North Leigh’s story
18 listed buildings, 1 of them Grade I
Historic England lists them inside North Leigh’s built-up area.
16% of its homes were built before 1919, against 15% in the typical UK town.
Explore the history →
North LeighOxfordshire
Some 1,733 people live in this village, in Oxfordshire, South East.
7 places within 12 milesMap →
Photo: Motacilla · CC BY-SA 3.0
Population
1,733
Census 2021 · West Oxfordshire council
Median home
£432K
59 sales in 3 years
Median age
48.1
23% are 65+ · Oxfordshire 18%
Degree level
38%
of residents 16+ · England 34%
Walk, cycle, bus
10%
of commuters · England 27%
Is North Leigh a good place to live?
Health outcomes beat most towns: life expectancy 85.1 for men, 87.7 for women. Its weakest is walkability — 10% of commuters walk, cycle or take public transport. At a median £432,250, a home costs 6.6 times the yearly income of households in the West Oxfordshire council area. Elsewhere it is close to typical: C+ for safety and B for schools.
Figures: life expectancy and incomes, ONS · commuting, Census 2021 · prices, HM Land Registry, the last three years · crime, police.uk, averaged Sep 2023 to Aug 2026. With fewer than 2,500 residents, North Leigh has subject grades but no overall one.
How North Leigh grades
Each subject compared with the 2,160 UK towns with an overall grade (schools within England), ordered by how far North Leigh is from typical. American towns are graded separately.
HealthIn the top fifth of the towns comparedAOpen →Hazard risk0% of homes at high or medium risk of flooding from rivers or the seaAOpen →Jobs & incomeBased on what households earn, poverty and workA−Open →WalkabilityMost errands need a carC−Open →SchoolsPrimary results beat 79% of towns in England; secondary results beat 41% of towns in EnglandBOpen →Cost of livingBehind most towns comparedC+Open →SafetyGraded on crime per residentC+Open →
Character Graded, but not part of the overall grade.
HistoryMore history than most townsBOpen →Outdoors56% live within 400 m of a park; 26% of land within 5 km is National Park or National LandscapeC+Open →Civic life3.5 local charities per 1,000 residents; 100% live within 1 km of a libraryAOpen →
How TownRatings grades towns →
What makes North Leigh stand out
The 3 things North Leigh does most differently from other towns.
Walk, cycle or public transport
Getting around
10% leave the car
of commuters walk, cycle or take public transport (England’s towns 27%)
Listed buildings per 10,000 residents
History
1 Grade I, including Church of St Mary; 4.3 times the typical UK town for its size
Historic England’s list, October 2026.
Life expectancy, against UK towns
Health
87.7 and 85.1 years
Life expectancy at birth, women and men: longer than in 98% of UK towns
OHID Fingertips, 2019–23.
The data
Data highlights are ordered by what stands out in North Leigh.
Health
People in North Leigh live longer lives than in 98% of UK towns
82%good or very good healthAHealth Grade
The nearest A&E to North Leigh is John Radcliffe Hospital, 10 miles away. 4.6% of residents described their health as bad or very bad, above Oxfordshire’s towns (3.5%) but below England’s towns (5.2%). Seeing a GP means leaving North Leigh: the nearest practice is 2.6 miles away.
General health, self-reported
Good or very good 82%Fair 13%Bad or very bad 5%
| Census 2021 | North Leigh | Oxfordshire | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Good or very good health | 82% | 86% | 82% |
| Bad or very bad health | 4.6% | 3.5% | 5.2% |
| Disabled (Equality Act) | 17% | 15% | 17% |
85.1
life expectancy at birth, men (2019–23)
87.7
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.
SchoolsB
On exam results, North Leigh’s schools beat 63% of towns in England
BSchool Grade
At the 6 primary schools within 3 km, 67% of pupils reach the expected standard in reading, writing and maths (three-year average). Below is its only school. GCSE results at the one secondary school within 3 km: 44% of pupils get a strong pass (grade 5+) in English and maths, and the Attainment 8 average is 43.6.
| School | Level | Pupils | Letter |
|---|---|---|---|
| North Leigh Church of England SchoolLargest primary schoolPrimary | Primary | 154 | A |
Department for Education · GIAS, Key Stage 2 and GCSE resultsThe Schools page →
Work & commuteJobs & income grade A−
North Leigh is a driving town: 88% of commuters go by car, above Oxfordshire’s towns and England’s towns
10%walk, cycle or ride
The Census was taken on 21 March 2021, in lockdown, so 34% of workers were mainly at home; shares here are of those who travelled.
