
Who lives here
Fewer people in Swanton Morley hold a degree than in Norfolk’s towns or England’s towns: 22%
The share aged 15 to 24 is 9.9%. Half the people of Swanton Morley are older than 41.5. Nearly a quarter of residents have reached 65. Children under 15 make up 17%, between Norfolk’s towns (16%) and England’s towns (18%).
41.5median age
Swanton MorleyNorfolkEngland
Ages · share of residents
24%
Qualifications · residents 16 and older
No qualifications16%
Apprenticeship8%
A levels or similar22%
Degree level22%
Women and men · all residents
47% women, 53% men
About 111 men for every 100 women. Across England, 51% of residents are women.
| Swanton Morley | Norfolk | England | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 15 | 17% | 16% | 18% |
| 15–24 | 9.9% | 11% | 12% |
| 25–44 | 27% | 24% | 27% |
| 45–64 | 23% | 26% | 25% |
| 65+ | 24% | 24% | 18% |
| No qualifications | 16% | 21% | 18% |
| Apprenticeship | 7.5% | 6.4% | 5.3% |
| A levels or similar | 22% | 18% | 17% |
| Degree level | 22% | 26% | 34% |
ONS Census 2021 · Norfolk and England: all residents of their built-up areas · OGL
SchoolsD
Results at Swanton Morley’s schools trail 91% of towns in England
At the 2 primary schools within 3 km, 47% of pupils reach the expected standard in reading, writing and maths (three-year average). There is one school here; it is shown below. GCSE results at the 2 secondary schools within 3 km: 37% of pupils get a strong pass (grade 5+) in English and maths, and the Attainment 8 average is 42.1.
DSchool Grade
| School | Level | Pupils | Letter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Swanton Morley VC Primary SchoolLargest primary schoolPrimary | Primary | 174 | C+ |
Department for Education · GIAS, Key Stage 2 and GCSE resultsThe Schools page →
Work & commuteJobs & income grade B−
Swanton Morley is more walkable than 86% of UK towns
The Census was taken on 21 March 2021, in lockdown, so 25% of workers were mainly at home; shares here are of those who travelled.
Walking, cycling and public transport carried nearly a quarter of commuters at the census. Two in five commuters travelled under 5 km, about level with Norfolk’s towns (42%) and below England’s towns (45%). The 2026 claimant rate among 16 to 64s was 1.8%.
23%walk, cycle or ride
How commuters got to work · March 2021
Driving74%
On foot18%
Bicycle4%
Bus1%
40%
of commuters travel under 5 km · England 45%
25%
worked mainly from home in March 2021
£53K
mean household income, before tax
1.8%
of 16 to 64s claim unemployment benefits (2026)
A
Walkability: more walkable than 86% of UK towns
ONS Census 2021, method of travel and distance to work · ONS small-area income · DWP claimant count · OGL
Safety
Fewer crimes per resident in Swanton Morley than in 84% of UK towns
Among the 1,541 UK towns of 1,000 to 2,500 people, Swanton Morley has less crime per resident than 71% of them. 64 crimes and 5 reports of anti-social behaviour: that is what police recorded inside the town’s built-up area in the 12 months to August 2026. Of all the crimes, 70% were violence and sexual offences.
15.8violent and sexual offences per 1,000 a yearA−Safety Grade
Compared with UK towns its sizeLess crime per resident than 71% of the 1,541 UK towns of 1,000 to 2,500 people: less crime than most for its size. Context only, not part of the grade.
Reports by type · Sep 2025 to Aug 2026
Violence & sexual45
Other theft6
Damage & arson3
Other crime3
Public order2
Burglary2
Drugs2
Weapons1
Anti-social5
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.
15.8
violent and sexual offences per 1,000 residents a year, averaged Sep 2023 to Aug 2026
3.5
burglary, vehicle crime and damage per 1,000 a year, averaged Sep 2023 to Aug 2026
3.2
anti-social behaviour reports per 1,000 (not graded)
64
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
Bad health is less common in Swanton Morley than in Norfolk’s towns or across England’s towns: 3.9% of residents
Seeing a GP means leaving Swanton Morley: the nearest practice is 2.8 miles away. The nearest A&E to Swanton Morley is Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital, 11.9 miles away. 82% of the town’s residents described their health as good or very good at the census, higher than Norfolk’s towns (79%) and near England’s towns (82%).
82%good or very good healthBHealth Grade
General health, self-reported
Good or very good 82%Fair 14%Bad or very bad 4%
| Census 2021 | Swanton Morley | Norfolk | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Good or very good health | 82% | 79% | 82% |
| Bad or very bad health | 3.9% | 5.6% | 5.2% |
| Disabled (Equality Act) | 19% | 20% | 17% |
81
life expectancy at birth, men (2019–23)
84.9
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.
