Thurgoland’s story
2 listed buildings
Historic England lists them inside Thurgoland’s built-up area.
29% of its homes were built before 1919, against 15% in the typical UK town.
Explore the history →
ThurgolandSouth Yorkshire
1,239 people live in this village in South Yorkshire, Yorkshire and The Humber.
7 places within 12 milesMap →
Photo: Robin Phillips · CC BY-SA 2.0
Population
1,239
Census 2021 · Barnsley council
Median home
£289K
44 sales in 3 years
Median age
49
26% are 65+ · South Yorkshire 18%
Degree level
37%
of residents 16+ · England 34%
Walk, cycle, bus
9%
of commuters · England 27%
Is Thurgoland a good place to live?
Schools do well (A+): primary results beat 97% of towns in England. Safety is a strength too — 19.1 violent or sexual offences per 1,000 residents a year, plus 7.5 home and vehicle crimes. Few people walk, cycle or take the bus to work: nearly one in ten commuters get to work on foot, by bike or by public transport. The median home sold for £289,000, 6.8 times what households in the Barnsley council area earn in a year. The rest of its grades are middling: B− for health and C+ for jobs & income.
Figures: crime, police.uk, averaged Sep 2023 to Aug 2026 · commuting, Census 2021 · prices, HM Land Registry, the last three years · incomes and life expectancy, ONS · claimants, DWP. With fewer than 2,500 residents, Thurgoland has subject grades but no overall one.
How Thurgoland grades
Each subject compared with the 2,160 UK towns with an overall grade (schools within England), ordered by how far Thurgoland is from typical. American towns are graded separately.
With fewer than 2,500 residents, Thurgoland has subject grades but no overall one.
SchoolsPrimary results beat 97% of towns in EnglandA+Open →Hazard risk0% of homes at high or medium risk of flooding from rivers or the seaAOpen →WalkabilityBased on walking, cycling and transit to everyday placesC−Open →Cost of livingHomes are harder to afford than in most townsCOpen →SafetyBetter than most of the towns comparedB+Open →Jobs & income2.2% of 16 to 64s claim unemployment benefitsC+Open →HealthLife expectancy 80.3 for men, 84.6 for womenB−Open →
Character Graded, but not part of the overall grade.
History2 listed buildingsC+Open →Outdoors100% live within 400 m of a park; 2.5 ha of public green space per 1,000 residentsAOpen →Civic life4.8 local charities per 1,000 residents; 0% live within 1 km of a libraryB+Open →
How TownRatings grades towns →
What makes Thurgoland stand out
The 3 things Thurgoland does most differently from other towns.
Walk, cycle or public transport
Getting around
9% leave the car
of commuters walk, cycle or take public transport (England’s towns 27%)
Primary results, towns in England
Schools
Primary results beat 97%
of towns in England, on Key Stage 2 reading, writing and maths
Department for Education.
Homes built before 1919
History
Against 15% in the typical UK town
Valuation Office Agency, homes by build period.
The data
Data highlights are ordered by what stands out in Thurgoland.
SchoolsA+
Results at Thurgoland’s schools are among the best in England
A+School Grade
Thurgoland Church of England (Voluntary Controlled) Primary School’s results beat 93% of schools in England like it. Key Stage 2 results at the 3 primary schools within 3 km: 77% of pupils meet the expected standard in reading, writing and maths (three-year average). Below is its only school.
| School | Level | Pupils | Letter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Thurgoland Church of England (Voluntary Controlled) Primary SchoolLargest primary schoolPrimary | Primary | 202 | A |
Department for Education · GIAS, Key Stage 2 and GCSE resultsThe Schools page →
Work & commuteJobs & income grade C+
Only 9% of commuters in Thurgoland go to work without a car, fewer than in both South Yorkshire’s towns and England’s towns
9%walk, cycle or ride
The Census was taken on 21 March 2021, in lockdown, so 32% of workers were mainly at home; shares here are of those who travelled.
