Hook Norton’s story
64 listed buildings, 1 of them Grade I
Historic England lists them inside Hook Norton’s built-up area.
24% of its homes were built before 1919, against 15% in the typical UK town.
Explore the history →
Hook NortonOxfordshire
This village in Oxfordshire, South East has a population of 2,188.
7 places within 12 milesMap →
Photo: Philip Halling · CC BY-SA 2.0
Population
2,188
Census 2021 · Cherwell council
Median home
£473K
93 sales in 3 years
Median age
48.4
24% are 65+ · Oxfordshire 18%
Degree level
43%
of residents 16+ · England 34%
Walk, cycle, bus
13%
of commuters · England 27%
Is Hook Norton a good place to live?
People here tend to be in good health: life expectancy is 82.8 for men and 87.8 for women. Buying in is costly (C−): a typical home costs £473,000 and rent runs £1,304 a month. Hazard risk is weaker too — 0.7% of homes face a high or medium risk of river or sea flooding. It has 64 listed buildings, 1 of them Grade I.
Figures: life expectancy, ONS · prices, HM Land Registry, the last three years · flood risk, Environment Agency. An overall grade needs 2,500 residents, so Hook Norton is graded subject by subject only.
What makes Hook Norton stand out
The 3 things Hook Norton does most differently from other towns.
Listed buildings per 10,000 residents
History
1 Grade I, including Church of St Peter; 12 times the typical UK town for its size
Historic England’s list, October 2026.
Walk, cycle or public transport
Getting around
13% leave the car
of commuters walk, cycle or take public transport (England’s towns 27%)
Median sale, £ thousands
Housing
1.7 times the typical UK town’s £277K
Standard sales, September 2023 to August 2026.
How Hook Norton grades
Each subject compared with the 2,160 UK towns with an overall grade (schools within England), ordered by how far Hook Norton is from typical. American towns are graded separately.
An overall grade needs 2,500 residents, so Hook Norton is graded subject by subject only.
HealthAmong the healthiest places comparedA+Open →SchoolsPrimary results beat 89% of towns in EnglandAOpen →Jobs & incomeMean household income £68,244A−Open →SafetyIn the top fifth of the towns comparedA−Open →Cost of livingMedian sale £473,000, 7.6 years of area incomeC−Open →Hazard riskBased on how exposed the town is to floods, storms and other hazardsC+Open →WalkabilityGraded on how easily people get around without a carB−Open →
Character Graded, but not part of the overall grade.
HistoryNear the top of the towns comparedAOpen →Outdoors70% live within 400 m of a park; 28% of land within 5 km is National Park or National LandscapeC+Open →Civic life3.7 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 Hook Norton.
Health
People in Hook Norton live longer lives than in 93% of UK towns
13% of residents have a disability, below Oxfordshire’s towns (15%) and England’s towns (17%) alike. There is no GP practice in Hook Norton: the nearest is 2.7 miles off. Asked at the census, 86% of residents of Hook Norton said they were in good or very good health. The nearest A&E to Hook Norton is Horton General Hospital, 7.3 miles away.
86%good or very good healthA+Health Grade
General health, self-reported
Good or very good 86%Fair 11%Bad or very bad 3%
| Census 2021 | Hook Norton | Oxfordshire | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Good or very good health | 86% | 86% | 82% |
| Bad or very bad health | 2.7% | 3.5% | 5.2% |
| Disabled (Equality Act) | 13% | 15% | 17% |
82.8
life expectancy at birth, men (2019–23)
87.8
life expectancy at birth, women
ONS Census 2021, general health and disability · OHID Fingertips, life expectancy 2019–23 · OGL · These shares come straight from the census, without allowing for age, and young towns benefit; the Health Grade instead weighs age-adjusted measures, including life expectancy and early deaths.
SchoolsA
Hook Norton’s schools outperform 93% of towns in England on results
Key Stage 2 results at the 2 primary schools within 3 km: 71% of pupils meet the expected standard in reading, writing and maths (three-year average). Hook Norton Church of England Primary School’s results beat 83% of schools in England like it. Its one school is below.
