Scalby’s story
15 listed buildings, 1 of them Grade II*
Historic England lists them inside Scalby’s built-up area.
13% of its homes were built before 1919, against 15% in the typical UK town.
Explore the history →
ScalbyNorth Yorkshire
Mortgage-free owners make up 65% of households. The village, home to 1,790 people, lies in North Yorkshire, Yorkshire and The Humber.
6 places within 12 milesMap →
Photo: Mick Garratt · CC BY-SA 2.0
Population
1,790
Census 2021 · Scarborough council
Median home
£385K
104 sales in 3 years
Median age
61.5
44% are 65+ · North Yorkshire 22%
Degree level
42%
of residents 16+ · England 34%
Walk, cycle, bus
15%
of commuters · England 27%
Is Scalby a good place to live?
Police record less crime here than in most towns (A): police record 12.9 violent and sexual offences per 1,000 residents a year, and 3.9 home and vehicle crimes. Its lowest grade is for cost of living: homes sell for a median £384,500, about 9.7 times local household income. Natural hazards weigh more here: 4.1% of homes face a high or medium risk of river or sea flooding. Its other grades sit near the middle: B for health, B for jobs & income and B for walkability.
Figures: crime, police.uk, averaged Sep 2023 to Aug 2026 · prices, HM Land Registry, the last three years · flood risk, Environment Agency · life expectancy and income, ONS · claimants, DWP · commuting, Census 2021. Scalby is graded on each subject, but towns under 2,500 get 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 Scalby stand out
The 3 things Scalby does most differently from other towns.
Residents 65 and over
Who lives here
44% are 65 or over
Against 18% across England’s towns
Listed buildings per 10,000 residents
History
1 Grade II*, including Church of St Laurence; 3.4 times the typical UK town for its size
Historic England’s list, October 2026.
Own outright
Housing
65% own outright
of households own their home with no mortgage (England’s towns 32%)
How Scalby grades
Each subject compared with the 2,160 UK towns with an overall grade (schools within England), ordered by how far Scalby is from typical. American towns are graded separately.
Scalby is graded on each subject, but towns under 2,500 get no overall grade.
Cost of livingRent £849 a monthD−Open →SafetyAmong the best of the towns comparedAOpen →Hazard riskGraded on exposure to natural hazardsDOpen →SchoolsPrimary results beat 17% of towns in England; secondary results beat 53% of towns in EnglandCOpen →HealthLife expectancy 80.1 for men, 85.1 for womenBOpen →WalkabilityBased on walking, cycling and transit to everyday placesBOpen →Jobs & income1.5% of 16 to 64s claim unemployment benefitsBOpen →
Character Graded, but not part of the overall grade.
HistoryAbout average among the towns comparedB−Open →Outdoors70% live within 400 m of a park; 43% of land within 5 km is National Park or National LandscapeAOpen →Civic life5.6 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 Scalby.
Who lives here
Older residents shape Scalby: 44% are 65 or over, above North Yorkshire’s towns and England’s towns
42% of adults hold a degree. Children under 15 make up 9.3%, below both North Yorkshire’s towns (16%) and England’s towns (18%). Young adults of 15 to 24 account for 7.3% of the town. At 61.5, the median resident of Scalby sits in the middle of the age range.
61.5median age
ScalbyNorth YorkshireEngland
Ages · share of residents
44%
Qualifications · residents 16 and older
No qualifications15%
Apprenticeship8%
A levels or similar14%
Degree level42%
Women and men · all residents
51% women, 49% men
About 95 men for every 100 women. Across England, 51% of residents are women.
