Acton’s story
Historic England lists 13 buildings inside Acton’s built-up area, 1 of them Grade I.
9% of its homes were built before 1919, against 15% in the typical UK town.
Explore the history →
ActonSuffolk
A village of 1,666 in Suffolk, East of England.
7 places within 12 milesMap →
Babergh Hall · Photo: Sandy Gerrard · CC BY-SA 2.0
Population
1,666
Census 2021 · Babergh council
Median home
£303K
66 sales in 3 years
Median age
45.3
25% are 65+ · Suffolk 23%
Degree level
25%
of residents 16+ · England 34%
Walk, cycle, bus
8%
of commuters · England 27%
Is Acton a good place to live?
Acton has fewer than 2,500 residents, so it gets subject grades but no overall grade. Its strongest subject is hazard risk (A): 0% of homes at high or medium risk of flooding from rivers or the sea. Its weakest is walkability (D): 8% of commuters walk, cycle or take public transport. The median home sold for £302,500 in the last three years, 5.4 times what households in the Babergh council area earn in a year.
What makes Acton stand out
The 3 things Acton does most differently from other towns.
Walk, cycle or public transport
Getting around
8% leave the car
of commuters walk, cycle or take public transport (England’s towns 27%)
47% of commuters travel under 5 km.
Listed buildings per 10,000 residents
History
1 Grade I, including Church of All Saints; 3.2 times the typical UK town for its size
Historic England’s list, October 2026.
Claimant rate, against UK towns
Work
of 16 to 64s in 2026: fewer than in 92% of UK towns
DWP claimant count, January to August 2026.
How Acton grades
Each subject compared with the 2,160 UK towns with an overall grade (schools within England), ordered by how far Acton is from typical. American towns are graded separately.
WalkabilityDOpen →Hazard riskAOpen →SafetyAOpen →Cost of livingrent £965 a monthA−Open →Jobs & incomeMean household income £57,016B+Open →HealthLife expectancy 79.8 for men, 84.6 for womenB+Open →SchoolsPrimary results beat 57% of towns in England; secondary results beat 21% of towns in EnglandC+Open →
Character Graded, but not part of the overall grade.
HistoryC+Open →Outdoors100% live within 400 m of a park; 1.6 ha of public green space per 1,000 residentsCOpen →Civic life1.8 local charities per 1,000 residents; 0% live within 1 km of a libraryC−Open →
How TownRatings grades towns →
Acton’s American namesake
Acton, Maine, is named after Acton.
USUS editionMaine, USAActonSettled in 1776 · 2,735 people
Lincoln School · Photo: Magicpiano · CC BY-SA 4.0Acton, Maine, settled in 1776, takes its name from this village.
Acton, Suffolk3,240 miles · Acton, ME
People2,7351,666 here
Typical home$473,000£303,000 here
Settled17761 place on the National Register
TownGradeB−against U.S. towns#68 of 142 in Maine
Named after: each U.S. town’s Wikipedia article. Grades compare each town with towns in its own country, so they aren’t a head-to-head.
The data
Data highlights are ordered by what stands out in Acton.
Work & commuteJobs & income grade B+
More commuters in Acton drive than in Suffolk’s towns or England’s towns: 90%
The Census was taken on 21 March 2021, in lockdown, so 26% of workers were mainly at home; shares here are of those who travelled.
1.3% of 16 to 64s claimed unemployment benefits in 2026. Work in town: 3% of resident commuters. Jobs per working resident: 0.2.
8%walk, cycle or ride
How commuters got to work · March 2021
Driving90%
On foot4%
Bicycle3%
Bus1%
47%
of commuters travel under 5 km · England 45%
26%
worked mainly from home in March 2021
£57K
mean household income, before tax
1.3%
of 16 to 64s claim unemployment benefits (2026)
D
Walkability: more walkable than 9% of UK towns
ONS Census 2021, method of travel and distance to work · ONS small-area income · DWP claimant count · OGL
SchoolsC+
Results at Acton’s schools trail 64% of towns in England
The one school in town appears below. Acton Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School’s results beat 77% of schools in England like it. At the 5 primary schools within 3 km, 63% of pupils reach the expected standard in reading, writing and maths (three-year average).
