Cowfold’s story
24 listed buildings, 1 of them Grade I
Historic England lists them inside Cowfold’s built-up area.
25% of its homes were built before 1919, against 15% in the typical UK town.
Explore the history →
CowfoldWest Sussex
On the way to work, 9% walk, cycle or take a bus or train. In West Sussex, South East, this village has 1,377 residents.
7 places within 12 milesMap →
Photo: Antiquary · CC BY-SA 4.0
Population
1,377
Census 2021 · Horsham council
Median home
£400K
70 sales in 3 years
Median age
44.2
18% are 65+ · West Sussex 23%
Degree level
32%
of residents 16+ · England 34%
Walk, cycle, bus
9%
of commuters · England 27%
Is Cowfold a good place to live?
Where it does best is schools (A) — primary results beat just over four in five towns in England. Walkability is its weak spot (D): nearly one in ten commuters get to work on foot, by bike or by public transport. Housing is expensive (C+): the median home sold for £400,000, 6 years of area income. 24 listed buildings, 1 of them Grade I.
Figures: commuting, Census 2021 · prices, HM Land Registry, the last three years. An overall grade needs 2,500 residents, so Cowfold is graded subject by subject only.
What makes Cowfold stand out
The 3 things Cowfold 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%)
Listed buildings per 10,000 residents
History
1 Grade I, including The Parish Church of St Peter; 7.2 times the typical UK town for its size
Historic England’s list, October 2026.
Median sale, £ thousands
Housing
1.4 times the typical UK town’s £277K
Standard sales, September 2023 to August 2026.
How Cowfold grades
Each subject compared with the 2,160 UK towns with an overall grade (schools within England), ordered by how far Cowfold is from typical. American towns are graded separately.
An overall grade needs 2,500 residents, so Cowfold is graded subject by subject only.
SchoolsPrimary results beat 81% of towns in EnglandAOpen →WalkabilityAmong the hardest places to get around without a carDOpen →Jobs & incomeAbove the middle of the towns comparedA−Open →SafetyBased on crimes reported per residentA−Open →HealthLife expectancy 81.3 for men, 80.9 for womenB+Open →Hazard risk0% of homes at high or medium risk of flooding from rivers or the seaB+Open →Cost of livingHomes are harder to afford than in most townsC+Open →
Character Graded, but not part of the overall grade.
HistoryAmong the best of the towns comparedA−Open →Outdoors100% live within 400 m of a park; 15% of land within 5 km is National Park or National LandscapeAOpen →Civic life5.8 local charities per 1,000 residents; 0% live within 1 km of a libraryB+Open →
How TownRatings grades towns →
The data
Data highlights are ordered by what stands out in Cowfold.
SchoolsA
Exam results at Cowfold’s schools top 85% of towns in England
St Peter's CofE (Aided) Primary School’s results beat 83% of schools in England like it. Below is its only school. Just over two thirds of pupils at the 2 primary schools within 3 km met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths (three-year average).
ASchool Grade
| School | Level | Pupils | Letter |
|---|---|---|---|
| St Peter's CofE (Aided) Primary SchoolLargest primary schoolPrimary | Primary | 95 | A− |
Department for Education · GIAS, Key Stage 2 and GCSE resultsThe Schools page →
Work & commuteJobs & income grade A−
Commuters in Cowfold travel far: only 11% go under 5 km, fewer than in West Sussex’s towns or England’s towns
The Census was taken on 21 March 2021, in lockdown, so 34% of workers were mainly at home; shares here are of those who travelled.
The car took 90% of commuters, higher than both West Sussex’s towns (75%) and England’s towns (70%). Unemployment benefit claims reached 1.4% of 16 to 64s in 2026. Of the commuters living in Cowfold, 4% work in the town itself. Income per household averages £64K a year, before tax.
9%walk, cycle or ride
How commuters got to work · March 2021
Driving90%
On foot5%
Train1%
Bicycle1%
Bus1%
11%
of commuters travel under 5 km · England 45%
34%
worked mainly from home in March 2021
£64K
mean household income, before tax
1.4%
of 16 to 64s claim unemployment benefits (2026)
D
Walkability: more walkable than 15% 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 Cowfold: 25% were built before 1919, more than in West Sussex’s towns or England’s towns
The heritage lists give each building’s grade but not its age, so we don’t say which is oldest.
Cowfold’s listed buildings include The Parish Church of St Peter, Grade I. Listed buildings per head: 174 for every 10,000 residents of the town. The top grade, Grade I, goes to 1 of them.
24listed buildingsA−History Grade
Listed buildings by grade · Historic England
Grade I1
Grade II*0
Grade II23
Among them · Grade I
- The Parish Church of St Peter Grade I
0
scheduled monuments
0
registered parks and gardens
25%
of homes built before 1919 · typical UK town 15%
174
listed buildings per 10,000 residents · typical UK town 24
Historic England list, October 2026 · Valuation Office Agency, homes by build period · OGL
Safety
Violence is recorded less often in Cowfold than in West Sussex’s towns or across England’s towns: 10.9 per 1,000 residents a year
Burglary and damage came to 11.4 per 1,000 residents a year, above both West Sussex’s towns (9.7) and England’s towns (9.4). The 12 months to August 2026 brought 54 recorded crimes inside Cowfold’s built-up area, and 10 reports of anti-social behaviour. Violence and sexual offences made up 35% of the total.
10.9violent and sexual offences per 1,000 a yearA−Safety Grade
Compared with UK towns its sizeLess crime per resident than 60% 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 & sexual19
Public order9
Other theft8
Damage & arson7
Burglary6
Drugs2
Vehicle crime2
Shoplifting1
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.