Nearly nine in ten commuters took the car to work at the census. Short trips to work, under 5 km: 23%, below South Yorkshire’s towns (43%) and England’s towns (45%) alike. Household income averages £53K a year before tax.
How commuters got to work · March 2021
Driving89%
On foot6%
Bus2%
Bicycle1%
Train1%
23%
of commuters travel under 5 km · England 45%
32%
worked mainly from home in March 2021
£53K
mean household income, before tax
2.2%
of 16 to 64s claim unemployment benefits (2026)
C−
Walkability: more walkable than 18% 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
Few households rent privately in Thurgoland: 8%, fewer than in both South Yorkshire’s towns and England’s towns
£289Kmedian sale
The social rented sector houses nearly a quarter of households. Just over two thirds of households own their home, above South Yorkshire’s towns (61%) and England’s towns (61%) alike. Private rents average £696 a month across the Barnsley council area.
Median sale price · Sep 2023 to Aug 2026
Thurgoland£289K
Typical UK town£277K
| By type | Median | Sales |
|---|---|---|
| Detached | £426,000 | 19 |
| Semi-detached | £210,000 | 13 |
| Terraced | £173,750 | 12 |
68%
of households own their home · England 61%
8%
rent privately · England 21%
£696
average private rent a month, Barnsley council area
£2,343
council tax, Band D, 2026–27
HM Land Registry Price Paid · ONS private rents · MHCLG / Welsh Government council tax · ONS Census 2021 tenure · OGL
Safety
Per resident, Thurgoland sees less crime than 65% of UK towns
19.1violent and sexual offences per 1,000 a yearB+Safety Grade
In the 12 months to August 2026, police logged 36 crimes and 9 reports of anti-social behaviour inside Thurgoland’s built-up area. Of all the crimes, 47% were violence and sexual offences. Anti-social behaviour, shown but not graded, came to 6.5 reports per 1,000, below South Yorkshire’s towns (13.4) and England’s towns (7.8) alike.
Compared with UK towns its sizeLess crime per resident than 44% 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 & sexual17
Public order6
Damage & arson4
Other theft2
Drugs2
Vehicle crime2
Other crime2
Burglary1
Anti-social9
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.
19.1
violent and sexual offences per 1,000 residents a year, averaged Sep 2023 to Aug 2026
7.5
burglary, vehicle crime and damage per 1,000 a year, averaged Sep 2023 to Aug 2026
6.5
anti-social behaviour reports per 1,000 (not graded)
36
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 Thurgoland: 29% were built before 1919, more than in both South Yorkshire’s towns and England’s towns
2listed buildingsC+History Grade
The heritage lists give each building’s grade but not its age, so we don’t say which is oldest.
None of the 2 listed buildings reaches Grade II* or Grade I; all are Grade II. Per 10,000 residents, Thurgoland counts 16 listed buildings, above South Yorkshire’s towns (10) but below England’s towns (39).
Listed buildings by grade · Historic England
Grade I0
Grade II*0
Grade II2
0
scheduled monuments
0
registered parks and gardens
29%
of homes built before 1919 · typical UK town 15%
16
listed buildings per 10,000 residents · typical UK town 24
Historic England list, October 2026 · Valuation Office Agency, homes by build period · OGL
Health
In Thurgoland, 81% say their health is good or very good
81%good or very good healthB−Health Grade
Thurgoland has no GP practice of its own; the nearest is 1.9 miles away. At the census, nearly a fifth of people here had a disability, lower than South Yorkshire’s towns (21%) yet higher than England’s towns (17%). Poor health, by residents’ own account, affects 6.2% of the town.
General health, self-reported
Good or very good 81%Fair 13%Bad or very bad 6%
| Census 2021 | Thurgoland | South Yorkshire | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Good or very good health | 81% | 79% | 82% |
| Bad or very bad health | 6.2% | 6.7% | 5.2% |
| Disabled (Equality Act) | 19% | 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 · 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.