Short trips to work, under 5 km: 26%, lower than both Oxfordshire’s towns (46%) and England’s towns (45%). Unemployment benefit claims reached 1.7% of 16 to 64s in 2026. Work in town: 4% of resident commuters. Average household income is £70K a year before tax.
How commuters got to work · March 2021
Driving88%
On foot5%
Bus2%
Bicycle2%
Train1%
26%
of commuters travel under 5 km · England 45%
34%
worked mainly from home in March 2021
£70K
mean household income, before tax
1.7%
of 16 to 64s claim unemployment benefits (2026)
C−
Walkability: more walkable than 23% of UK towns
ONS Census 2021, method of travel and distance to work · ONS small-area income · DWP claimant count · OGL
HousingCost of living grade C+
Private renting is less common in North Leigh than in Oxfordshire’s towns or across England’s towns: 9%
£432Kmedian sale
Owners make up 72% of households, above both Oxfordshire’s towns (63%) and England’s towns (61%). Half of the 59 standard sales inside North Leigh’s built-up area from September 2023 to August 2026 went for more than £432,250. Private rents average £1,305 a month across the West Oxfordshire council area.
Median sale price · Sep 2023 to Aug 2026
North Leigh£432K
Typical UK town£277K
| By type | Median | Sales |
|---|---|---|
| Detached | £558,750 | 32 |
| Semi-detached | £363,000 | 23 |
72%
of households own their home · England 61%
9%
rent privately · England 21%
£1,305
average private rent a month, West Oxfordshire council area
£2,516
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
North Leigh has 18 listed buildings, 1 of them Grade I
18listed buildingsBHistory Grade
The heritage lists give each building’s grade but not its age, so we don’t say which is oldest.
North Leigh’s listed buildings include the Church of St Mary, Grade I. It has 104 listed buildings for every 10,000 residents. Homes from before 1919 make up 16% of the total, about level with England’s towns (16%) and above Oxfordshire’s towns (13%).
Listed buildings by grade · Historic England
Grade I1
Grade II*0
Grade II17
Among them · Grade I
- Church of St Mary Grade I
0
scheduled monuments
0
registered parks and gardens
16%
of homes built before 1919 · typical UK town 15%
104
listed buildings per 10,000 residents · typical UK town 24
Historic England list, October 2026 · Valuation Office Agency, homes by build period · OGL
Safety
Violence is recorded more often in North Leigh than in Oxfordshire’s towns or across England’s towns: 27.7 per 1,000 residents a year
27.7violent and sexual offences per 1,000 a yearC+Safety Grade
Violence and sexual offences made up 57% of the total. Police recorded 100 crimes inside North Leigh’s built-up area in the 12 months to August 2026, plus 16 reports of anti-social behaviour. Among the 1,541 UK towns of 1,000 to 2,500 people, North Leigh has more crime per resident than 77% of them.
Compared with UK towns its sizeLess crime per resident than 23% of the 1,541 UK towns of 1,000 to 2,500 people: more crime than most for its size. Context only, not part of the grade.
Reports by type · Sep 2025 to Aug 2026
Violence & sexual57
Other theft12
Damage & arson9
Public order9
Vehicle crime5
Burglary4
Drugs2
Other crime2
Anti-social16
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.
27.7
violent and sexual offences per 1,000 residents a year, averaged Sep 2023 to Aug 2026
8.7
burglary, vehicle crime and damage per 1,000 a year, averaged Sep 2023 to Aug 2026
7.1
anti-social behaviour reports per 1,000 (not graded)
100
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.
Who lives here
An older town: 23% of people in North Leigh are 65 or over, more than in both Oxfordshire’s towns and England’s towns
48.1median age
Children under 15 make up 15% of residents; what’s more, people aged 15 to 24 make up a tenth of the town, below both Oxfordshire’s towns (13%) and England’s towns (12%). Ages in North Leigh split evenly at 48.1: half are older, half younger. Also worth knowing: among adults, 38% have a degree.