C+School Grade
| School | Level | Pupils | Letter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Acton Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary SchoolLargest primary schoolPrimary | Primary | 196 | A− |
Department for Education · GIAS, Key Stage 2 and GCSE resultsThe Schools page →
Safety
Homes in Acton see less burglary and damage than in Suffolk’s towns or England’s towns: 4 per 1,000 a year
Violent crime ran at 15 per 1,000 residents a year, below Suffolk’s towns (19.2) and England’s towns (22) alike. A year of reports to August 2026 adds up to 35 offences in Acton and 4 cases of nuisance behaviour. Violence and sexual offences were 57% of the crimes.
15violent and sexual offences per 1,000 a yearASafety Grade
Compared with UK towns its sizeLess crime per resident than 72% 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 & sexual20
Other crime5
Public order3
Vehicle crime3
Damage & arson2
Other theft2
Shoplifting0
Burglary0
Anti-social4
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
violent and sexual offences per 1,000 residents a year, averaged Sep 2023 to Aug 2026
4
burglary, vehicle crime and damage per 1,000 a year, averaged Sep 2023 to Aug 2026
4
anti-social behaviour reports per 1,000 (not graded)
35
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.
HousingCost of living grade A−
More households own their home in Acton than in Suffolk’s towns or across England’s towns: 80%
Social housing holds 8% of households, below both Suffolk’s towns (16%) and England’s towns (18%). Renting privately is how just over one in ten households live. Also worth knowing: from September 2023 to August 2026, 66 homes sold inside Acton’s built-up area at standard prices; the middle one went for £302,500.
£303Kmedian sale
Median sale price · Sep 2023 to Aug 2026
Acton£303K
Typical UK town£277K
| By type | Median | Sales |
|---|---|---|
| Detached | £425,000 | 24 |
| Semi-detached | £295,000 | 20 |
| Terraced | £238,750 | 18 |
80%
of households own their home · England 61%
12%
rent privately · England 21%
£965
average private rent a month, Babergh council area
£2,319
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
Is Acton a healthy place? 85% of its people say their health is good, above Suffolk’s towns and England’s towns
The nearest A&E to Acton is West Suffolk Hospital, 11.5 miles away. 3.8% of residents described their health as bad or very bad, lower than both Suffolk’s towns (5%) and England’s towns (5.2%). Add to that, a disability affects 16% of people locally. This Suffolk town has no GP practice of its own; the nearest is 1.5 miles away.
85%good or very good healthB+Health Grade
General health, self-reported
Good or very good 85%Fair 12%Bad or very bad 4%
| Census 2021 | Acton | Suffolk | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Good or very good health | 85% | 81% | 82% |
| Bad or very bad health | 3.8% | 5% | 5.2% |
| Disabled (Equality Act) | 16% | 18% | 17% |
79.8
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 · 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.
History
13 listed buildings, 1 of them Grade I
The heritage lists give each building’s grade but not its age, so we don’t say which is oldest.
Acton’s listed buildings include the Church of All Saints, Grade I. 9% of homes were built before 1919. For its size, Acton has 78 listed buildings per 10,000 residents, about level with Suffolk’s towns (92) and above England’s towns (39).
13listed buildingsC+History Grade
Listed buildings by grade · Historic England
Grade I1
Grade II*1
Grade II11
Among them · Grade I
- Church of All Saints Grade I
0
scheduled monuments
0
registered parks and gardens
9%
of homes built before 1919 · typical UK town 15%
78
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
Older residents shape Acton: 25% are 65 or over, above Suffolk’s towns and England’s towns
Line up the people of Acton by age and the one in the middle is 45.3. 16% are under 15, about level with Suffolk’s towns (16%) and below England’s towns (18%).
