Brown Edge’s story
4 listed buildings
Historic England lists them inside Brown Edge’s built-up area.
22% of its homes were built before 1919, against 15% in the typical UK town.
Explore the history →
Brown EdgeStaffordshire
A village of 2,374 in Staffordshire, West Midlands. Mortgage-free owners make up 53% of households.
7 places within 12 milesMap →
Photo: Geoff Pick · CC BY-SA 2.0
Population
2,374
Census 2021 · Staffordshire Moorlands council
Median home
£250K
89 sales in 3 years
Median age
51.3
28% are 65+ · Staffordshire 21%
Degree level
25%
of residents 16+ · England 34%
Walk, cycle, bus
7%
of commuters · England 27%
Is Brown Edge a good place to live?
Prices are modest for what you get (A−): homes sell for a median £250,000, about 5.3 times local household income. Its lowest grade is for walkability — 7% of commuters get to work on foot, by bike or by public transport. Natural hazards weigh less here than in most UK towns (A). 1.1% of 16 to 64s claim unemployment benefits.
Figures: prices, HM Land Registry, the last three years · commuting, Census 2021 · flood risk, Environment Agency. Brown Edge has fewer than 2,500 residents, so it gets subject grades but no overall grade.
What makes Brown Edge stand out
The 3 things Brown Edge does most differently from other towns.
Walk, cycle or public transport
Getting around
7% leave the car
of commuters walk, cycle or take public transport (England’s towns 27%)
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.
Own outright
Housing
53% own outright
of households own their home with no mortgage (England’s towns 32%)
How Brown Edge grades
Each subject compared with the 2,160 UK towns with an overall grade (schools within England), ordered by how far Brown Edge is from typical. American towns are graded separately.
Brown Edge has fewer than 2,500 residents, so it gets subject grades but no overall grade.
WalkabilityAmong the hardest places to get around without a carDOpen →Hazard risk0% of homes at high or medium risk of flooding from rivers or the seaAOpen →Cost of livingRent £728 a monthA−Open →SafetyAbove the middle of the towns comparedA−Open →Jobs & incomeMean household income £53,131B+Open →HealthLife expectancy 82.2 for men, 84.9 for womenB+Open →SchoolsPrimary results beat 65% of towns in England; secondary results beat 47% of towns in EnglandBOpen →
Character Graded, but not part of the overall grade.
HistoryGraded on historic places and the town’s ageCOpen →Outdoors88% live within 400 m of a park; 1.1 ha of public green space per 1,000 residentsC−Open →Civic life2.5 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 Brown Edge.
Work & commuteJobs & income grade B+
Only 22% of Brown Edge’s commuters work within 5 km, fewer than in both Staffordshire’s towns and England’s towns
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.
At the census, 91% of commuters went by car. 4% of commuters who live in Brown Edge also work there. There are 0.3 jobs in Brown Edge for each resident in work.
7%walk, cycle or ride
How commuters got to work · March 2021
Driving91%
On foot5%
Bus1%
Train1%
22%
of commuters travel under 5 km · England 45%
23%
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 6% of UK towns
ONS Census 2021, method of travel and distance to work · ONS small-area income · DWP claimant count · OGL
SchoolsB
Results at Brown Edge’s schools beat 58% of towns in England
64% of pupils at the 13 primary schools within 3 km met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths (three-year average). There is one school here; it is shown below. Secondary results at the 3 secondary schools within 3 km: an Attainment 8 score of 45.4, with 44% at grade 5 or above in English and maths.
BSchool Grade
| School | Level | Pupils | Letter |
|---|---|---|---|
| St Anne's CofE (VC) Primary SchoolLargest primary schoolPrimary | Primary | 176 | A |
Department for Education · GIAS, Key Stage 2 and GCSE resultsThe Schools page →
HousingCost of living grade A−
Most households in Brown Edge own their home: 83%, more than in both Staffordshire’s towns and England’s towns
5% live in social housing, below Staffordshire’s towns (17%) and England’s towns (18%) alike. The private rented sector houses 12% of households. From September 2023 to August 2026, 89 homes sold inside Brown Edge’s built-up area at standard prices; the middle one went for £250,000.
