Oxspring’s story
No listed buildings inside Oxspring’s built-up area
20% of its homes were built before 1919, against 15% in the typical UK town.
Explore the history →
OxspringSouth Yorkshire
With 1,196 residents, it is a village in South Yorkshire, Yorkshire and The Humber.
7 places within 12 milesMap →
Photo: Chemical Engineer · CC BY-SA 4.0
Population
1,196
Census 2021 · Barnsley council
Median home
£290K
44 sales in 3 years
Median age
47.6
23% are 65+ · South Yorkshire 18%
Degree level
39%
of residents 16+ · England 34%
Walk, cycle, bus
6%
of commuters · England 27%
Is Oxspring a good place to live?
Where it does best is safety (A+): 6.1 violent and sexual offences and 6.7 home and vehicle crimes per 1,000 residents a year. School results are strong (A): primary results beat 91% of towns in England; secondary results beat 85% of towns in England. Walkability is its weak spot: 6% of commuters walk, cycle or take public transport. Prices are high against local incomes: the median home sold for £289,975, 6.9 years of area income.
Figures: crime, police.uk, averaged Sep 2023 to Aug 2026 · commuting, Census 2021 · prices, HM Land Registry, the last three years. An overall grade needs 2,500 residents, so Oxspring is graded subject by subject only.
What makes Oxspring stand out
The 3 things Oxspring does most differently from other towns.
Walk, cycle or public transport
Getting around
6% leave the car
of commuters walk, cycle or take public transport (England’s towns 27%)
92%of UK towns of 1,000 to 2,500 people
Safety
of UK towns of 1,000 to 2,500 people
Per resident, police.uk, 3 years.
Claimant rate, against UK towns
Work
of 16 to 64s in 2026: fewer than in 96% of UK towns
DWP claimant count, January to August 2026.
How Oxspring grades
Each subject compared with the 2,160 UK towns with an overall grade (schools within England), ordered by how far Oxspring is from typical. American towns are graded separately.
WalkabilityNear the bottom of the towns comparedD−Open →SafetyGraded on crime per residentA+Open →SchoolsPrimary results beat 91% of towns in England; secondary results beat 85% of towns in EnglandAOpen →Cost of livingRent £696 a monthC−Open →Hazard risk0% of homes at high or medium risk of flooding from rivers or the seaB+Open →Jobs & incomeIncomes and work beat most townsB+Open →HealthLife expectancy 80.3 for men, 84.6 for womenB−Open →
Character Graded, but not part of the overall grade.
History0 listed buildingsDOpen →Outdoors77% live within 400 m of a park; 1% of land within 5 km is National Park or National LandscapeB+Open →Civic life1.7 local charities per 1,000 residents; 0% live within 1 km of a libraryC−Open →
How TownRatings grades towns →
The data
Data highlights are ordered by what stands out in Oxspring.
Work & commuteJobs & income grade B+
Oxspring is a driving town: 93% of commuters go by car, above South Yorkshire’s towns and England’s towns
The Census was taken on 21 March 2021, in lockdown, so 33% of workers were mainly at home; shares here are of those who travelled.
1.1% of 16 to 64s claimed unemployment benefits in 2026. Short trips to work, under 5 km: 23%, below both South Yorkshire’s towns (43%) and England’s towns (45%). Before tax, the average household brings in £53K a year. Of the commuters living in Oxspring, 2% work in the town itself.
6%walk, cycle or ride
How commuters got to work · March 2021
Driving93%
On foot3%
Bus1%
Bicycle1%
23%
of commuters travel under 5 km · England 45%
33%
worked mainly from home in March 2021
£53K
mean household income, before tax
1.1%
of 16 to 64s claim unemployment benefits (2026)
D−
Walkability: more walkable than 2% of UK towns
ONS Census 2021, method of travel and distance to work · ONS small-area income · DWP claimant count · OGL
SchoolsA
Oxspring’s schools outperform 92% of towns in England on results
At the 6 primary schools within 3 km, 72% of pupils reach the expected standard in reading, writing and maths (three-year average). Its only school is listed below. Secondary results at the one secondary school within 3 km: an Attainment 8 score of 51.4, with 59% at grade 5 or above in English and maths.
