Arksey’s story
9 listed buildings, 1 of them Grade I
Historic England lists them inside Arksey’s built-up area.
12% of its homes were built before 1919, against 15% in the typical UK town.
Explore the history →
ArkseySouth Yorkshire
1,578 people live in this village in South Yorkshire, Yorkshire and The Humber.
7 places within 12 milesMap →
Photo: Richard Croft · CC BY-SA 2.0
Population
1,578
Census 2021 · Doncaster council
Median home
£172K
41 sales in 3 years
Median age
49.4
27% are 65+ · South Yorkshire 18%
Degree level
23%
of residents 16+ · England 34%
Walk, cycle, bus
16%
of commuters · England 27%
Is Arksey a good place to live?
Arksey’s strongest is schools (A): primary results beat 97% of towns in England; secondary results beat 80% of towns in England. Health lags (C−): men here can expect to live to 77.8, women to 81.4. The local economy is weaker than most (C−): the mean household earns £40,031 a year. Buying the median home, at £172,000, takes 4 years of household income in the Doncaster council area. Hazard risk is weaker too: nearly one in ten homes at high or medium risk of flooding from rivers or the sea.
Figures: life expectancy and income, ONS · claimants, DWP · flood risk, Environment Agency · prices, HM Land Registry, the last three years. Arksey is graded on each subject, but towns under 2,500 get no overall grade.
What makes Arksey stand out
The 3 things Arksey does most differently from other towns.
Listed buildings per 10,000 residents
History
1 Grade I, including Church of All Saints; 2.3 times the typical UK town for its size
Historic England’s list, October 2026.
Primary results, towns in England
Schools
Primary results beat 97%
of towns in England, on Key Stage 2 reading, writing and maths
Secondary results beat 80%. Department for Education.
Walk, cycle or public transport
Getting around
16% leave the car
of commuters walk, cycle or take public transport (England’s towns 27%)
How Arksey grades
Each subject compared with the 2,160 UK towns with an overall grade (schools within England), ordered by how far Arksey is from typical. American towns are graded separately.
Arksey is graded on each subject, but towns under 2,500 get no overall grade.
Hazard risk9.5% of homes at high or medium risk of flooding from rivers or the seaDOpen →SchoolsPrimary results beat 97% of towns in England; secondary results beat 80% of towns in EnglandAOpen →Cost of livingRent £694 a monthAOpen →HealthGraded on how healthy residents areC−Open →SafetyVery little crime by comparisonA−Open →Jobs & income2.7% of 16 to 64s claim unemployment benefitsC−Open →WalkabilityBetter than most of the towns comparedBOpen →
Character Graded, but not part of the overall grade.
HistoryGraded on historic places and the town’s ageC+Open →Outdoors88% live within 400 m of a park; 1.1 ha of public green space per 1,000 residentsC−Open →Civic life5.1 local charities per 1,000 residents; 0% live within 1 km of a libraryB+Open →
How TownRatings grades towns →
The data
Data highlights are ordered by what stands out in Arksey.
SchoolsA
Results at Arksey’s schools beat 92% of towns in England
77% of pupils at the town’s 2 primary schools met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths (three-year average). Both of its schools are shown below. Between them, two primaries teach 515 pupils in Arksey.
ASchool Grade
| School | Level | Pupils | Letter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bentley High Street Primary SchoolLargest primary schoolPrimary | Primary | 439 | A− |
| Arksey Primary SchoolTop results in townPrimary | Primary | 76 | A+ |
Department for Education · GIAS, Key Stage 2 and GCSE resultsSee all 2 schools →
HousingCost of living grade A
Arksey is a town of owners: 75% of households own their home, above South Yorkshire’s towns and England’s towns
11% live in social housing, below both South Yorkshire’s towns (21%) and England’s towns (18%). The private rented sector houses 13% of households. 41 standard sales inside Arksey’s built-up area from September 2023 to August 2026 put the median at £172,000.