HousingCost of living grade C+
Swanton Morley gets a C+ for cost of living grade
Households that own their home make up 67%. 9% live in social housing, below both Norfolk’s towns (17%) and England’s towns (18%). The private rented sector houses 23% of households.
£280Kmedian sale
Median sale price · Sep 2023 to Aug 2026
Swanton Morley£280K
Typical UK town£277K
| By type | Median | Sales |
|---|---|---|
| Detached | £390,000 | 49 |
| Semi-detached | £247,500 | 25 |
| Terraced | £199,000 | 31 |
67%
of households own their home · England 61%
23%
rent privately · England 21%
£928
average private rent a month, Breckland council area
£2,453
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 Swanton Morley’s 7 listed buildings: the Church of All Saints, Grade I
The heritage lists give each building’s grade but not its age, so we don’t say which is oldest.
Swanton Morley’s listed buildings include the Church of All Saints, Grade I. Homes built before 1919 account for 19% of the housing. It has 32 listed buildings for every 10,000 residents, below Norfolk’s towns (45) and England’s towns (39) alike.
7listed buildingsC+History Grade
Listed buildings by grade · Historic England
Grade I1
Grade II*0
Grade II6
Among them · Grade I
- Church of All Saints Grade I
0
scheduled monuments
0
registered parks and gardens
19%
of homes built before 1919 · typical UK town 15%
32
listed buildings per 10,000 residents · typical UK town 24
Historic England list, October 2026 · Valuation Office Agency, homes by build period · OGL
Nearby attractions
All attractions →North Elmham Chapel and 3 more in and around Swanton Morley
Museums, castles, gardens and days out in and near Swanton Morley. Best known first.
Castle · English HeritageNorth Elmham Chapel3.4 km outside town, to the northwest
Historic houseElsing Hall1.6 km outside town, to the southeastMuseumMuseumGressenhall Farm and Workhouse3.2 km outside town, to the westMuseumMuseumMid-Norfolk Railway Museum Room3.2 km outside town, to the southwestPlaces: © OpenStreetMap contributors · Wikidata
Photos: each place’s Wikidata image, from Wikimedia Commons under the licence below (our copy, resized).
Photo credits (2)
- North Elmham Chapel: Evelyn Simak, CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Elsing Hall: Adrian S Pye, CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
Keep exploring
Everything we know about Swanton Morley
15pages on Swanton Morley
The big questions
SafetyA−15.8 violent and sexual offences per 1,000 residents a year, averaged Sep 2023 to Aug 2026Cost of livingC+Median home £280K · rent £928 a monthHousing15 sold in 12 months · busiest street Strickland DriveSchoolsD1 state schoolHealthBLife expectancy 81 (men), 84.9 (women)Work & commuteB−58% of working residents work in the townFlood & hazardsA0% of homes at high or medium flood risk
Out and about
Swanton Morley’s neighbours
The nearest built-up areas, from ONS’s 2022 boundaries. See them on the map →
North ElmhamDerehamMattishallFoulshamReephamShipdhamCawstonSwanton Morley
How the neighbours grade
| Town | People | Miles | Overall | Cost | Safety | Health |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Swanton Morley | 2,175 | — | — | C+ | A− | B |
| North Elmham | 1,172 | 2.7 | — | C | A | B |
| Dereham | 20,788 | 3.2 | C− | B− | C− | C+ |
| Mattishall | 2,203 | 4.3 | — | C | A− | B+ |
| Foulsham | 1,025 | 4.7 | — | A | B+ | B |
| Reepham | 2,317 | 6.4 | — | B+ | B+ | B+ |
| Shipdham | 2,459 | 6.9 | — | C+ | A− | B− |
| Cawston | 1,114 | 8.4 | — | A− | A− | B |
North Elmham, Mattishall, Foulsham, Reepham, Shipdham and Cawston have fewer than 2,500 residents, so they get subject grades but no overall grade. People: Census 2021. Miles: centre to centre.
Questions about Swanton Morley
Are schools in Swanton Morley good?
One state school is inside the town; places are handled by Norfolk council.
About Swanton Morley
Village in Norfolk, England
Swanton Morley is a built-up area of 2,175 people, in the Breckland 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
- 2,175 (Census 2021)
- Council
- Breckland
- County
- Norfolk
- Region
- East of England
- Area
- 0.5 sq mi (1.4 km²)
- ONS code
- E63002371
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.