Who lives here
Older residents shape Thurgoland: 26% are 65 or over, above South Yorkshire’s towns and England’s towns
49median age
Typical age in Thurgoland: 49, the median. 8.5% of the population is aged 15 to 24, below both South Yorkshire’s towns (13%) and England’s towns (12%). Graduates make up 37% of adults.
ThurgolandSouth YorkshireEngland
Ages · share of residents
26%
Qualifications · residents 16 and older
No qualifications19%
Apprenticeship6%
A levels or similar17%
Degree level37%
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.
| Thurgoland | South Yorkshire | England | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 15 | 17% | 17% | 18% |
| 15–24 | 8.5% | 13% | 12% |
| 25–44 | 19% | 26% | 27% |
| 45–64 | 29% | 26% | 25% |
| 65+ | 26% | 18% | 18% |
| No qualifications | 19% | 22% | 18% |
| Apprenticeship | 5.8% | 6.2% | 5.3% |
| A levels or similar | 17% | 18% | 17% |
| Degree level | 37% | 27% | 34% |
ONS Census 2021 · South Yorkshire and England: all residents of their built-up areas · OGL
Keep exploring
Everything we know about Thurgoland
15pages on Thurgoland
The big questions
SafetyB+19.1 violent and sexual offences per 1,000 residents a year, averaged Sep 2023 to Aug 2026Cost of livingCMedian home £289K · rent £696 a monthHousing11 sold in 12 months · busiest street Copster CloseSchoolsA+1 state schoolHealthB−Life expectancy 80.3 (men), 84.6 (women)Work & commuteC+49% of working residents work in the townFlood & hazardsA0% of homes at high or medium flood risk
Out and about
Nearby attractions
All attractions →Wentworth Castle and 2 more in and around Thurgoland
Museums, castles, gardens and days out in and near Thurgoland. Best known first.
CastleWentworth Castle3.3 km outside town, to the northeastMuseumMuseumWortley Top Forge500 m outside town, to the southAttractionAttractionThe Corinthian Temple3.3 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 (1)
- Wentworth Castle: Klaus with K. Blue fringing removed by Digon3 13:34, 24 August 2007 (UTC), CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
About Thurgoland
Village in South Yorkshire, England
Thurgoland is a built-up area of 1,239 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
- 1,239 (Census 2021)
- Council
- Barnsley
- County
- South Yorkshire
- Region
- Yorkshire and The Humber
- Area
- 0.2 sq mi (0.4 km²)
- ONS code
- E63001251
Thurgoland’s neighbours
The nearest built-up areas, from ONS’s 2022 boundaries. See them on the map →
OxspringSilkstone CommonDeepcarStocksbridgePenistoneSilkstoneHoylandswaineThurgoland
How the neighbours grade
| Town | People | Miles | Overall | Cost | Safety | Health |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thurgoland | 1,239 | — | — | C | B+ | B− |
| Oxspring | 1,196 | 1.5 | — | C− | A+ | B− |
| Silkstone Common | 1,278 | 2 | — | C | A+ | A |
| Deepcar | 5,644 | 2.2 | C+ | C+ | C+ | B− |
| Stocksbridge | 7,264 | 2.2 | C− | B− | C− | C− |
| Penistone | 8,541 | 2.8 | B+ | C+ | B− | C+ |
| Silkstone | 1,682 | 2.8 | — | C− | A− | A− |
| Hoylandswaine | 1,038 | 3 | — | D | A | A |
Oxspring, Silkstone Common, Silkstone and Hoylandswaine have fewer than 2,500 residents, so they get subject grades but no overall grade. People: Census 2021. Miles: centre to centre.
Questions about Thurgoland
Are schools in Thurgoland good?
Primary results beat 97% of towns in England (Department for Education, Key Stage 2). One state school is inside the town; places are handled by Barnsley council.
How many listed buildings are there in Thurgoland?
2 on Historic England’s list.
Does Thurgoland flood?
Surface water isn’t included. Check a specific address on GOV.UK’s flood risk service.
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.