45.3median age
ActonSuffolkEngland
Ages · share of residents
25%
Qualifications · residents 16 and older
No qualifications17%
Apprenticeship8%
A levels or similar19%
Degree level25%
Women and men · all residents
51% women, 49% men
About an even split. Across England, 51% of residents are women.
| Acton | Suffolk | England | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 15 | 16% | 16% | 18% |
| 15–24 | 9.6% | 10% | 12% |
| 25–44 | 24% | 24% | 27% |
| 45–64 | 26% | 26% | 25% |
| 65+ | 25% | 23% | 18% |
| No qualifications | 17% | 20% | 18% |
| Apprenticeship | 7.5% | 6.5% | 5.3% |
| A levels or similar | 19% | 17% | 17% |
| Degree level | 25% | 27% | 34% |
ONS Census 2021 · Suffolk and England: all residents of their built-up areas · OGL
Nearby attractions
All attractions →Melford Hall and 6 more in and around Acton
Museums, castles, gardens and days out in and near Acton. Best known first.
Historic house · National TrustMelford Hall1.5 km outside town, to the northwest
Historic houseKentwell Hall2.8 km outside town, to the northwest
MuseumGainsborough's House3.7 km outside town, to the southwest
MuseumLittle Hall4.6 km outside town, to the northeastMuseumMuseum · National TrustLavenham Guildhall4.6 km outside town, to the northeastMuseumMuseum · National TrustGuildhall of Corpus Christi4.5 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 (4)
- Melford Hall: PAUL FARMER, CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Kentwell Hall: Achilver, Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
- Gainsborough's House: Oxyman, CC BY 2.5, Wikimedia Commons
- Little Hall: Colin Smith, CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
Keep exploring
Everything we know about Acton
15pages on Acton
The big questions
SafetyA15 violent and sexual offences per 1,000 residents a year, averaged Sep 2023 to Aug 2026Cost of livingA−Median home £303K · rent £965 a monthHousing26 sold in 12 months · busiest street Lambert DriveSchoolsC+1 state schoolHealthB+Life expectancy 79.8 (men), 84.6 (women)Work & commuteB+46% of working residents work in the townFlood & hazardsA0% of homes at high or medium flood risk
Out and about
Famous people from Acton
3 notable people were born in Acton.
R
Ronald BlytheBritish writer (1922–2023)A
Alice OttleyOttley, Alice (1840–1912), headmistressPhoto credits
Edward Bickersteth: Leslie Ward, Public domain
Acton’s neighbours
The nearest built-up areas, from ONS’s 2022 boundaries. See them on the map →
Great WaldingfieldLong MelfordSudburyLavenhamGlemsfordBuresBildestonActon
How the neighbours grade
| Town | People | Miles | Overall | Cost | Safety | Health |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Acton | 1,666 | — | — | A− | A | B+ |
| Great Waldingfield | 1,377 | 1.1 | — | B+ | B+ | B+ |
| Long Melford | 3,895 | 2 | B+ | B | A− | B+ |
| Sudbury | 23,922 | 2.3 | B− | A | C− | C |
| Lavenham | 1,224 | 3.1 | — | B | B− | A |
| Glemsford | 3,693 | 4.6 | A | A | B+ | B+ |
| Bures | 1,183 | 6.6 | — | B− | B− | B+ |
| Bildeston | 1,096 | 6.7 | — | A− | A− | A− |
Great Waldingfield, Lavenham, Bures and Bildeston have fewer than 2,500 residents, so they get subject grades but no overall grade. People: Census 2021. Miles: centre to centre.
Questions about Acton
How many listed buildings are there in Acton?
That is 3.2 times the typical UK town for its size. Its Grade I building is Church of All Saints.
Does Acton flood?
Surface water isn’t included. Check a specific address on GOV.UK’s flood risk service.
About Acton
Village in Suffolk, England
Acton is a built-up area of 1,666 people, in the Babergh 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
- 1,666 (Census 2021)
- Council
- Babergh
- County
- Suffolk
- Region
- East of England
- Area
- 0.3 sq mi (0.8 km²)
- ONS code
- E63003721
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.