ASchool Grade
| School | Level | Pupils | Letter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hook Norton Church of England Primary SchoolLargest primary schoolPrimary | Primary | 271 | A− |
Department for Education · GIAS, Key Stage 2 and GCSE resultsThe Schools page →
History
More buildings in Hook Norton are listed than in Oxfordshire’s towns or England’s towns: 293 per 10,000 residents
The heritage lists give each building’s grade but not its age, so we don’t say which is oldest.
Hook Norton’s listed buildings include the Church of St Peter, Grade I. Of the town’s land, 48% lies in conservation areas, higher than both Oxfordshire’s towns (11%) and England’s towns (7%). 24% of homes were built before 1919. The top grade, Grade I, goes to 1 of them.
64listed buildingsAHistory Grade
Listed buildings by grade · Historic England
Grade I1
Grade II*0
Grade II63
Among them · Grade I
- Church of St Peter Grade I
0
scheduled monuments
0
registered parks and gardens
24%
of homes built before 1919 · typical UK town 15%
293
listed buildings per 10,000 residents · typical UK town 24
Historic England list, October 2026 · Valuation Office Agency, homes by build period · OGL
Safety
Hook Norton records less violent crime per resident than Oxfordshire’s towns or England’s towns, at 13.7 per 1,000 a year
There were 1.1 anti-social behaviour reports per 1,000 residents (not graded), lower than both Oxfordshire’s towns (4.8) and England’s towns (7.8). 56 crimes and 1 reports of anti-social behaviour: that is what police recorded inside Hook Norton’s built-up area in the 12 months to August 2026. 46% of the crimes fell under violence and sexual offences.
13.7violent and sexual offences per 1,000 a yearA−Safety Grade
Compared with UK towns its sizeLess crime per resident than 67% 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 & arson9
Burglary7
Shoplifting4
Other theft4
Vehicle crime3
Drugs2
Other crime1
Anti-social1
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.
13.7
violent and sexual offences per 1,000 residents a year, averaged Sep 2023 to Aug 2026
6.7
burglary, vehicle crime and damage per 1,000 a year, averaged Sep 2023 to Aug 2026
1.1
anti-social behaviour reports per 1,000 (not graded)
56
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 Hook Norton than in Oxfordshire’s towns or across England’s towns: 11%
Home ownership stands at 77% of households. The £473,000 median rests on 93 standard sales inside the built-up area (September 2023 to August 2026).
£473Kmedian sale
Median sale price · Sep 2023 to Aug 2026
Hook Norton£473K
Typical UK town£277K
| By type | Median | Sales |
|---|---|---|
| Detached | £517,500 | 54 |
| Semi-detached | £375,000 | 26 |
| Terraced | £305,000 | 13 |
77%
of households own their home · England 61%
11%
rent privately · England 21%
£1,304
average private rent a month, Cherwell council area
£2,550
council tax, Band D, 2026–27
HM Land Registry Price Paid · ONS private rents · MHCLG / Welsh Government council tax · ONS Census 2021 tenure · OGL
Work & commuteJobs & income grade A−
Work tends to be further away for Hook Norton: 20% commute under 5 km, below Oxfordshire’s towns and England’s towns
The Census was taken on 21 March 2021, in lockdown, so 42% of workers were mainly at home; shares here are of those who travelled.
At the census, 13% of commuters walked, cycled or took the bus or train. 1.5% of 16 to 64s claimed unemployment benefits in 2026, lower than both Oxfordshire’s towns (2%) and England’s towns (2.3%). The car carried 84% of commuters at the census. About a tenth of its commuters stay in Hook Norton for work.
13%walk, cycle or ride
How commuters got to work · March 2021
Driving84%
On foot10%
Bus2%
Bicycle1%
20%
of commuters travel under 5 km · England 45%
42%
worked mainly from home in March 2021
£68K
mean household income, before tax
1.5%
of 16 to 64s claim unemployment benefits (2026)
B−
Walkability: more walkable than 46% of UK towns
ONS Census 2021, method of travel and distance to work · ONS small-area income · DWP claimant count · OGL
Who lives here
Hook Norton skews older, with 24% of residents 65 or over, more than Oxfordshire’s towns or England’s towns
Among adults, 43% have a degree. The 15-to-24 age group: 9.8%, lower than both Oxfordshire’s towns (13%) and England’s towns (12%). The age that splits Hook Norton in two is 48.4.