£250Kmedian sale
Median sale price · Sep 2023 to Aug 2026
Brown Edge£250K
Typical UK town£277K
| By type | Median | Sales |
|---|---|---|
| Detached | £280,000 | 45 |
| Semi-detached | £240,000 | 35 |
| Terraced | £185,000 | 9 |
83%
of households own their home · England 61%
12%
rent privately · England 21%
£728
average private rent a month, Staffordshire Moorlands council area
£2,328
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
Violent crime runs low in Brown Edge: 15.3 per 1,000 residents a year, under Staffordshire’s towns and England’s towns
The 12 months to August 2026 brought 99 recorded crimes inside Brown Edge’s built-up area, and 18 reports of anti-social behaviour. Violence and sexual offences accounted for 43% of recorded crime. Homes see 7.7 burglaries and acts of damage per 1,000 residents a year.
15.3violent and sexual offences per 1,000 a yearA−Safety Grade
Compared with UK towns its sizeLess crime per resident than 57% 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 & sexual43
Public order19
Damage & arson11
Shoplifting9
Other theft6
Vehicle crime6
Burglary3
Drugs1
Anti-social18
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.
15.3
violent and sexual offences per 1,000 residents a year, averaged Sep 2023 to Aug 2026
7.7
burglary, vehicle crime and damage per 1,000 a year, averaged Sep 2023 to Aug 2026
4.5
anti-social behaviour reports per 1,000 (not graded)
99
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 Brown Edge: 22% were built before 1919, more than in both Staffordshire’s towns and England’s towns
The heritage lists give each building’s grade but not its age, so we don’t say which is oldest.
Its heritage register entries (4 listed buildings) are all Grade II. Scaled to its population, Brown Edge has 17 listed buildings per 10,000 people, below Staffordshire’s towns (25) and England’s towns (39) alike.
4listed buildingsCHistory Grade
Listed buildings by grade · Historic England
Grade I0
Grade II*0
Grade II4
0
scheduled monuments
0
registered parks and gardens
22%
of homes built before 1919 · typical UK town 15%
17
listed buildings per 10,000 residents · typical UK town 24
Historic England list, October 2026 · Valuation Office Agency, homes by build period · OGL
Health
Life expectancy in Brown Edge is longer than in 76% of UK towns
The nearest A&E to Brown Edge is Royal Stoke University Hospital, 6.1 miles away. At the census, 79% of people in Brown Edge called their health good or very good, near Staffordshire’s towns (80%) and lower than England’s towns (82%). There is no GP practice in the town: the nearest is 1.3 miles off.
79%good or very good healthB+Health Grade
General health, self-reported
Good or very good 79%Fair 15%Bad or very bad 6%
| Census 2021 | Brown Edge | Staffordshire | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Good or very good health | 79% | 80% | 82% |
| Bad or very bad health | 5.9% | 6% | 5.2% |
| Disabled (Equality Act) | 20% | 19% | 17% |
82.2
life expectancy at birth, men (2019–23)
84.9
life expectancy at birth, women
ONS Census 2021, general health and disability · OHID Fingertips, life expectancy 2019–23 · OGL · Read these answers with age in mind: they aren’t adjusted, so younger places do better. The Health Grade uses age-adjusted measures, life expectancy and early deaths among them.
Who lives here
Brown Edge skews older, with 28% of residents 65 or over, more than in both Staffordshire’s towns and England’s towns
Aged 15 to 24: 8.1% of residents. Children under 15 make up 13%, below both Staffordshire’s towns (17%) and England’s towns (18%). At 51.3, the median resident of Brown Edge sits in the middle of the age range. Among adults, 25% have a degree.