North LeighOxfordshireEngland
Ages · share of residents
23%
Qualifications · residents 16 and older
No qualifications15%
Apprenticeship7%
A levels or similar16%
Degree level38%
Women and men · all residents
51% women, 49% men
About 94 men for every 100 women. Across England, 51% of residents are women.
| North Leigh | Oxfordshire | England | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 15 | 15% | 17% | 18% |
| 15–24 | 9.7% | 13% | 12% |
| 25–44 | 21% | 27% | 27% |
| 45–64 | 31% | 25% | 25% |
| 65+ | 23% | 18% | 18% |
| No qualifications | 15% | 14% | 18% |
| Apprenticeship | 7% | 4.7% | 5.3% |
| A levels or similar | 16% | 17% | 17% |
| Degree level | 38% | 42% | 34% |
ONS Census 2021 · Oxfordshire and England: all residents of their built-up areas · OGL
Keep exploring
Everything we know about North Leigh
14pages on North Leigh
The big questions
SafetyC+27.7 violent and sexual offences per 1,000 residents a year, averaged Sep 2023 to Aug 2026Cost of livingC+Median home £432K · rent £1,305 a monthHousing11 sold in 12 months · busiest street Park RoadSchoolsB1 state schoolHealthALife expectancy 85.1 (men), 87.7 (women)Work & commuteA−54% of working residents work in the townFlood & hazardsA0% of homes at high or medium flood risk
Out and about
Nearby attractions
All attractions →Eynsham Hall and 6 more in and around North Leigh
Museums, castles, gardens and days out in and near North Leigh. Best known first.
Historic houseEynsham Hall600 m outside town, to the southeast
MuseumOxford Bus Museum4.1 km outside town, to the east
MuseumCogges Manor Farm Museum3.5 km outside town, to the southwestMuseumMuseumWitney Blanket Hall3.4 km outside town, to the southwestMuseumMuseumThe Witney & District Museum3.5 km outside town, to the southwestMuseumMuseumCombe Mill2.9 km outside town, to the northeastPlaces: © OpenStreetMap contributors · Wikidata
Photos: each place’s Wikidata image, from Wikimedia Commons under the licence below (our copy, resized).
Photo credits (3)
- Eynsham Hall: Rodw, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Oxford Bus Museum: Des Blenkinsopp, CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Cogges Manor Farm Museum: Rabbi WP Thinrod, CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
About North Leigh
Village in Oxfordshire, England
North Leigh is a built-up area of 1,733 people, in the West Oxfordshire 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
- 1,733 (Census 2021)
- Council
- West Oxfordshire
- County
- Oxfordshire
- Region
- South East
- Area
- 0.3 sq mi (0.7 km²)
- ONS code
- E63004351
North Leigh’s neighbours
The nearest built-up areas, from ONS’s 2022 boundaries. See them on the map →
FreelandLong HanboroughWitneyStonesfieldEynshamDucklingtonCharlburyNorth Leigh
How the neighbours grade
| Town | People | Miles | Overall | Cost | Safety | Health |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| North Leigh | 1,733 | — | — | C+ | C+ | A |
| Freeland | 1,520 | 1.5 | — | C | A+ | A |
| Long Hanborough | 3,034 | 2 | A+ | C+ | A | A |
| Witney | 30,167 | 2.8 | B | B | C+ | B |
| Stonesfield | 1,663 | 2.9 | — | B− | A | A+ |
| Eynsham | 5,321 | 3.4 | A+ | C+ | B+ | A− |
| Ducklington | 1,585 | 3.7 | — | B− | B+ | A |
| Charlbury | 2,810 | 4.5 | B+ | C | B | A |
Freeland, Stonesfield and Ducklington have fewer than 2,500 residents, so they get subject grades but no overall grade. People: Census 2021. Miles: centre to centre.
Questions about North Leigh
How many listed buildings are there in North Leigh?
That is 4.3 times the typical UK town for its size. Its Grade I building is Church of St Mary.
Is North Leigh expensive to live in?
Homes cost more than in most UK towns: the median sale over three years was £432,250, against £277,000 in the typical UK town. By type: semi-detached houses £363,000 and detached houses £558,750.
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.