Skelton (York)’s story
6 listed buildings, 1 of them Grade I
Historic England lists them inside Skelton (York)’s built-up area.
8% of its homes were built before 1919, against 15% in the typical UK town.
Explore the history →
Skelton (York)North Yorkshire
47% of households own their home outright. The village, home to 1,380 people, lies in North Yorkshire, Yorkshire and The Humber.
7 places within 12 milesMap →
Photo: DS Pugh · CC BY-SA 2.0
Population
1,380
Census 2021 · York council
Median home
£320K
52 sales in 3 years
Median age
48.4
28% are 65+ · North Yorkshire 22%
Degree level
41%
of residents 16+ · England 34%
Walk, cycle, bus
18%
of commuters · England 27%
Is Skelton (York) a good place to live?
Work and incomes are strong (A): mean household income £61,102; 1.5% of 16 to 64s claim unemployment benefits. Recorded crime is low: 15 violent or sexual offences per 1,000 residents a year, plus 3.4 home and vehicle crimes. The weak point is cost of living: the median home sold for £320,000, 6 years of area income. Natural hazards weigh less here than in most UK towns (A).
Figures: income, ONS · claimants, DWP · crime, police.uk, averaged Sep 2023 to Aug 2026 · prices, HM Land Registry, the last three years · flood risk, Environment Agency. With fewer than 2,500 residents, Skelton (York) has subject grades but no overall one.
What makes Skelton (York) stand out
The 3 things Skelton (York) does most differently from other towns.
Residents 65 and over
Who lives here
28% are 65 or over
Against 18% across England’s towns
Own outright
Housing
47% own outright
of households own their home with no mortgage (England’s towns 32%)
Rent against income, UK towns
Renting
£1,199 a month
Average private rent, 27% of what households in the area earn: more than in 87% of UK towns
ONS private rents, York council area.
How Skelton (York) grades
Each subject compared with the 2,160 UK towns with an overall grade (schools within England), ordered by how far Skelton (York) is from typical. American towns are graded separately.
Jobs & incomeIncomes and work are among the strongest comparedAOpen →Hazard risk0% of homes at high or medium risk of flooding from rivers or the seaAOpen →SafetyAmong the best of the towns comparedAOpen →SchoolsPrimary results beat 81% of towns in England; secondary results beat 67% of towns in EnglandA−Open →Cost of livingBased on what homes cost against what households earnC−Open →WalkabilityEasier than most to get around on footB+Open →HealthLife expectancy 80.4 for men, 84.7 for womenBOpen →
Character Graded, but not part of the overall grade.
HistoryBelow the middle of the towns comparedCOpen →Outdoors77% live within 400 m of a park; 1.4 ha of public green space per 1,000 residentsDOpen →Civic life2.2 local charities per 1,000 residents; 0% live within 1 km of a libraryCOpen →
How TownRatings grades towns →
Nearby attractions
All attractions →York Minster and 20 more in and around Skelton (York)
Museums, castles, gardens and days out in and near Skelton (York). Best known first.
ChurchYork Minster4.7 km outside town, to the southeast
MuseumYorkshire Museum4.5 km outside town, to the southeast · 164K visitors a year (2019)
Art galleryYork Art Gallery4.4 km outside town, to the southeast
Abbey or priorySt Mary's Abbey4.4 km outside town, to the southeast
Garden · National TrustTreasurer's House Garden4.7 km outside town, to the southeast
MuseumYork Museum Gardens4.5 km outside town, to the southeastPlaces: © OpenStreetMap contributors · Wikidata
Photos: each place’s Wikidata image, from Wikimedia Commons under the licence below (our copy, resized).
Photo credits (6)
- York Minster: MatzeTrier, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Yorkshire Museum: Tim Green from Bradford, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
- York Art Gallery: Tilman2007, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
- St Mary's Abbey: Kaly99, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Treasurer's House Garden: Tom Pennington, CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
- York Museum Gardens: Richard Croft, CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
The data
Data highlights are ordered by what stands out in Skelton (York).