51.3median age
Brown EdgeStaffordshireEngland
Ages · share of residents
28%
Qualifications · residents 16 and older
No qualifications20%
Apprenticeship10%
A levels or similar18%
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.
| Brown Edge | Staffordshire | England | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 15 | 13% | 17% | 18% |
| 15–24 | 8.1% | 11% | 12% |
| 25–44 | 21% | 25% | 27% |
| 45–64 | 30% | 27% | 25% |
| 65+ | 28% | 21% | 18% |
| No qualifications | 20% | 21% | 18% |
| Apprenticeship | 9.8% | 6.3% | 5.3% |
| A levels or similar | 18% | 18% | 17% |
| Degree level | 25% | 27% | 34% |
ONS Census 2021 · Staffordshire and England: all residents of their built-up areas · OGL
Nearby attractions
All attractions →Biddulph Grange and 5 more in and around Brown Edge
Museums, castles, gardens and days out in and near Brown Edge. Best known first.
Historic house · National TrustBiddulph Grange4.8 km outside town, to the north
MuseumChatterley Whitfield Colliery2 km outside town, to the west
MuseumFord Green Hall2.2 km outside town, to the southwestMuseumMuseumCeramica4.3 km outside town, to the southwestMuseumMuseumThe Dudson Museum5 km outside town, to the southwestArt galleryArt galleryBarewall Art Gallery4.3 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 (3)
- Biddulph Grange: Photograph by Mike Peel (www.mikepeel.net)., CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Chatterley Whitfield Colliery: Halfmonkey, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Ford Green Hall: Nina Richards, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
Keep exploring
Everything we know about Brown Edge
14pages on Brown Edge
The big questions
SafetyA−15.3 violent and sexual offences per 1,000 residents a year, averaged Sep 2023 to Aug 2026Cost of livingA−Median home £250K · rent £728 a monthHousing24 sold in 12 months · busiest street High LaneSchoolsB1 state schoolHealthB+Life expectancy 82.2 (men), 84.9 (women)Work & commuteB+41% of working residents work in the townFlood & hazardsA0% of homes at high or medium flood risk
Out and about
Brown Edge’s neighbours
The nearest built-up areas, from ONS’s 2022 boundaries. See them on the map →
EndonBiddulph MoorBiddulphHarriseahead, Mow Cop and NewchapelCheddletonWerringtonKidsgroveBrown Edge
How the neighbours grade
| Town | People | Miles | Overall | Cost | Safety | Health |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brown Edge | 2,374 | — | — | A− | A− | B+ |
| Endon | 2,655 | 0.9 | B+ | B | B− | B+ |
| Biddulph Moor | 1,286 | 2.8 | — | A− | B+ | B+ |
| Biddulph | 17,490 | 2.8 | C+ | A | C | C |
| Harriseahead, Mow Cop and Newchapel | 3,637 | 3.3 | B+ | B+ | B+ | B− |
| Cheddleton | 4,027 | 4.2 | A− | A | A | B− |
| Werrington | 6,012 | 4.2 | B− | A | C+ | B− |
| Kidsgrove | 15,598 | 4.4 | C− | A− | C | C− |
Biddulph Moor has fewer than 2,500 residents, so it gets subject grades but no overall grade. People: Census 2021. Miles: centre to centre.
Questions about Brown Edge
Is Brown Edge safe?
Against all UK towns, it grades A−.
Does Brown Edge flood?
Surface water isn’t included. Check a specific address on GOV.UK’s flood risk service.
How much is council tax in Brown Edge?
Band D council tax in Brown Edge is £2,328 for 2026–27, less than in 70% of UK towns (council, county, police and fire, plus the parish or town council). Your own bill depends on your home’s band; check it on GOV.UK.
About Brown Edge
Village in Staffordshire, England
Brown Edge is a built-up area of 2,374 people, in the Staffordshire Moorlands 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
- 2,374 (Census 2021)
- Council
- Staffordshire Moorlands
- County
- Staffordshire
- Region
- West Midlands
- Area
- 0.3 sq mi (0.9 km²)
- ONS code
- E63001831
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.