Ardingly’s story
26 listed buildings, 1 of them Grade I
Historic England lists them inside Ardingly’s built-up area.
28% of its homes were built before 1919, against 15% in the typical UK town.
Explore the history →
ArdinglyWest Sussex
A village of 1,646 in West Sussex, South East.
7 places within 12 milesMap →
Photo: Charlesdrakew · Public domain
Population
1,646
Census 2021 · Mid Sussex council
Median home
£518K
40 sales in 3 years
Median age
42.1
21% are 65+ · West Sussex 23%
Degree level
38%
of residents 16+ · England 34%
Walk, cycle, bus
19%
of commuters · England 27%
Is Ardingly a good place to live?
Health is its strong suit (A+): men here can expect to live to 84.1, women to 87.5. Add safety to its strengths: 9.5 violent and sexual offences and 6.9 home and vehicle crimes per 1,000 residents a year. Where it falls short is cost of living — homes sell for a median £517,500, about 7.3 times local household income. Hazard risk is lower than in most UK towns (A).
Figures: life expectancy, ONS · crime, police.uk, averaged Sep 2023 to Aug 2026 · prices, HM Land Registry, the last three years · flood risk, Environment Agency. With fewer than 2,500 residents, Ardingly has subject grades but no overall one.
What makes Ardingly stand out
The 3 things Ardingly does most differently from other towns.
Listed buildings per 10,000 residents
History
1 Grade I, including The Parish Church of St Peter; 6.5 times the typical UK town for its size
Historic England’s list, October 2026.
Median sale, £ thousands
Housing
1.9 times the typical UK town’s £277K
Standard sales, September 2023 to August 2026.
Life expectancy, against UK towns
Health
87.5 and 84.1 years
Life expectancy at birth, women and men: longer than in 97% of UK towns
OHID Fingertips, 2019–23.
How Ardingly grades
Each subject compared with the 2,160 UK towns with an overall grade (schools within England), ordered by how far Ardingly is from typical. American towns are graded separately.
HealthAmong the healthiest places comparedA+Open →SafetyNear the top of the towns comparedAOpen →SchoolsPrimary results beat 82% of towns in EnglandAOpen →Hazard risk0% of homes at high or medium risk of flooding from rivers or the seaAOpen →Jobs & income1.6% of 16 to 64s claim unemployment benefitsA−Open →Walkability19% of commuters walk, cycle or take public transportB+Open →Cost of livingGraded on home prices against local incomesC+Open →
Character Graded, but not part of the overall grade.
History28% of homes built before 1919A−Open →Outdoors53% live within 400 m of a park; 83% of land within 5 km is National Park or National LandscapeBOpen →Civic life2.4 local charities per 1,000 residents; 65% live within 1 km of a libraryA−Open →
How TownRatings grades towns →
The data
Data highlights are ordered by what stands out in Ardingly.
Health
People in Ardingly live longer lives than in 97% of UK towns
At the census, 14% of people here had a disability, below West Sussex’s towns (17%) and England’s towns (17%) alike. Asked at the census, 87% of residents of Ardingly said they were in good or very good health. Seeing a GP means leaving Ardingly: the nearest practice is 2.4 miles away. 2.9% of residents report bad or very bad health.
87%good or very good healthA+Health Grade
General health, self-reported
Good or very good 87%Fair 10%Bad or very bad 3%
| Census 2021 | Ardingly | West Sussex | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Good or very good health | 87% | 83% | 82% |
| Bad or very bad health | 2.9% | 4.5% | 5.2% |
| Disabled (Equality Act) | 14% | 17% | 17% |
84.1
life expectancy at birth, men (2019–23)
87.5
life expectancy at birth, women
ONS Census 2021, general health and disability · OHID Fingertips, life expectancy 2019–23 · OGL · Census health answers are raw, so younger towns score better on them; for the Health Grade we use age-adjusted figures like life expectancy and early deaths.
SchoolsA
Exam results at Ardingly’s schools top 86% of towns in England
Just over two thirds of pupils at the 3 primary schools within 3 km met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths (three-year average). Its only school is listed below. The town’s primary school has 109 pupils.
