Stocksbridge’s story
4 listed buildings
Historic England lists them inside Stocksbridge’s built-up area, along with 1 scheduled monument.
22% of its homes were built before 1919, against 15% in the typical UK town.
Explore the history →
StocksbridgeSouth Yorkshire
TownGrade
C−
#54 of 63 in South Yorkshire
Over-65s are 25% of the population. Population 7,264: a town in South Yorkshire, Yorkshire and The Humber.
7 places within 12 milesMap →
Photo: Dave Bevis · CC BY-SA 2.0
Population
7,264
Census 2021 · Sheffield council
Median home
£185K
320 sales in 3 years
Median age
46.7
25% are 65+ · South Yorkshire 18%
Degree level
25%
of residents 16+ · England 34%
Walk, cycle, bus
19%
of commuters · England 27%
Is Stocksbridge a good place to live?
Stocksbridge grades low on several counts. Overall, Stocksbridge earns a C−: better than 17% of UK towns, and #54 of 63 in South Yorkshire. The local economy is weaker than most: households earn a mean £43,849 a year, and 2.9% of 16 to 64s claim unemployment benefits. Fewer journeys need a car: 19% of commuters walk, cycle or take public transport. Homes sell for a median £184,500, about 3.8 years of what households in the Sheffield council area earn.
Figures: commuting, Census 2021 · income, ONS · claimants, DWP · prices, HM Land Registry, the last three years.
How Stocksbridge grades
Each subject compared with the 2,160 UK towns with an overall grade (schools within England), ordered by how far Stocksbridge is from typical. American towns are graded separately.
Jobs & incomeIn the bottom fifth of the towns comparedDOpen →SafetyGraded on crime per residentC−Open →HealthHealth outcomes are among the weakest comparedC−Open →WalkabilityAbove the middle of the towns comparedB+Open →SchoolsPrimary results beat 49% of towns in England; secondary results beat 19% of towns in EnglandCOpen →Hazard risk0% of homes at high or medium risk of flooding from rivers or the seaB+Open →Cost of livingRent £931 a monthB−Open →
Character Graded, but not part of the overall grade.
HistoryGraded on historic places and the town’s ageCOpen →Outdoors100% live within 400 m of a park; 30% of land within 5 km is National Park or National LandscapeAOpen →Civic life1.9 local charities per 1,000 residents; 72% live within 1 km of a libraryB+Open →
How TownRatings grades towns →
What makes Stocksbridge stand out
The 3 things Stocksbridge does most differently from other towns.
Median sale, £ thousands
Housing
33% below the typical UK town’s £277K
Standard sales, September 2023 to August 2026.
Residents 65 and over
Who lives here
25% are 65 or over
Against 18% across England’s towns
Own outright
Housing
40% own outright
of households own their home with no mortgage (England’s towns 32%)
The data
Data highlights are ordered by what stands out in Stocksbridge.
Safety
Stocksbridge records more burglary and damage per resident than South Yorkshire’s towns or England’s towns, at 20.2 per 1,000 a year
35violent and sexual offences per 1,000 a yearC−Safety Grade
Among the 1,308 UK towns of 2,500 to 10,000 people, Stocksbridge has more crime per resident than 87% of them. Violent crime runs at 35 per 1,000 residents a year. 533 crimes and 84 reports of anti-social behaviour: that is what police recorded inside the town’s built-up area in the 12 months to August 2026. Also worth knowing: there were 14.2 anti-social behaviour reports per 1,000 residents (not graded), higher than both South Yorkshire’s towns (13.4) and England’s towns (7.8).
Compared with UK towns its sizeLess crime per resident than 13% 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 & sexual259
Damage & arson58
Public order55
Burglary34
Other theft29
Other crime29
Vehicle crime25
Shoplifting18
Anti-social84
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.