| Scalby | North Yorkshire | England | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 15 | 9.3% | 16% | 18% |
| 15–24 | 7.3% | 12% | 12% |
| 25–44 | 12% | 24% | 27% |
| 45–64 | 27% | 27% | 25% |
| 65+ | 44% | 22% | 18% |
| No qualifications | 15% | 18% | 18% |
| Apprenticeship | 8.2% | 6.4% | 5.3% |
| A levels or similar | 14% | 18% | 17% |
| Degree level | 42% | 32% | 34% |
ONS Census 2021 · North Yorkshire and England: all residents of their built-up areas · OGL
HousingCost of living grade D−
Scalby is a town of owners: 86% of households own their home, above North Yorkshire’s towns and England’s towns
Renting privately is how one in ten households live. Social housing holds 4% of households, below North Yorkshire’s towns (16%) and England’s towns (18%) alike. 104 standard sales inside Scalby’s built-up area from September 2023 to August 2026 put the median at £384,500.
£385Kmedian sale
Median sale price · Sep 2023 to Aug 2026
Scalby£385K
Typical UK town£277K
| By type | Median | Sales |
|---|---|---|
| Detached | £425,000 | 77 |
| Semi-detached | £315,000 | 13 |
| Flat or maisonette | £248,000 | 12 |
86%
of households own their home · England 61%
10%
rent privately · England 21%
£849
average private rent a month, North Yorkshire council area
£2,520
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
Crime per resident in Scalby is lower than in 90% of UK towns
Police figures for Scalby’s built-up area: 40 crimes and 14 anti-social behaviour reports in the 12 months to August 2026. For its size, Scalby records less crime per resident than 81% of the 1,541 UK towns of 1,000 to 2,500 people. Violence and sexual offences accounted for half of recorded crime.
12.9violent and sexual offences per 1,000 a yearASafety Grade
Compared with UK towns its sizeLess crime per resident than 81% 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 & sexual20
Damage & arson5
Public order5
Other theft3
Vehicle crime3
Weapons2
Drugs1
Other crime1
Anti-social14
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.
12.9
violent and sexual offences per 1,000 residents a year, averaged Sep 2023 to Aug 2026
3.9
burglary, vehicle crime and damage per 1,000 a year, averaged Sep 2023 to Aug 2026
10.6
anti-social behaviour reports per 1,000 (not graded)
40
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
Just 4.5% of people in Scalby say their health is bad or very bad, fewer than in North Yorkshire’s towns and across England’s towns
There is no GP practice in Scalby: the nearest is 0.3 miles off. The nearest A&E to Scalby is Scarborough Hospital, 1.4 miles away. At the census, 19% of people here had a disability, near North Yorkshire’s towns (19%) and higher than England’s towns (17%).
81%good or very good healthBHealth Grade
General health, self-reported
Good or very good 81%Fair 15%Bad or very bad 4%
| Census 2021 | Scalby | North Yorkshire | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Good or very good health | 81% | 81% | 82% |
| Bad or very bad health | 4.5% | 5.5% | 5.2% |
| Disabled (Equality Act) | 19% | 19% | 17% |
80.1
life expectancy at birth, men (2019–23)
85.1
life expectancy at birth, women
ONS Census 2021, general health and disability · OHID Fingertips, life expectancy 2019–23 · OGL · These answers aren’t adjusted for age, so young towns look healthier; the Health Grade uses age-adjusted measures, including life expectancy and early deaths.
Work & commuteJobs & income grade B
Fewer commuters in Scalby walk, cycle or take the bus or train than in North Yorkshire’s towns or England’s towns: 15%
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.
Short trips to work, under 5 km: 57%, above both North Yorkshire’s towns (48%) and England’s towns (45%). Just over four in five commuters drove to work at the census. Before tax, the average household brings in £45K a year.
15%walk, cycle or ride
How commuters got to work · March 2021
Driving82%
On foot10%
Bicycle3%
Bus2%
Train1%
57%
of commuters travel under 5 km · England 45%
27%
worked mainly from home in March 2021
£45K
mean household income, before tax
1.5%
of 16 to 64s claim unemployment benefits (2026)
B
Walkability: more walkable than 59% of UK towns
ONS Census 2021, method of travel and distance to work · ONS small-area income · DWP claimant count · OGL
History
More of the land in Scalby is conservation area than in North Yorkshire’s towns or England’s towns: 60%
The heritage lists give each building’s grade but not its age, so we don’t say which is oldest.
