Monkton Heathfield’s story
2 listed buildings
Historic England lists them inside Monkton Heathfield’s built-up area.
5% of its homes were built before 1919, against 15% in the typical UK town.
Explore the history →
Monkton HeathfieldSomerset
TownGrade
C+
#23 of 49 in Somerset
Over-65s are only 12% of the population. 4,584 people live in this town in Somerset, South West.
7 places within 12 milesMap →
Photo: Barbara Cook · CC BY-SA 2.0
Population
4,584
Census 2021 · Somerset West and Taunton council
Median home
£270K
211 sales in 3 years
Median age
34.2
12% are 65+ · Somerset 23%
Degree level
36%
of residents 16+ · England 34%
Walk, cycle, bus
12%
of commuters · England 27%
Is Monkton Heathfield a good place to live?
Pupils here do less well than most: primary results beat 4% of towns in England; secondary results beat 24% of towns in England. Monkton Heathfield grades C+ overall and ranks #23 of 49 in Somerset. On that grade it does better than just over two fifths of UK towns. It lags on safety as well — 38.2 violent and sexual offences and 9.4 home and vehicle crimes per 1,000 residents a year. Against UK towns of 2,500 to 10,000 people, it has more crime per resident than 79%. Work and incomes are strong (A−): the mean household earns £59,559 a year. A median £270,000 buys a home here, 5.4 times what households in the Somerset West and Taunton council area earn in a year. Health outcomes beat most towns: men here can expect to live to 81.6, women to 87.4.
Figures: income and life expectancy, ONS · claimants, DWP · crime, police.uk, averaged Sep 2023 to Aug 2026 · prices, HM Land Registry, the last three years.
ONS publishes one rent for all of Somerset, so this town's Cost Grade uses house prices and council tax only.
How Monkton Heathfield grades
Each subject compared with the 2,160 UK towns with an overall grade (schools within England), ordered by how far Monkton Heathfield is from typical. American towns are graded separately.
SchoolsPrimary results beat 4% of towns in England; secondary results beat 24% of towns in EnglandDOpen →Jobs & incomeAmong the best of the towns comparedA−Open →SafetyGraded on crime per residentC−Open →HealthResidents are healthier than in most townsB+Open →WalkabilityBelow the middle of the towns comparedC+Open →Cost of livingClose to the middle of the towns comparedB−Open →Hazard risk0.2% of homes at high or medium risk of flooding from rivers or the seaB−Open →
Character Graded, but not part of the overall grade.
History2 listed buildingsD−Open →Outdoors100% live within 400 m of a park; 8% of land within 5 km is National Park or National LandscapeAOpen →Civic life0.7 local charities per 1,000 residents; 0% live within 1 km of a libraryD−Open →
How TownRatings grades towns →
What makes Monkton Heathfield stand out
The 3 things Monkton Heathfield does most differently from other towns.
Walk, cycle or public transport
Getting around
12% leave the car
of commuters walk, cycle or take public transport (England’s towns 27%)
47% of commuters travel under 5 km.
Primary results, towns in England
Schools
Primary results trail 96%
of towns in England, on Key Stage 2 reading, writing and maths
Secondary results beat 24%. Department for Education.
Residents 65 and over
Who lives here
Only 12% are 65 or over
Against 18% across England’s towns
The data
Data highlights are ordered by what stands out in Monkton Heathfield.
History
All 2 of Monkton Heathfield’s listed buildings are Grade II
2listed buildingsD−History Grade
The heritage lists give each building’s grade but not its age, so we don’t say which is oldest.
Relative to its size, Monkton Heathfield keeps 4 listed buildings per 10,000 residents. Homes from before 1919 make up 5% of the total, below Somerset’s towns (19%) and England’s towns (16%) alike.
Listed buildings by grade · Historic England
Grade I0
Grade II*0
Grade II2
0
scheduled monuments
0
registered parks and gardens
5%
of homes built before 1919 · typical UK town 15%
4
listed buildings per 10,000 residents · typical UK town 24
Historic England list, October 2026 · Valuation Office Agency, homes by build period · OGL
SchoolsD
Results at Monkton Heathfield’s schools trail 91% of towns in England
DSchool Grade
GCSE results at the one secondary school within 3 km: 37% of pupils get a strong pass (grade 5+) in English and maths, and the Attainment 8 average is 42.2. Below are its two schools. Monkton Heathfield’s one primary and one secondary have 1,732 pupils between them.