Who lives here
An older town: 28% of people in Skelton (York) are 65 or over, more than in both North Yorkshire’s towns and England’s towns
Children under 15 make up 15%, lower than both North Yorkshire’s towns (16%) and England’s towns (18%). Aged 15 to 24: nearly one in ten residents. Typical age in Skelton (York): 48.4, the median. Degrees are held by 41% of adults.
48.4median age
Skelton (York)North YorkshireEngland
Ages · share of residents
28%
Qualifications · residents 16 and older
No qualifications11%
Apprenticeship5%
A levels or similar17%
Degree level41%
Women and men · all residents
52% women, 48% men
About 93 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.
| Skelton (York) | North Yorkshire | England | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 15 | 15% | 16% | 18% |
| 15–24 | 9% | 12% | 12% |
| 25–44 | 23% | 24% | 27% |
| 45–64 | 26% | 27% | 25% |
| 65+ | 28% | 22% | 18% |
| No qualifications | 11% | 18% | 18% |
| Apprenticeship | 4.6% | 6.4% | 5.3% |
| A levels or similar | 17% | 18% | 17% |
| Degree level | 41% | 32% | 34% |
ONS Census 2021 · North Yorkshire and England: all residents of their built-up areas · OGL
SchoolsA−
Exam results at Skelton (York)’s schools top 78% of towns in England
Attainment 8 at the 2 secondary schools within 3 km averages 47.5, and 52% of pupils get grade 5 or above in English and maths. The town has one school, shown below. At the 5 primary schools within 3 km, 68% of pupils reach the expected standard in reading, writing and maths (three-year average).
A−School Grade
| School | Level | Pupils | Letter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Skelton Primary SchoolLargest primary schoolPrimary | Primary | 106 | B+ |
Department for Education · GIAS, Key Stage 2 and GCSE resultsThe Schools page →
Safety
Fewer crimes per resident in Skelton (York) than in 86% of UK towns
A year of reports to August 2026 adds up to 28 offences in Skelton (York) and 6 cases of nuisance behaviour. For its size, Skelton (York) records less crime per resident than nearly three quarters of the 1,541 UK towns of 1,000 to 2,500 people. Violence and sexual offences were 64% of the crimes.
15violent and sexual offences per 1,000 a yearASafety Grade
Compared with UK towns its sizeLess crime per resident than 74% 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 & sexual18
Other crime3
Public order2
Damage & arson1
Burglary1
Vehicle crime1
Bicycle theft1
Weapons1
Anti-social6
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
violent and sexual offences per 1,000 residents a year, averaged Sep 2023 to Aug 2026
3.4
burglary, vehicle crime and damage per 1,000 a year, averaged Sep 2023 to Aug 2026
7
anti-social behaviour reports per 1,000 (not graded)
28
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.
HousingCost of living grade C−
Private renting is less common in Skelton (York) than in North Yorkshire’s towns or across England’s towns: 7%
Owners make up 77% of households, above both North Yorkshire’s towns (65%) and England’s towns (61%). Half of the 52 standard sales inside Skelton (York)’s built-up area from September 2023 to August 2026 went for more than £320,000. Private rents average £1,199 a month across the York council area.
£320Kmedian sale
Median sale price · Sep 2023 to Aug 2026
Skelton (York)£320K
Typical UK town£277K
| By type | Median | Sales |
|---|---|---|
| Detached | £482,500 | 22 |
| Semi-detached | £320,000 | 15 |
| Terraced | £211,000 | 15 |
77%
of households own their home · England 61%
7%
rent privately · England 21%
£1,199
average private rent a month, York council area
£2,312
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 Skelton (York)’s 6 listed buildings: the Church of St Giles, Grade I
The heritage lists give each building’s grade but not its age, so we don’t say which is oldest.
Homes built before 1919 account for 8% of the housing. Skelton (York)’s listed buildings include the Church of St Giles, Grade I. Conservation areas cover 16% of the town’s land, above both North Yorkshire’s towns (13%) and England’s towns (7%).