ASchool Grade
| School | Level | Pupils | Letter |
|---|---|---|---|
| St Peter's CofE Primary SchoolLargest primary schoolPrimary | Primary | 109 | C |
Department for Education · GIAS, Key Stage 2 and GCSE resultsThe Schools page →
Safety
Fewer crimes per resident in Ardingly than in 91% of UK towns
Over the year to August 2026, 32 offences were reported in Ardingly, along with 10 incidents of anti-social behaviour. Among the 1,541 UK towns of 1,000 to 2,500 people, Ardingly has less crime per resident than just over four fifths of them. Anti-social behaviour, shown but not graded, came to 4.1 reports per 1,000, lower than both West Sussex’s towns (11.7) and England’s towns (7.8). Violence and sexual offences were 50% of the crimes.
9.5violent and sexual offences per 1,000 a yearASafety Grade
Compared with UK towns its sizeLess crime per resident than 82% 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 & sexual16
Damage & arson3
Other theft3
Burglary3
Vehicle crime3
Other crime2
Public order1
Bicycle theft1
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.
9.5
violent and sexual offences per 1,000 residents a year, averaged Sep 2023 to Aug 2026
6.9
burglary, vehicle crime and damage per 1,000 a year, averaged Sep 2023 to Aug 2026
4.1
anti-social behaviour reports per 1,000 (not graded)
32
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
Ardingly keeps more of its old housing than West Sussex’s towns or England’s towns: 28% built before 1919
The heritage lists give each building’s grade but not its age, so we don’t say which is oldest.
Ardingly has 158 listed buildings for every 10,000 residents. Its listed buildings include The Parish Church of St Peter, Grade I. Of the town’s land, 20% lies in conservation areas, above both West Sussex’s towns (4%) and England’s towns (7%). It has 26 listed buildings on Historic England’s list: 1 Grade I.
26listed buildingsA−History Grade
Listed buildings by grade · Historic England
Grade I1
Grade II*0
Grade II25
Among them · Grade I
- The Parish Church of St Peter Grade I
0
scheduled monuments
0
registered parks and gardens
28%
of homes built before 1919 · typical UK town 15%
158
listed buildings per 10,000 residents · typical UK town 24
Historic England list, October 2026 · Valuation Office Agency, homes by build period · OGL
Work & commuteJobs & income grade A−
Household income in Ardingly, £71K a year, runs above West Sussex’s towns and England’s towns
The Census was taken on 21 March 2021, in lockdown, so 44% of workers were mainly at home; shares here are of those who travelled.
There are 1.3 jobs in Ardingly for each resident in work. Short trips to work, under 5 km: 31%, below both West Sussex’s towns (44%) and England’s towns (45%). 79% of commuters drove to work at the census.
19%walk, cycle or ride
How commuters got to work · March 2021
Driving79%
On foot13%
Train4%
Bus1%
31%
of commuters travel under 5 km · England 45%
44%
worked mainly from home in March 2021
£71K
mean household income, before tax
1.6%
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
HousingCost of living grade C+
Private renting is less common in Ardingly than in West Sussex’s towns or across England’s towns: 13%
69% of households own their home, near West Sussex’s towns (68%) and higher than England’s towns (61%). Private rents average £1,423 a month across the Mid Sussex council area. Behind the median of £517,500: 40 standard sales inside Ardingly’s built-up area, September 2023 to August 2026.
£518Kmedian sale
Median sale price · Sep 2023 to Aug 2026
Ardingly£518K
Typical UK town£277K
| By type | Median | Sales |
|---|---|---|
| Detached | £834,000 | 11 |
| Semi-detached | £522,500 | 18 |
| Terraced | £490,000 | 5 |
| Flat or maisonette | £335,000 | 6 |
69%
of households own their home · England 61%
13%
rent privately · England 21%
£1,423
average private rent a month, Mid Sussex council area
£2,524
council tax, Band D, 2026–27
HM Land Registry Price Paid · ONS private rents · MHCLG / Welsh Government council tax · ONS Census 2021 tenure · OGL
Who lives here
Ardingly skews young, with 17% of residents aged 15 to 24, more than in West Sussex’s towns and across England’s towns
People 65 and over make up 21% of the town, below West Sussex’s towns (23%) but above England’s towns (18%). At 42.1, the median resident of Ardingly sits in the middle of the age range. Graduates make up 38% of adults.