| School | Level | Pupils | Letter |
|---|---|---|---|
| West Monkton Church of England SchoolLargest primary schoolPrimary | Primary | 465 | C− |
| Monkton Wood AcademyLargest secondary schoolSecondary | Secondary | 1,267 | C |
Department for Education · GIAS, Key Stage 2 and GCSE resultsSee all 2 schools →
Safety
Crime per resident in Monkton Heathfield is higher than in 76% of UK towns
38.2violent and sexual offences per 1,000 a yearC−Safety Grade
Violence and sexual offences made up 42% of the total. 456 crimes and 42 reports of anti-social behaviour: that is what police recorded inside Monkton Heathfield’s built-up area in the 12 months to August 2026.
Compared with UK towns its sizeLess crime per resident than 21% of the 1,308 UK towns of 2,500 to 10,000 people: more crime than most for its size. Context only, not part of the grade.
Reports by type · Sep 2025 to Aug 2026
Violence & sexual190
Shoplifting129
Damage & arson32
Public order27
Other theft19
Vehicle crime16
Burglary14
Other crime10
Anti-social42
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.
38.2
violent and sexual offences per 1,000 residents a year, averaged Sep 2023 to Aug 2026
9.4
burglary, vehicle crime and damage per 1,000 a year, averaged Sep 2023 to Aug 2026
7.6
anti-social behaviour reports per 1,000 (not graded)
456
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
Bad health is less common in Monkton Heathfield than in Somerset’s towns or across England’s towns: 2.6% of residents
89%good or very good healthB+Health Grade
Men in Monkton Heathfield can expect to live to 81.6, women to 87.4 (2019–23). Asked at the census, nearly nine in ten residents of Monkton Heathfield said they were in good or very good health. 12% of residents have a disability, lower than both Somerset’s towns (18%) and England’s towns (17%). There is no GP practice locally: the nearest is 0.7 miles off.
General health, self-reported
Good or very good 89%Fair 9%Bad or very bad 3%
| Census 2021 | Monkton Heathfield | Somerset | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Good or very good health | 89% | 82% | 82% |
| Bad or very bad health | 2.6% | 5.1% | 5.2% |
| Disabled (Equality Act) | 12% | 18% | 17% |
81.6
life expectancy at birth, men (2019–23)
87.4
life expectancy at birth, women
ONS Census 2021, general health and disability · OHID Fingertips, life expectancy 2019–23 · OGL · Young towns look healthier on these answers, which aren’t adjusted for age; the Health Grade uses measures that are, such as life expectancy and early deaths.
Work & commuteJobs & income grade A−
Walking, cycling and public transport carry fewer commuters in Monkton Heathfield than in Somerset’s towns or England’s towns: 12%
12%walk, cycle or ride
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.
The car took 86% of commuters, above Somerset’s towns (76%) and England’s towns (70%) alike. Nearly a quarter of workers did their job mainly from home at the census. Work in town: 3% of resident commuters. In 2026, 1.7% of 16 to 64s were claiming unemployment benefits.
How commuters got to work · March 2021
Driving86%
On foot5%
Bicycle4%
Bus3%
23%
worked mainly from home in March 2021
£60K
mean household income, before tax
1.7%
of 16 to 64s claim unemployment benefits (2026)
C+
Walkability: more walkable than 38% 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 B−
Private renting is less common in Monkton Heathfield than in Somerset’s towns or across England’s towns: 11%
£270Kmedian sale
Owners make up 69% of households, about level with Somerset’s towns (67%) and above England’s towns (61%). Private rents average £1,016 a month across the Somerset council area. From September 2023 to August 2026, 211 homes sold inside Monkton Heathfield’s built-up area at standard prices; the middle one went for £270,000.
Median sale price · Sep 2023 to Aug 2026
Monkton Heathfield£270K
Typical UK town£277K
| By type | Median | Sales |
|---|---|---|
| Detached | £385,000 | 73 |
| Semi-detached | £259,250 | 74 |
| Terraced | £230,000 | 55 |
| Flat or maisonette | £138,000 | 9 |
69%
of households own their home · England 61%
11%
rent privately · England 21%
£1,016
average private rent a month, Somerset council area
£2,475
council tax, Band D, 2026–27
HM Land Registry Price Paid · ONS private rents · MHCLG / Welsh Government council tax · ONS Census 2021 tenure · OGL
Who lives here
A town of families: 24% of people in Monkton Heathfield are under 15, more than in Somerset’s towns or England’s towns
34.2median age
Line up the people of Monkton Heathfield by age and the one in the middle is 34.2. People 65 and over make up 12% of the town, below Somerset’s towns (23%) and England’s towns (18%) alike. 9.7% of residents are aged 15 to 24.