6listed buildingsCHistory Grade
Listed buildings by grade · Historic England
Grade I1
Grade II*1
Grade II4
Among them · Grade I
- Church of St Giles Grade I
0
scheduled monuments
0
registered parks and gardens
8%
of homes built before 1919 · typical UK town 15%
43
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 A
Fewer commuters in Skelton (York) walk, cycle or take the bus or train than in North Yorkshire’s towns or England’s towns: 18%
The Census was taken on 21 March 2021, in lockdown, so 31% of workers were mainly at home; shares here are of those who travelled.
There are 0.4 jobs in Skelton (York) for each resident in work. The car took four in five commuters, above both North Yorkshire’s towns (74%) and England’s towns (70%). 43% of commuters travelled under 5 km to work. Work in town: 1% of resident commuters.
18%walk, cycle or ride
How commuters got to work · March 2021
Driving80%
Bicycle8%
On foot6%
Bus3%
Train1%
43%
of commuters travel under 5 km · England 45%
31%
worked mainly from home in March 2021
£61K
mean household income, before tax
1.5%
of 16 to 64s claim unemployment benefits (2026)
B+
Walkability: more walkable than 69% of UK towns
ONS Census 2021, method of travel and distance to work · ONS small-area income · DWP claimant count · OGL
Health
Just 4.4% of people in Skelton (York) say their health is bad or very bad, fewer than in both North Yorkshire’s towns and England’s towns
Seeing a GP means leaving Skelton (York): the nearest practice is 2.5 miles away. At the census, 84% of people in Skelton (York) called their health good or very good, above North Yorkshire’s towns (81%) and England’s towns (82%) alike. Disability touches 16% of the town’s population.
84%good or very good healthBHealth Grade
General health, self-reported
Good or very good 84%Fair 12%Bad or very bad 4%
| Census 2021 | Skelton (York) | North Yorkshire | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Good or very good health | 84% | 81% | 82% |
| Bad or very bad health | 4.4% | 5.5% | 5.2% |
| Disabled (Equality Act) | 16% | 19% | 17% |
80.4
life expectancy at birth, men (2019–23)
84.7
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.
Keep exploring
Everything we know about Skelton (York)
15pages on Skelton (York)
The big questions
SafetyA15 violent and sexual offences per 1,000 residents a year, averaged Sep 2023 to Aug 2026Cost of livingC−Median home £320K · rent £1,199 a monthHousing16 sold in 12 months · busiest street BrecksfieldSchoolsA−1 state schoolHealthBLife expectancy 80.4 (men), 84.7 (women)Work & commuteA45% of working residents work in the townFlood & hazardsA0% of homes at high or medium flood risk
Out and about
Skelton (York)’s neighbours
The nearest built-up areas, from ONS’s 2022 boundaries. See them on the map →
Upper PoppletonWiggintonHaxbyHuntingtonYorkStrensallOsbaldwickSkelton (York)
How the neighbours grade
| Town | People | Miles | Overall | Cost | Safety | Health |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Skelton (York) | 1,380 | — | — | C− | A | B |
| Upper Poppleton | 3,520 | 1.3 | A | D | A+ | A− |
| Wigginton | 1,422 | 2.2 | — | C− | A+ | A− |
| Haxby | 10,176 | 2.5 | A | C− | A | B+ |
| Huntington | 12,420 | 2.7 | B− | C | B− | C+ |
| York | 141,696 | 3.3 | B− | C | C− | C |
| Strensall | 6,060 | 4.6 | A | C− | A | A− |
| Osbaldwick | 2,313 | 4.9 | — | C− | B | B− |
Wigginton and Osbaldwick have fewer than 2,500 residents, so they get subject grades but no overall grade. People: Census 2021. Miles: centre to centre.
Questions about Skelton (York)
Are schools in Skelton (York) good?
Primary schools stand out: Key Stage 2 results beat 81% of towns in England. Secondary results beat 67%. One state school is inside the town; places are handled by York council.
About Skelton (York)
Village in North Yorkshire, England
Skelton (York) is a built-up area of 1,380 people, in the York 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
- 1,380 (Census 2021)
- Council
- York
- County
- North Yorkshire
- Region
- Yorkshire and The Humber
- Area
- 0.2 sq mi (0.5 km²)
- ONS code
- E63000591
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.