£172Kmedian sale
Median sale price · Sep 2023 to Aug 2026
Arksey£172K
Typical UK town£277K
| By type | Median | Sales |
|---|---|---|
| Detached | £230,000 | 5 |
| Semi-detached | £175,000 | 25 |
| Terraced | £163,500 | 8 |
75%
of households own their home · England 61%
13%
rent privately · England 21%
£694
average private rent a month, Doncaster council area
£2,125
council tax, Band D, 2026–27
HM Land Registry Price Paid · ONS private rents · MHCLG / Welsh Government council tax · ONS Census 2021 tenure · OGL
Health
Life expectancy in Arksey is shorter than in 84% of UK towns
Arksey has no GP practice of its own; the nearest is 0.9 miles away. 5.3% of residents report bad or very bad health. At the census, nearly four fifths of people in Arksey called their health good or very good, close to South Yorkshire’s towns (79%) and below England’s towns (82%).
79%good or very good healthC−Health Grade
General health, self-reported
Good or very good 79%Fair 16%Bad or very bad 5%
| Census 2021 | Arksey | South Yorkshire | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Good or very good health | 79% | 79% | 82% |
| Bad or very bad health | 5.3% | 6.7% | 5.2% |
| Disabled (Equality Act) | 20% | 21% | 17% |
77.8
life expectancy at birth, men (2019–23)
81.4
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.
Safety
Arksey records less burglary and damage per resident than South Yorkshire’s towns or England’s towns, at 7.8 per 1,000 a year
Violent crime comes to 13.3 per 1,000 residents a year. In the 12 months to August 2026, police logged 58 crimes and 5 reports of anti-social behaviour inside Arksey’s built-up area. Also worth knowing: there were 3.6 anti-social behaviour reports per 1,000 residents (not graded), lower than both South Yorkshire’s towns (13.4) and England’s towns (7.8). Violence and sexual offences were 60% of the crimes.
13.3violent and sexual offences per 1,000 a yearA−Safety Grade
Compared with UK towns its sizeLess crime per resident than 64% of the 1,541 UK towns of 1,000 to 2,500 people: about the middle for its size. Context only, not part of the grade.
Reports by type · Sep 2025 to Aug 2026
Violence & sexual35
Vehicle crime7
Public order5
Damage & arson4
Weapons3
Other theft1
Burglary1
Robbery1
Anti-social5
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.
13.3
violent and sexual offences per 1,000 residents a year, averaged Sep 2023 to Aug 2026
7.8
burglary, vehicle crime and damage per 1,000 a year, averaged Sep 2023 to Aug 2026
3.6
anti-social behaviour reports per 1,000 (not graded)
58
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.
Work & commuteJobs & income grade C−
More commuters in Arksey drive than in South Yorkshire’s towns or England’s towns: 81%
The Census was taken on 21 March 2021, in lockdown, so 21% of workers were mainly at home; shares here are of those who travelled.
Jobs per working resident: 0.9. 16% of commuters walked, cycled or took the bus or train at the census, lower than both South Yorkshire’s towns (20%) and England’s towns (27%). For just over half of commuters, work was under 5 km away. Of the commuters living in Arksey, 6% work in the town itself.
16%walk, cycle or ride
How commuters got to work · March 2021
Driving81%
On foot9%
Bus4%
Bicycle3%
51%
of commuters travel under 5 km · England 45%
21%
worked mainly from home in March 2021
£40K
mean household income, before tax
2.7%
of 16 to 64s claim unemployment benefits (2026)
B
Walkability: more walkable than 62% 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 Arksey is conservation area than in South Yorkshire’s towns or England’s towns: 29%
The heritage lists give each building’s grade but not its age, so we don’t say which is oldest.
Historic England’s list names 9 listed buildings in Arksey: 1 Grade I. Its listed buildings include the Church of All Saints, Grade I. Per 10,000 residents, Arksey counts 57 listed buildings, higher than both South Yorkshire’s towns (10) and England’s towns (39).
9listed buildingsC+History Grade
Listed buildings by grade · Historic England
Grade I1
Grade II*0
Grade II8
Among them · Grade I
- Church of All Saints Grade I
0
scheduled monuments
0
registered parks and gardens
12%
of homes built before 1919 · typical UK town 15%
57
listed buildings per 10,000 residents · typical UK town 24
Historic England list, October 2026 · Valuation Office Agency, homes by build period · OGL
Who lives here
An older town: 27% of people in Arksey are 65 or over, more than in South Yorkshire’s towns and across England’s towns
Nearly one in ten residents are 15 to 24, below South Yorkshire’s towns (13%) and England’s towns (12%) alike. Under-15s account for 14% of the population. Ages in Arksey split evenly at 49.4: half are older, half younger. Among adults, 23% have a degree.