Monkton HeathfieldSomersetEngland
Ages · share of residents
10%
Qualifications · residents 16 and older
No qualifications10%
Apprenticeship6%
A levels or similar21%
Degree level36%
Women and men · all residents
52% women, 48% men
About 92 men for every 100 women. Across England, 51% of residents are women.
| Monkton Heathfield | Somerset | England | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 15 | 24% | 16% | 18% |
| 15–24 | 9.7% | 11% | 12% |
| 25–44 | 34% | 23% | 27% |
| 45–64 | 21% | 26% | 25% |
| 65+ | 12% | 23% | 18% |
| No qualifications | 10% | 16% | 18% |
| Apprenticeship | 5.6% | 6.1% | 5.3% |
| A levels or similar | 21% | 19% | 17% |
| Degree level | 36% | 32% | 34% |
ONS Census 2021 · Somerset and England: all residents of their built-up areas · OGL
Keep exploring
Everything we know about Monkton Heathfield
14pages on Monkton Heathfield
The big questions
SafetyC−38.2 violent and sexual offences per 1,000 residents a year, averaged Sep 2023 to Aug 2026Cost of livingB−Median home £270K · rent £1,016 a monthHousing72 sold in 12 months · busiest street Hardys RoadSchoolsD2 state schoolsHealthB+Life expectancy 81.6 (men), 87.4 (women)Work & commuteA−37% of working residents work in the townFlood & hazardsB−0.2% of homes at high or medium flood risk
Out and about
Nearby attractions
All attractions →Taunton Castle and 6 more in and around Monkton Heathfield
Museums, castles, gardens and days out in and near Monkton Heathfield. Best known first.
CastleTaunton Castle3.1 km outside town, to the southwest
MuseumHestercombe House1.7 km outside town, to the northwest
GardenHestercombe Gardens1.7 km outside town, to the northwest
MuseumMuseum of Somerset3.1 km outside town, to the southwest
MuseumSomerset Cricket Museum2.5 km outside town, to the southwestMuseumMuseumCounty Classics Motor Museum2.9 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 (5)
- Taunton Castle: Rodw, CC0, Wikimedia Commons
- Hestercombe House: Ashley Dace, CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Hestercombe Gardens: xlibber, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Museum of Somerset: Chris Jeanes, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Somerset Cricket Museum: Harrias, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
About Monkton Heathfield
Town in Somerset, England
Monkton Heathfield is a built-up area of 4,584 people, in the Somerset West and Taunton 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
- 4,584 (Census 2021)
- Council
- Somerset West and Taunton
- County
- Somerset
- Region
- South West
- Area
- 0.5 sq mi (1.3 km²)
- ONS code
- E63006112
Monkton Heathfield’s neighbours
The nearest built-up areas, from ONS’s 2022 boundaries. See them on the map →
Creech St MichaelRuishtonTauntonNorth CurryNorton FitzwarrenTrullNorth PethertonMonkton Heathfield
How the neighbours grade
| Town | People | Miles | Overall | Cost | Safety | Health |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Monkton Heathfield | 4,584 | — | C+ | B− | C− | B+ |
| Creech St Michael | 2,327 | 0.9 | — | C | B− | B+ |
| Ruishton | 1,476 | 1.4 | — | C− | C− | B+ |
| Taunton | 61,667 | 2.3 | C− | C | D | C |
| North Curry | 1,057 | 3.8 | — | D | A+ | A− |
| Norton Fitzwarren | 3,770 | 3.8 | B− | B | C | C |
| Trull | 1,427 | 3.9 | — | D | A | A |
| North Petherton | 3,180 | 4.4 | C− | C | C− | C+ |
Creech St Michael, Ruishton, North Curry and Trull have fewer than 2,500 residents, so they get subject grades but no overall grade. People: Census 2021. Miles: centre to centre.
Questions about Monkton Heathfield
Are schools in Monkton Heathfield good?
Monkton Heathfield has 2 state schools; places are handled by Somerset council.
Who lives in Monkton Heathfield?
A young town. At the 2021 Census, 24% of residents were under 15 and 34% were 25 to 44, against 18% and 27% across England’s towns; only 12% were 65 or over.
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.