35
violent and sexual offences per 1,000 residents a year, averaged Sep 2023 to Aug 2026
20.2
burglary, vehicle crime and damage per 1,000 a year, averaged Sep 2023 to Aug 2026
14.2
anti-social behaviour reports per 1,000 (not graded)
533
crimes recorded in the 12 months to August 2026
data.police.uk street-level crime · points inside the ONS built-up-area boundary · OGL
SchoolsC
On exam results, Stocksbridge’s schools trail 70% of towns in England
CSchool Grade
GCSE results at the one secondary school within 3 km: nearly two in five pupils get a strong pass (grade 5+) in English and maths, and the Attainment 8 average is 40.3. Below are two of its 4 schools, each with why it was picked. Key Stage 2 results at the town’s 2 primary schools: 61% of pupils meet the expected standard in reading, writing and maths (three-year average).
| School | Level | Pupils | Letter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stocksbridge Junior SchoolLargest primary schoolPrimary | Primary | 237 | B− |
| Stocksbridge High SchoolLargest secondary schoolSecondary | Secondary | 784 | C |
Department for Education · GIAS, Key Stage 2 and GCSE resultsSee all 4 schools →
Who lives here
Older residents shape Stocksbridge: 25% are 65 or over, above South Yorkshire’s towns and England’s towns
46.7median age
Children under 15 make up 16%, below both South Yorkshire’s towns (17%) and England’s towns (18%). The 15-to-24 age group makes up 9.6% of residents. Half of Stocksbridge is older than 46.7, half younger.
StocksbridgeSouth YorkshireEngland
Ages · share of residents
25%
Qualifications · residents 16 and older
No qualifications21%
Apprenticeship8%
A levels or similar19%
Degree level25%
Women and men · all residents
51% women, 49% men
About 95 men for every 100 women. Across England, 51% of residents are women.
| Stocksbridge | South Yorkshire | England | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 15 | 16% | 17% | 18% |
| 15–24 | 9.6% | 13% | 12% |
| 25–44 | 23% | 26% | 27% |
| 45–64 | 27% | 26% | 25% |
| 65+ | 25% | 18% | 18% |
| No qualifications | 21% | 22% | 18% |
| Apprenticeship | 7.8% | 6.2% | 5.3% |
| A levels or similar | 19% | 18% | 17% |
| Degree level | 25% | 27% | 34% |
ONS Census 2021 · South Yorkshire and England: all residents of their built-up areas · OGL
Health
Bad health is more common in Stocksbridge than in South Yorkshire’s towns or across England’s towns: 8.1% of residents
77%good or very good healthC−Health Grade
At the census, 77% of people in Stocksbridge called their health good or very good, lower than both South Yorkshire’s towns (79%) and England’s towns (82%). A disability affects 23% of people here. The nearest A&E to Stocksbridge is Barnsley Hospital, 6.8 miles away. Life expectancy here is 80.7 for women and 78.2 for men (2019–23).
General health, self-reported
Good or very good 77%Fair 15%Bad or very bad 8%
| Census 2021 | Stocksbridge | South Yorkshire | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Good or very good health | 77% | 79% | 82% |
| Bad or very bad health | 8.1% | 6.7% | 5.2% |
| Disabled (Equality Act) | 23% | 21% | 17% |
78.2
life expectancy at birth, men (2019–23)
80.7
life expectancy at birth, women
ONS Census 2021, general health and disability · OHID Fingertips, life expectancy 2019–23 · OGL · No age adjustment applies to these census answers, which flatter younger towns; the Health Grade’s measures, life expectancy and early deaths among them, do allow for age.
Work & commuteJobs & income grade D
Work tends to be further away for Stocksbridge: 27% commute under 5 km, below South Yorkshire’s towns and England’s towns
19%walk, cycle or ride
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.
Working mainly from home: just over a fifth of workers, below both South Yorkshire’s towns (23%) and England’s towns (31%). The car carried nearly four in five commuters at the census. Work in town: 22% of resident commuters. For every resident in work, Stocksbridge has 0.8 jobs.
How commuters got to work · March 2021
Driving79%
On foot12%
Bus5%
Underground, tram1%
Bicycle1%
27%
of commuters travel under 5 km · England 45%
21%
worked mainly from home in March 2021
£44K
mean household income, before tax
2.9%
of 16 to 64s claim unemployment benefits (2026)
B+
Walkability: more walkable than 74% of UK towns
ONS Census 2021, method of travel and distance to work · ONS small-area income · DWP claimant count · OGL
History
Old homes shape Stocksbridge: 22% were built before 1919, more than in South Yorkshire’s towns or England’s towns
4listed buildingsCHistory Grade
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 4 listed buildings in Stocksbridge, every one Grade II. The town has one scheduled monument. For its size, Stocksbridge has 6 listed buildings per 10,000 residents, below South Yorkshire’s towns (11) and England’s towns (39) alike.