42.1median age
ArdinglyWest SussexEngland
Ages · share of residents
17%
Qualifications · residents 16 and older
No qualifications12%
Apprenticeship3%
A levels or similar19%
Degree level38%
Women and men · all residents
52% women, 48% men
About 92 men for every 100 women. Across England, 51% of residents are women.
| Ardingly | West Sussex | England | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 15 | 18% | 17% | 18% |
| 15–24 | 17% | 9.8% | 12% |
| 25–44 | 18% | 24% | 27% |
| 45–64 | 26% | 27% | 25% |
| 65+ | 21% | 23% | 18% |
| No qualifications | 12% | 16% | 18% |
| Apprenticeship | 3.3% | 5.5% | 5.3% |
| A levels or similar | 19% | 18% | 17% |
| Degree level | 38% | 32% | 34% |
ONS Census 2021 · West Sussex and England: all residents of their built-up areas · OGL
Nearby attractions
All attractions →Wakehurst and 8 more in and around Ardingly
Museums, castles, gardens and days out in and near Ardingly. Best known first.
Garden · National TrustWakehurst1 km outside town, to the north
Heritage railwayBluebell Railway2.5 km outside town, to the southeast
Historic houseBrantridge Park4.9 km outside town, to the west
MuseumPriest House2.9 km outside town, to the northeastGardenGardenBorde Hill2.3 km outside town, to the southwestMuseumMuseumCuckfield Museum4.4 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 (4)
- Wakehurst: Diliff, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Bluebell Railway: Les Chatfield from Brighton, England, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Brantridge Park: CyberCop, CC BY 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Priest House: Meagainreally, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
Keep exploring
Everything we know about Ardingly
15pages on Ardingly
The big questions
SafetyA9.5 violent and sexual offences per 1,000 residents a year, averaged Sep 2023 to Aug 2026Cost of livingC+Median home £518K · rent £1,423 a monthHousing11 sold in 12 months · busiest street College RoadSchoolsA1 state schoolHealthA+Life expectancy 84.1 (men), 87.5 (women)Work & commuteA−62% of working residents work in the townFlood & hazardsA0% of homes at high or medium flood risk
Out and about
Famous people from Ardingly
5 notable people were born in Ardingly.
H
Henry MunnionCricketer (1849-1904)J
John Goodwin Gregory PeytonRear admiral of the British Royal Navy · 1752–1809S
Sir Andrew Hamilton, 10th BaronetEnglish cricketer and baronet · born 1953Photo credits
Jon Snow: cowbite from London, UK, CC BY-SA 2.0 · Thomas Box: John Corbet Anderson (1827-1907), Public domain
Ardingly’s neighbours
The nearest built-up areas, from ONS’s 2022 boundaries. See them on the map →
BalcombeHorsted KeynesHaywards HeathCuckfieldCrawley DownHandcrossNorth ChaileyArdingly
How the neighbours grade
| Town | People | Miles | Overall | Cost | Safety | Health |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ardingly | 1,646 | — | — | C+ | A | A+ |
| Balcombe | 1,445 | 2.2 | — | C | A− | B− |
| Horsted Keynes | 1,121 | 2.5 | — | C | A | A+ |
| Haywards Heath | 40,186 | 3.5 | A+ | B | B | A− |
| Cuckfield | 3,767 | 3.6 | A+ | C | B+ | A |
| Crawley Down | 5,775 | 5.1 | A+ | B− | A | A |
| Handcross | 1,399 | 5.3 | — | B | C+ | B |
| North Chailey | 1,008 | 5.4 | — | D− | A− | A |
Balcombe, Horsted Keynes, Handcross and North Chailey have fewer than 2,500 residents, so they get subject grades but no overall grade. People: Census 2021. Miles: centre to centre.
Questions about Ardingly
How many listed buildings are there in Ardingly?
That is 6.5 times the typical UK town for its size. Its Grade I building is The Parish Church of St Peter.
Is Ardingly expensive to live in?
Homes cost more than in most UK towns: the median sale over three years was £517,500, against £277,000 in the typical UK town. By type: flats £335,000, terraced houses £490,000, semi-detached houses £522,500 and detached houses £834,000.
Are schools in Ardingly good?
Primary results beat 82% of towns in England (Department for Education, Key Stage 2). One state school is inside the town; places are handled by West Sussex council.
About Ardingly
Village in West Sussex, England
Ardingly is a built-up area of 1,646 people, in the Mid Sussex 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
- 1,646 (Census 2021)
- Council
- Mid Sussex
- County
- West Sussex
- Region
- South East
- Area
- 0.4 sq mi (1.1 km²)
- ONS code
- E63006059
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.