48.4median age
Hook NortonOxfordshireEngland
Ages · share of residents
24%
Qualifications · residents 16 and older
No qualifications13%
Apprenticeship4%
A levels or similar17%
Degree level43%
Women and men · all residents
53% women, 47% men
About 90 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.
| Hook Norton | Oxfordshire | England | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 15 | 17% | 17% | 18% |
| 15–24 | 9.8% | 13% | 12% |
| 25–44 | 19% | 27% | 27% |
| 45–64 | 31% | 25% | 25% |
| 65+ | 24% | 18% | 18% |
| No qualifications | 13% | 14% | 18% |
| Apprenticeship | 4.4% | 4.7% | 5.3% |
| A levels or similar | 17% | 17% | 17% |
| Degree level | 43% | 42% | 34% |
ONS Census 2021 · Oxfordshire and England: all residents of their built-up areas · OGL
Keep exploring
Everything we know about Hook Norton
15pages on Hook Norton
The big questions
SafetyA−13.7 violent and sexual offences per 1,000 residents a year, averaged Sep 2023 to Aug 2026Cost of livingC−Median home £473K · rent £1,304 a monthHousing34 sold in 12 months · busiest street Goldings RoadSchoolsA1 state schoolHealthA+Life expectancy 82.8 (men), 87.8 (women)Work & commuteA−60% of working residents work in the townFlood & hazardsC+0.7% of homes at high or medium flood risk
Out and about
Famous people from Hook Norton
3 notable people were born in Hook Norton.
H
Hood Hanway ChristianBritish Royal Navy admiral (1784-1849)K
Katherine Ann Richards DuBoseAmerican poet · 1826–1906Photo credits
Hugh Cloberry Christian: James Northcote, Public domain
Hook Norton’s neighbours
The nearest built-up areas, from ONS’s 2022 boundaries. See them on the map →
BloxhamChipping NortonDeddingtonMiddle BartonBodicoteBanburyAdderbury and TwyfordHook Norton
How the neighbours grade
| Town | People | Miles | Overall | Cost | Safety | Health |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hook Norton | 2,188 | — | — | C− | A− | A+ |
| Bloxham | 3,681 | 4.7 | B+ | C | B− | A |
| Chipping Norton | 6,991 | 4.9 | B | B | C+ | C |
| Deddington | 1,769 | 6.8 | — | C− | A | A− |
| Middle Barton | 1,762 | 7 | — | C+ | A+ | A |
| Bodicote | 4,752 | 7.2 | A− | C+ | B+ | A |
| Banbury | 52,041 | 7.4 | C+ | B | D | C |
| Adderbury and Twyford | 3,318 | 7.4 | B+ | C− | A | A− |
Deddington and Middle Barton have fewer than 2,500 residents, so they get subject grades but no overall grade. People: Census 2021. Miles: centre to centre.
Questions about Hook Norton
How many listed buildings are there in Hook Norton?
That is 12 times the typical UK town for its size. Its Grade I building is Church of St Peter.
Are schools in Hook Norton good?
Primary results beat 89% of towns in England (Department for Education, Key Stage 2). One state school is inside the town; places are handled by Oxfordshire council.
Is Hook Norton expensive to live in?
Homes cost more than in most UK towns: the median sale over three years was £473,000, against £277,000 in the typical UK town. By type: terraced houses £305,000, semi-detached houses £375,000 and detached houses £517,500.
About Hook Norton
Village in Oxfordshire, England
Hook Norton is a built-up area of 2,188 people, in the Cherwell 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
- 2,188 (Census 2021)
- Council
- Cherwell
- County
- Oxfordshire
- Region
- South East
- Area
- 0.3 sq mi (0.9 km²)
- ONS code
- E63003961
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.