49.4median age
ArkseySouth YorkshireEngland
Ages · share of residents
27%
Qualifications · residents 16 and older
No qualifications24%
Apprenticeship7%
A levels or similar16%
Degree level23%
Women and men · all residents
50% women, 50% men
About an even split. Across England, 51% of residents are women.
| Arksey | South Yorkshire | England | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 15 | 14% | 17% | 18% |
| 15–24 | 9.1% | 13% | 12% |
| 25–44 | 22% | 26% | 27% |
| 45–64 | 28% | 26% | 25% |
| 65+ | 27% | 18% | 18% |
| No qualifications | 24% | 22% | 18% |
| Apprenticeship | 7.3% | 6.2% | 5.3% |
| A levels or similar | 16% | 18% | 17% |
| Degree level | 23% | 27% | 34% |
ONS Census 2021 · South Yorkshire and England: all residents of their built-up areas · OGL
Nearby attractions
All attractions →Cusworth Hall and 3 more in and around Arksey
Museums, castles, gardens and days out in and near Arksey. Best known first.
MuseumCusworth Hall3.8 km outside town, to the southwest
MuseumDanum Gallery, Library and Museum3.3 km outside town, to the southMuseumMuseumSouth Yorkshire Air Museum4.3 km outside town, to the southMuseumMuseumKings Own Yorkshire Light Infantry Museum3.3 km outside town, to the southPlaces: © OpenStreetMap contributors · Wikidata
Photos: each place’s Wikidata image, from Wikimedia Commons under the licence below (our copy, resized).
Photo credits (2)
- Cusworth Hall: Foto43, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Danum Gallery, Library and Museum: Marasmusine (Janine Timiney), Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
Keep exploring
Everything we know about Arksey
15pages on Arksey
The big questions
SafetyA−13.3 violent and sexual offences per 1,000 residents a year, averaged Sep 2023 to Aug 2026Cost of livingAMedian home £172K · rent £694 a monthHousing6 sold in 12 months · busiest street Brook WaySchoolsA2 state schoolsHealthC−Life expectancy 77.8 (men), 81.4 (women)Work & commuteC−41% of working residents work in the townFlood & hazardsD9.5% of homes at high or medium flood risk
Out and about
Arksey’s neighbours
The nearest built-up areas, from ONS’s 2022 boundaries. See them on the map →
BentleyToll BarScawthorpe and CusworthKirk Sandall and EdenthorpeDoncasterAdwick le StreetSprotbroughArksey
How the neighbours grade
| Town | People | Miles | Overall | Cost | Safety | Health |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Arksey | 1,578 | — | — | A | A− | C− |
| Bentley | 12,044 | 1.1 | C− | A | D− | D− |
| Toll Bar | 1,213 | 1.4 | — | A | D− | D− |
| Scawthorpe and Cusworth | 13,020 | 2 | B | A | C− | C |
| Kirk Sandall and Edenthorpe | 13,090 | 2.6 | B | A− | C | C+ |
| Doncaster | 87,440 | 2.8 | C | A | D− | D |
| Adwick le Street | 18,326 | 2.9 | C− | A | D− | D |
| Sprotbrough | 7,546 | 3 | A− | B | B | B |
Toll Bar has fewer than 2,500 residents, so it gets subject grades but no overall grade. People: Census 2021. Miles: centre to centre.
Questions about Arksey
Does Arksey flood?
Surface water isn’t included. Check a specific address on GOV.UK’s flood risk service.
How many listed buildings are there in Arksey?
That is 2.3 times the typical UK town for its size. Its Grade I building is Church of All Saints.
Are schools in Arksey good?
GCSE results beat 80% of towns in England, and primary results beat 97% (Department for Education, Attainment 8 and Key Stage 2). Arksey has 2 state schools; places are handled by Doncaster council.
Is Arksey safe?
About the middle for its size: 36% of the 1,541 UK towns of 1,000 to 2,500 people report less crime per resident. Against all UK towns, it grades A−.
About Arksey
Village in South Yorkshire, England
Arksey is a built-up area of 1,578 people, in the Doncaster 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
- 1,578 (Census 2021)
- Council
- Doncaster
- County
- South Yorkshire
- Region
- Yorkshire and The Humber
- Area
- 0.2 sq mi (0.4 km²)
- ONS code
- E63001163
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.