13% of its homes were built before 1919, lower than both North Yorkshire’s towns (17%) and England’s towns (16%). Historic England’s list names 15 listed buildings in Scalby: 1 Grade II*. Per 10,000 residents, Scalby counts 84 listed buildings.
15listed buildingsB−History Grade
Listed buildings by grade · Historic England
Grade I0
Grade II*1
Grade II14
Among them · Grade II*
- Church of St Laurence Grade II*
0
scheduled monuments
0
registered parks and gardens
13%
of homes built before 1919 · typical UK town 15%
84
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 →Scarborough Castle and 8 more in and around Scalby
Museums, castles, gardens and days out in and near Scalby. Best known first.
Castle · English HeritageScarborough Castle3.3 km outside town, to the southeast
MuseumRotunda Museum3.4 km outside town, to the southeast
Theme parkAlpamare Scarborough1.5 km outside town, to the east
Art galleryScarborough Art Gallery3.3 km outside town, to the southeastMuseumMuseumMaritime Heritage3.3 km outside town, to the southeastAquariumAquariumSEA LIFE Scarborough1.5 km outside town, to the eastPlaces: © OpenStreetMap contributors · Wikidata
Photos: each place’s Wikidata image, from Wikimedia Commons under the licence below (our copy, resized).
Photo credits (4)
- Scarborough Castle: Humphrey Bolton, CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Rotunda Museum: Keith D, CC BY 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Alpamare Scarborough: Lachlan, CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Scarborough Art Gallery: Christopher Hall, CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
Keep exploring
Everything we know about Scalby
14pages on Scalby
The big questions
SafetyA12.9 violent and sexual offences per 1,000 residents a year, averaged Sep 2023 to Aug 2026Cost of livingD−Median home £385K · rent £849 a monthHousing21 sold in 12 months · busiest street North StreetSchoolsCHealthBLife expectancy 80.1 (men), 85.1 (women)Work & commuteB39% of working residents work in the townFlood & hazardsD4.1% of homes at high or medium flood risk
Out and about
Scalby’s neighbours
The nearest built-up areas, from ONS’s 2022 boundaries. See them on the map →
BurnistonScarboroughEast Ayton and West AytonSeamer (Scarborough)FileyHunmanbyScalby
How the neighbours grade
| Town | People | Miles | Overall | Cost | Safety | Health |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Scalby | 1,790 | — | — | D− | A | B |
| Burniston | 1,470 | 1.5 | — | D− | A | B |
| Scarborough | 59,505 | 2.3 | D− | C | D | D |
| East Ayton and West Ayton | 2,809 | 3.8 | C− | D− | A− | B |
| Seamer (Scarborough) | 2,120 | 4.2 | — | D− | A | C |
| Filey | 6,664 | 8.6 | D | D | B− | C− |
| Hunmanby | 2,900 | 9.8 | C− | C− | B | C− |
Burniston and Seamer (Scarborough) have fewer than 2,500 residents, so they get subject grades but no overall grade. People: Census 2021. Miles: centre to centre.
Questions about Scalby
How many listed buildings are there in Scalby?
That is 3.4 times the typical UK town for its size.
Does Scalby flood?
Surface water isn’t included. Check a specific address on GOV.UK’s flood risk service.
About Scalby
Village in North Yorkshire, England
Scalby is a built-up area of 1,790 people, in the Scarborough 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
- 1,790 (Census 2021)
- Council
- Scarborough
- County
- North Yorkshire
- Region
- Yorkshire and The Humber
- Area
- 0.4 sq mi (0.9 km²)
- ONS code
- E63000404
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.