Listed buildings by grade · Historic England
Grade I0
Grade II*0
Grade II4
1
scheduled monument
0
registered parks and gardens
22%
of homes built before 1919 · typical UK town 15%
6
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 B−
Few households rent privately in Stocksbridge: 13%, fewer than in South Yorkshire’s towns and England’s towns
£185Kmedian sale
Home ownership stands at 71% of households. 16% live in social housing, lower than both South Yorkshire’s towns (21%) and England’s towns (18%). Half of the 320 standard sales inside Stocksbridge’s built-up area from September 2023 to August 2026 went for more than £184,500.
Median sale price · Sep 2023 to Aug 2026
Stocksbridge£185K
Typical UK town£277K
| By type | Median | Sales |
|---|---|---|
| Detached | £285,000 | 70 |
| Semi-detached | £190,000 | 132 |
| Terraced | £148,000 | 86 |
| Flat or maisonette | £167,500 | 32 |
71%
of households own their home · England 61%
13%
rent privately · England 21%
£931
average private rent a month, Sheffield council area
£2,541
council tax, Band D, 2026–27
HM Land Registry Price Paid · ONS private rents · MHCLG / Welsh Government council tax · ONS Census 2021 tenure · OGL
Keep exploring
Everything we know about Stocksbridge
14pages on Stocksbridge
The big questions
SafetyC−35 violent and sexual offences per 1,000 residents a year, averaged Sep 2023 to Aug 2026Cost of livingB−Median home £185K · rent £931 a monthHousing89 sold in 12 months · busiest street Manchester RoadSchoolsC4 state schoolsHealthC−Life expectancy 78.2 (men), 80.7 (women)Work & commuteD50% of working residents work in the townFlood & hazardsB+0% of homes at high or medium flood risk
Out and about
Famous people from Stocksbridge
7 notable people were born in Stocksbridge.
P
Paul HolmesProfessional footballer (1968-2024)P
Peter EustaceEnglish footballer (born 1944)G
Geoff DenialEnglish footballer (born 1932)J
John DeakinProfessional footballer (born 1966)L
Les HarrisEnglish footballer · born 1955Photo credits
Chris Wilder: http://www.oufc.co.uk/, CC BY-SA 2.0
About Stocksbridge
Town in South Yorkshire, England
Stocksbridge is a built-up area of 7,264 people, in the Sheffield 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
- 7,264 (Census 2021)
- Council
- Sheffield
- County
- South Yorkshire
- Region
- Yorkshire and The Humber
- Area
- 0.9 sq mi (2.2 km²)
- ONS code
- E63001290
Stocksbridge’s neighbours
The nearest built-up areas, from ONS’s 2022 boundaries. See them on the map →
DeepcarThurgolandOxspringWharncliffe SidePenistoneThurlstoneOughtibridgeStocksbridge
How the neighbours grade
| Town | People | Miles | Overall | Cost | Safety | Health |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stocksbridge | 7,264 | — | C− | B− | C− | C− |
| Deepcar | 5,644 | 1 | C+ | C+ | C+ | B− |
| Thurgoland | 1,239 | 2.2 | — | C | B+ | B− |
| Oxspring | 1,196 | 2.5 | — | C− | A+ | B− |
| Wharncliffe Side | 1,387 | 2.9 | — | C+ | C− | B |
| Penistone | 8,541 | 3.1 | B+ | C+ | B− | C+ |
| Thurlstone | 1,003 | 4 | — | C+ | B− | C+ |
| Oughtibridge | 3,128 | 4 | B− | C− | B | B+ |
Thurgoland, Oxspring, Wharncliffe Side and Thurlstone have fewer than 2,500 residents, so they get subject grades but no overall grade. People: Census 2021. Miles: centre to centre.
Questions about Stocksbridge
Is Stocksbridge safe?
Police recorded 533 crimes inside Stocksbridge’s built-up area in the 12 months to August 2026, 49% of them violence and sexual offences, a police category that includes harassment and stalking.
Is Stocksbridge expensive to live in?
Homes cost less than in most UK towns: the median sale over three years was £184,500, against £277,000 in the typical UK town. By type: flats £167,500, terraced houses £148,000, semi-detached houses £190,000 and detached houses £285,000.
Are schools in Stocksbridge good?
GCSE results trail 81% of towns in England, and primary results trail 52% (Department for Education, Attainment 8 and Key Stage 2).
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.