Leyburn’s story
31 listed buildings, 2 of them Grade II*
Historic England lists them inside Leyburn’s built-up area.
13% of its homes were built before 1919, against 15% in the typical UK town.
Explore the history →
LeyburnNorth Yorkshire
Some 2,414 people live in this village, in North Yorkshire, Yorkshire and The Humber.
7 places within 12 milesMap →
Photo: habiloid · CC BY-SA 2.0
Population
2,414
Census 2021 · Richmondshire council
Median home
£285K
118 sales in 3 years
Median age
57.7
37% are 65+ · North Yorkshire 22%
Degree level
29%
of residents 16+ · England 34%
Walk, cycle, bus
23%
of commuters · England 27%
Is Leyburn a good place to live?
Recorded crime is low (A): 12.6 violent or sexual offences per 1,000 residents a year, plus 2.6 home and vehicle crimes. It is strong on walkability as well — nearly a quarter of commuters walk, cycle or take public transport. Its weakest is schools: primary results beat 59% of towns in England; secondary results beat 9% of towns in England. Buying in is costly: the median home sold for £285,000, 5.5 years of area income.
Figures: crime, police.uk, averaged Sep 2023 to Aug 2026 · commuting, Census 2021 · prices, HM Land Registry, the last three years. Leyburn has fewer than 2,500 residents, so it gets subject grades but no overall grade.
ONS publishes one rent for all of North Yorkshire, so this town's Cost Grade uses house prices and council tax only.
What makes Leyburn stand out
The 3 things Leyburn does most differently from other towns.
Listed buildings per 10,000 residents
History
2 Grade II*, including Leyburn Hall; 5.3 times the typical UK town for its size
Historic England’s list, October 2026.
Residents 65 and over
Who lives here
37% are 65 or over
Against 18% across England’s towns
86%of UK towns of 1,000 to 2,500 people
Safety
of UK towns of 1,000 to 2,500 people
Per resident, police.uk, 3 years.
How Leyburn grades
Each subject compared with the 2,160 UK towns with an overall grade (schools within England), ordered by how far Leyburn is from typical. American towns are graded separately.
SafetyNear the top of the towns comparedAOpen →Walkability23% of commuters walk, cycle or take public transportAOpen →HealthBased on how healthy residents are for their agesB+Open →SchoolsPrimary results beat 59% of towns in England; secondary results beat 9% of towns in EnglandCOpen →Hazard risk0.8% of homes at high or medium risk of flooding from rivers or the seaC+Open →Cost of livingHomes are harder to afford than in most townsC+Open →Jobs & incomeClose to the middle of the towns comparedB−Open →
Character Graded, but not part of the overall grade.
HistoryGraded on historic places and the town’s ageBOpen →Outdoors22% live within 400 m of a park; 16% of land within 5 km is National Park or National LandscapeDOpen →Civic life5.8 local charities per 1,000 residents; 100% live within 1 km of a libraryA+Open →
How TownRatings grades towns →
The data
Data highlights are ordered by what stands out in Leyburn.
Who lives here
Children make up only 10% of Leyburn, fewer than in North Yorkshire’s towns and England’s towns
Graduates make up 29% of adults. 37% of residents are 65 or over, above North Yorkshire’s towns (22%) and England’s towns (18%) alike. Half the people of Leyburn are older than 57.7.
57.7median age
LeyburnNorth YorkshireEngland
Ages · share of residents
37%
Qualifications · residents 16 and older
No qualifications19%
Apprenticeship9%
A levels or similar17%
Degree level29%
Women and men · all residents
53% women, 47% men
About 89 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.
| Leyburn | North Yorkshire | England | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 15 | 10% | 16% | 18% |
| 15–24 | 8.4% | 12% | 12% |
| 25–44 | 16% | 24% | 27% |
| 45–64 | 28% | 27% | 25% |
| 65+ | 37% | 22% | 18% |
| No qualifications | 19% | 18% | 18% |
| Apprenticeship | 8.7% | 6.4% | 5.3% |
| A levels or similar | 17% | 18% | 17% |
| Degree level | 29% | 32% | 34% |
ONS Census 2021 · North Yorkshire and England: all residents of their built-up areas · OGL
SchoolsC
Leyburn’s schools fall behind 69% of towns in England on results
Between them, one primary and one secondary teach 607 pupils in Leyburn. Both of the town’s schools appear below. GCSE results at the one secondary school within 3 km: 28% of pupils get a strong pass (grade 5+) in English and maths, and the Attainment 8 average is 40.1.