ASchool Grade
| School | Level | Pupils | Letter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oxspring Primary SchoolLargest primary schoolPrimary | Primary | 135 | B |
Department for Education · GIAS, Key Stage 2 and GCSE resultsThe Schools page →
Safety
Per resident, Oxspring sees less crime than 96% of UK towns
Among the 1,541 UK towns of 1,000 to 2,500 people, Oxspring has less crime per resident than 92% of them. Over the year to August 2026, 29 offences were reported locally, along with 10 incidents of anti-social behaviour. Anti-social behaviour, shown but not graded, came to 4.7 reports per 1,000, below both South Yorkshire’s towns (13.4) and England’s towns (7.8). Violence and sexual offences made up 21% of the total.
6.1violent and sexual offences per 1,000 a yearA+Safety Grade
Compared with UK towns its sizeLess crime per resident than 92% 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 & sexual6
Other theft6
Burglary5
Damage & arson4
Vehicle crime3
Public order2
Other crime2
Robbery1
Anti-social10
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.
6.1
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
4.7
anti-social behaviour reports per 1,000 (not graded)
29
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.
History
Old homes shape Oxspring: 20% were built before 1919, more than in South Yorkshire’s towns or England’s towns
The heritage lists give each building’s grade but not its age, so we don’t say which is oldest.
Historic England’s list has no building inside Oxspring’s built-up area.
0listed buildingsDHistory Grade
Listed buildings by grade · Historic England
Grade I0
Grade II*0
Grade II0
0
scheduled monuments
0
registered parks and gardens
20%
of homes built before 1919 · typical UK town 15%
0
listed buildings per 10,000 residents · typical UK town 24
Historic England list, October 2026 · Valuation Office Agency, homes by build period · OGL
HousingCost of living grade C−
Few households rent privately in Oxspring: 9%, fewer than in South Yorkshire’s towns and England’s towns
The social rented sector houses 11% of households. 80% of households own their home, above both South Yorkshire’s towns (61%) and England’s towns (61%). The median sale, £289,975, comes from 44 standard sales inside Oxspring’s built-up area from September 2023 to August 2026.
£290Kmedian sale
Median sale price · Sep 2023 to Aug 2026
Oxspring£290K
Typical UK town£277K
| By type | Median | Sales |
|---|---|---|
| Detached | £455,000 | 21 |
| Semi-detached | £257,500 | 8 |
| Terraced | £216,000 | 13 |
80%
of households own their home · England 61%
9%
rent privately · England 21%
£696
average private rent a month, Barnsley council area
£2,374
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
In Oxspring, 82% say their health is good or very good
At the census, 7% of people here described their health as bad or very bad. Oxspring has no GP practice of its own; the nearest is 1.4 miles away. The nearest A&E to Oxspring is Barnsley Hospital, 5 miles away.
82%good or very good healthB−Health Grade
General health, self-reported
Good or very good 82%Fair 11%Bad or very bad 7%
| Census 2021 | Oxspring | South Yorkshire | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Good or very good health | 82% | 79% | 82% |
| Bad or very bad health | 7% | 6.7% | 5.2% |
| Disabled (Equality Act) | 18% | 21% | 17% |
80.3
life expectancy at birth, men (2019–23)
84.6
life expectancy at birth, women
ONS Census 2021, general health and disability · OHID Fingertips, life expectancy 2019–23 · OGL · Because the census answers ignore age, a younger population lifts them; that is why the Health Grade is built on age-adjusted measures like life expectancy and early deaths.
Who lives here
Oxspring has fewer young adults than South Yorkshire’s towns or England’s towns: 8.8% are 15 to 24
Nearly a quarter of residents are 65 or over, higher than both South Yorkshire’s towns (18%) and England’s towns (18%). The median resident of Oxspring is 47.6 years old. Among adults, 39% have a degree.
47.6median age
OxspringSouth YorkshireEngland
Ages · share of residents
23%
Qualifications · residents 16 and older
No qualifications15%
Apprenticeship6%
A levels or similar16%
Degree level39%
Women and men · all residents
52% women, 48% men
About 94 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.
| Oxspring | South Yorkshire | England | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 15 | 18% | 17% | 18% |
| 15–24 | 8.8% | 13% | 12% |
| 25–44 | 20% | 26% | 27% |
| 45–64 | 30% | 26% | 25% |
| 65+ | 23% | 18% | 18% |
| No qualifications | 15% | 22% | 18% |
| Apprenticeship | 5.9% | 6.2% | 5.3% |
| A levels or similar | 16% | 18% | 17% |
| Degree level | 39% | 27% | 34% |
ONS Census 2021 · South Yorkshire and England: all residents of their built-up areas · OGL
Nearby attractions
All attractions →Wentworth Castle and 2 more in and around Oxspring
Museums, castles, gardens and days out in and near Oxspring. Best known first.
CastleWentworth Castle4.7 km outside town, to the eastMuseumMuseumWortley Top Forge3 km outside town, to the southeastAttractionAttractionThe Corinthian Temple4.7 km outside town, to the eastPlaces: © OpenStreetMap contributors · Wikidata
Photos: each place’s Wikidata image, from Wikimedia Commons under the licence below (our copy, resized).
Photo credits (1)
- Wentworth Castle: Klaus with K. Blue fringing removed by Digon3 13:34, 24 August 2007 (UTC), CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
Keep exploring
Everything we know about Oxspring
14pages on Oxspring
The big questions
SafetyA+6.1 violent and sexual offences per 1,000 residents a year, averaged Sep 2023 to Aug 2026Cost of livingC−Median home £290K · rent £696 a monthHousing9 sold in 12 months · busiest street Sheffield RoadSchoolsA1 state schoolHealthB−Life expectancy 80.3 (men), 84.6 (women)Work & commuteB+47% of working residents work in the townFlood & hazardsB+0% of homes at high or medium flood risk
Out and about
Oxspring’s neighbours
The nearest built-up areas, from ONS’s 2022 boundaries. See them on the map →
PenistoneThurgolandHoylandswaineSilkstone CommonThurlstoneSilkstoneStocksbridgeOxspring
How the neighbours grade
| Town | People | Miles | Overall | Cost | Safety | Health |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oxspring | 1,196 | — | — | C− | A+ | B− |
| Penistone | 8,541 | 1.3 | B+ | C+ | B− | C+ |
| Thurgoland | 1,239 | 1.5 | — | C | B+ | B− |
| Hoylandswaine | 1,038 | 1.7 | — | D | A | A |
| Silkstone Common | 1,278 | 2.1 | — | C | A+ | A |
| Thurlstone | 1,003 | 2.3 | — | C+ | B− | C+ |
| Silkstone | 1,682 | 2.4 | — | C− | A− | A− |
| Stocksbridge | 7,264 | 2.5 | C− | B− | C− | C− |
Thurgoland, Hoylandswaine, Silkstone Common, Thurlstone and Silkstone have fewer than 2,500 residents, so they get subject grades but no overall grade. People: Census 2021. Miles: centre to centre.
Questions about Oxspring
Are schools in Oxspring good?
GCSE results beat 85% of towns in England, and primary results beat 91% (Department for Education, Attainment 8 and Key Stage 2). One state school is inside the town; places are handled by Barnsley council.
Does Oxspring flood?
Surface water isn’t included. Check a specific address on GOV.UK’s flood risk service.
About Oxspring
Village in South Yorkshire, England
Oxspring is a built-up area of 1,196 people, in the Barnsley 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
- 1,196 (Census 2021)
- Council
- Barnsley
- County
- South Yorkshire
- Region
- Yorkshire and The Humber
- Area
- 0.1 sq mi (0.3 km²)
- ONS code
- E63001230
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.