CSchool Grade
| School | Level | Pupils | Letter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Leyburn Primary SchoolLargest primary schoolPrimary | Primary | 200 | B |
| Wensleydale SchoolLargest secondary schoolSecondary | Secondary | 407 | C− |
Department for Education · GIAS, Key Stage 2 and GCSE resultsSee all 2 schools →
Safety
Fewer crimes per resident in Leyburn than in 93% of UK towns
Reported offences in Leyburn came to 39 over twelve months to August 2026; nuisance and anti-social incidents added 12. For its size, Leyburn records less crime per resident than 86% of the 1,541 UK towns of 1,000 to 2,500 people. Anti-social behaviour, shown but not graded, came to 5.1 reports per 1,000, lower than both North Yorkshire’s towns (10.4) and England’s towns (7.8). Violence and sexual offences were 67% of the crimes.
12.6violent and sexual offences per 1,000 a yearASafety Grade
Compared with UK towns its sizeLess crime per resident than 86% 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 & sexual26
Damage & arson3
Burglary3
Public order2
Other theft2
Shoplifting1
Vehicle crime1
Other crime1
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.
12.6
violent and sexual offences per 1,000 residents a year, averaged Sep 2023 to Aug 2026
2.6
burglary, vehicle crime and damage per 1,000 a year, averaged Sep 2023 to Aug 2026
5.1
anti-social behaviour reports per 1,000 (not graded)
39
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.
Work & commuteJobs & income grade B−
Money is tighter in Leyburn than in North Yorkshire’s towns or England’s towns: households earn £46K a year
The Census was taken on 21 March 2021, in lockdown, so 23% of workers were mainly at home; shares here are of those who travelled.
There are 1.4 jobs in Leyburn for each resident in work. Unemployment benefit claims came to 1.5% of 16 to 64s in 2026, below both North Yorkshire’s towns (1.9%) and England’s towns (2.3%). Three quarters of commuters took the car to work at the census. Of the commuters living in the town, 38% work in the town itself.
23%walk, cycle or ride
How commuters got to work · March 2021
Driving75%
On foot23%
23%
worked mainly from home in March 2021
£46K
mean household income, before tax
1.5%
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
Health
Fewer people in Leyburn say their health is good than in North Yorkshire’s towns or across England’s towns: 78%
At the census, 20% of people here had a disability, above North Yorkshire’s towns (19%) and England’s towns (17%) alike. The nearest A&E to Leyburn is Darlington Memorial Hospital, 18.4 miles away. Life expectancy here is 85.8 for women and 80.8 for men (2019–23). One GP practice serves the town; 97% of patients rate theirs good in the GP Patient Survey.
78%good or very good healthB+Health Grade
General health, self-reported
Good or very good 78%Fair 17%Bad or very bad 5%
| Census 2021 | Leyburn | North Yorkshire | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Good or very good health | 78% | 81% | 82% |
| Bad or very bad health | 4.8% | 5.5% | 5.2% |
| Disabled (Equality Act) | 20% | 19% | 17% |
80.8
life expectancy at birth, men (2019–23)
85.8
life expectancy at birth, women
ONS Census 2021, general health and disability · OHID Fingertips, life expectancy 2019–23 · OGL · Self-reported health favours young towns, since these answers ignore age; the Health Grade leans on age-adjusted measures such as life expectancy and early deaths.
History
31 listed buildings, 0 of them Grade I
The heritage lists give each building’s grade but not its age, so we don’t say which is oldest.
Grade II* covers 2 of them. Per 10,000 residents, Leyburn counts 128 listed buildings. 13% of its homes were built before 1919, below both North Yorkshire’s towns (17%) and England’s towns (16%).
31listed buildingsBHistory Grade
Listed buildings by grade · Historic England
Grade I0
Grade II*2
Grade II29
Among them · Grade II*
- Leyburn Hall Grade II*
- Roman Catholic Church of St Peter and St Paul Grade II*
0
scheduled monuments
0
registered parks and gardens
13%
of homes built before 1919 · typical UK town 15%
128
listed buildings per 10,000 residents · typical UK town 24
Historic England list, October 2026 · Valuation Office Agency, homes by build period · OGL
HousingCost of living grade C+
Leyburn is graded a C+ for cost of living grade
12% of households live in social housing. The £285,000 median rests on 118 standard sales inside the built-up area (September 2023 to August 2026). Private rents average £849 a month across the North Yorkshire council area.
£285Kmedian sale
Median sale price · Sep 2023 to Aug 2026
Leyburn£285K
Typical UK town£277K
| By type | Median | Sales |
|---|---|---|
| Detached | £345,000 | 53 |
| Semi-detached | £265,000 | 35 |
| Terraced | £232,500 | 24 |
| Flat or maisonette | £173,500 | 6 |
67%
of households own their home · England 61%
20%
rent privately · England 21%
£849
average private rent a month, North Yorkshire council area
£2,580
council tax, Band D, 2026–27
HM Land Registry Price Paid · ONS private rents · MHCLG / Welsh Government council tax · ONS Census 2021 tenure · OGL
Nearby attractions
All attractions →Middleham Castle and 2 more in and around Leyburn
Museums, castles, gardens and days out in and near Leyburn. Best known first.
CastleCastle · English HeritageMiddleham Castle2.1 km outside town, to the south
Heritage railwayWensleydale Railway4.5 km outside town, to the southeastTheme parkTheme parkThe Forbidden Corner3.9 km outside town, to the southwest
Heritage railwayWensleydale Railway4.5 km outside town, to the southeastTheme parkTheme parkThe Forbidden Corner3.9 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 (1)
- Wensleydale Railway: Paul Allison, CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
Keep exploring
Everything we know about Leyburn
15pages on Leyburn
The big questions
SafetyA12.6 violent and sexual offences per 1,000 residents a year, averaged Sep 2023 to Aug 2026Cost of livingC+Median home £285K · rent £849 a monthHousing36 sold in 12 months · busiest street BrentwoodSchoolsC2 state schoolsHealthB+Life expectancy 80.8 (men), 85.8 (women)Work & commuteB−65% of working residents work in the townFlood & hazardsC+0.8% of homes at high or medium flood risk
Out and about
Famous people from Leyburn
4 notable people were born in Leyburn.
D
Derrick ClarkEnglish footballer (1935-1985)T
Tom BurnettEnglish footballer (1913-1986)C
Charles Herbert KitsonBritish musician · 1874–1944Photo credits
Liam Darville: Mattythewhite, CC BY-SA 3.0
Leyburn’s neighbours
The nearest built-up areas, from ONS’s 2022 boundaries. See them on the map →
Catterick GarrisonRichmondBrompton-on-SwaleCatterickMashamBedaleAiskewLeyburn
How the neighbours grade
| Town | People | Miles | Overall | Cost | Safety | Health |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Leyburn | 2,414 | — | — | C+ | A | B+ |
| Catterick Garrison | 14,212 | 6.3 | B | A | B− | C− |
| Richmond | 8,076 | 7.7 | B+ | B | C+ | B |
| Brompton-on-Swale | 1,899 | 8.6 | — | B+ | B | B− |
| Catterick | 2,718 | 8.9 | A | A− | A | B− |
| Masham | 1,112 | 9.1 | — | C | B | A |
| Bedale | 3,289 | 9.6 | A− | B | C | B |
| Aiskew | 1,759 | 9.8 | — | B | B+ | B |
Brompton-on-Swale, Masham and Aiskew have fewer than 2,500 residents, so they get subject grades but no overall grade. People: Census 2021. Miles: centre to centre.
Questions about Leyburn
How many listed buildings are there in Leyburn?
That is 5.3 times the typical UK town for its size.
Are schools in Leyburn good?
GCSE results trail 91% of towns in England, and primary results beat 59% (Department for Education, Attainment 8 and Key Stage 2). Leyburn has 2 state schools; places are handled by North Yorkshire council.
About Leyburn
Village in North Yorkshire, England
Leyburn is a built-up area of 2,414 people, in the Richmondshire 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
- 2,414 (Census 2021)
- Council
- Richmondshire
- County
- North Yorkshire
- Region
- Yorkshire and The Humber
- Area
- 0.4 sq mi (1 km²)
- ONS code
- E63000405
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.