10.9
violent and sexual offences per 1,000 residents a year, averaged Sep 2023 to Aug 2026
11.4
burglary, vehicle crime and damage per 1,000 a year, averaged Sep 2023 to Aug 2026
4.8
anti-social behaviour reports per 1,000 (not graded)
54
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.
Health
Just 3.4% of people in Cowfold say their health is bad or very bad, fewer than in West Sussex’s towns and England’s towns
14% of residents in Cowfold live with a disability. At the census, 85% of people in Cowfold called their health good or very good, higher than both West Sussex’s towns (83%) and England’s towns (82%). The nearest A&E to Cowfold is Princess Royal Hospital, 7.9 miles away. One GP practice serves the town; 87% of patients rate theirs good in the GP Patient Survey.
85%good or very good healthB+Health Grade
General health, self-reported
Good or very good 85%Fair 12%Bad or very bad 3%
| Census 2021 | Cowfold | West Sussex | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Good or very good health | 85% | 83% | 82% |
| Bad or very bad health | 3.4% | 4.5% | 5.2% |
| Disabled (Equality Act) | 14% | 17% | 17% |
81.3
life expectancy at birth, men (2019–23)
80.9
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.
HousingCost of living grade C+
Few households rent privately in Cowfold: 11%, fewer than in West Sussex’s towns and England’s towns
Owners make up 74% of households, above both West Sussex’s towns (68%) and England’s towns (61%). Private rents average £1,474 a month across the Horsham council area. The £400,000 median rests on 70 standard sales inside the built-up area (September 2023 to August 2026).
£400Kmedian sale
Median sale price · Sep 2023 to Aug 2026
Cowfold£400K
Typical UK town£277K
| By type | Median | Sales |
|---|---|---|
| Detached | £505,000 | 15 |
| Semi-detached | £415,000 | 29 |
| Terraced | £355,585 | 22 |
74%
of households own their home · England 61%
11%
rent privately · England 21%
£1,474
average private rent a month, Horsham council area
£2,480
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
A typical mix of ages for England
The median resident of Cowfold is 44.2 years old. 18% of residents are 65 or over, about level with England’s towns (18%) and below West Sussex’s towns (23%). The 15-to-24 age group makes up 10% of residents.
44.2median age
CowfoldWest SussexEngland
Ages · share of residents
18%
Qualifications · residents 16 and older
No qualifications9%
Apprenticeship6%
A levels or similar21%
Degree level32%
Women and men · all residents
51% women, 49% men
About 96 men for every 100 women. Across England, 51% of residents are women.
| Cowfold | West Sussex | England | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 15 | 17% | 17% | 18% |
| 15–24 | 10% | 9.8% | 12% |
| 25–44 | 23% | 24% | 27% |
| 45–64 | 31% | 27% | 25% |
| 65+ | 18% | 23% | 18% |
| No qualifications | 9.1% | 16% | 18% |
| Apprenticeship | 5.8% | 5.5% | 5.3% |
| A levels or similar | 21% | 18% | 17% |
| Degree level | 32% | 32% | 34% |
ONS Census 2021 · West Sussex and England: all residents of their built-up areas · OGL
Nearby attractions
All attractions →St. Hugh's Charterhouse, Parkminster and 3 more in and around Cowfold
Museums, castles, gardens and days out in and near Cowfold. Best known first.
Abbey or priorySt. Hugh's Charterhouse, Parkminster1.2 km outside town, to the southwest
CastleKnepp Castle4.9 km outside town, to the westMuseumMuseumDoll's House Museum3 km outside town, to the northZooZooWallaby Enclosure2.7 km outside town, to the northPlaces: © OpenStreetMap contributors · Wikidata
Photos: each place’s Wikidata image, from Wikimedia Commons under the licence below (our copy, resized).
Photo credits (2)
- St. Hugh's Charterhouse, Parkminster: Dave Spicer, CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Knepp Castle: Richard Nevell, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
Keep exploring
Everything we know about Cowfold
15pages on Cowfold
The big questions
SafetyA−10.9 violent and sexual offences per 1,000 residents a year, averaged Sep 2023 to Aug 2026Cost of livingC+Median home £400K · rent £1,474 a monthHousing29 sold in 12 months · busiest street Acorn AvenueSchoolsA1 state schoolHealthB+Life expectancy 81.3 (men), 80.9 (women)Work & commuteA−54% of working residents work in the townFlood & hazardsB+0% of homes at high or medium flood risk
Out and about
Cowfold’s neighbours
The nearest built-up areas, from ONS’s 2022 boundaries. See them on the map →
Partridge GreenHenfieldMannings HeathSouthwaterHandcrossHorshamCuckfieldCowfold
How the neighbours grade
| Town | People | Miles | Overall | Cost | Safety | Health |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cowfold | 1,377 | — | — | C+ | A− | B+ |
| Partridge Green | 1,911 | 2.4 | — | C+ | A | B+ |
| Henfield | 5,630 | 3.8 | C+ | C− | B | B+ |
| Mannings Heath | 1,137 | 3.8 | — | C− | A | A+ |
| Southwater | 11,204 | 4.3 | A+ | C | A− | A |
| Handcross | 1,399 | 5.3 | — | B | C+ | B |
| Horsham | 50,211 | 5.8 | A | C+ | C+ | A− |
| Cuckfield | 3,767 | 6 | A+ | C | B+ | A |
Partridge Green, Mannings Heath and Handcross have fewer than 2,500 residents, so they get subject grades but no overall grade. People: Census 2021. Miles: centre to centre.
Questions about Cowfold
How many listed buildings are there in Cowfold?
That is 7.2 times the typical UK town for its size. Its Grade I building is The Parish Church of St Peter.
Are schools in Cowfold good?
Primary results beat 81% of towns in England (Department for Education, Key Stage 2). One state school is inside the town; places are handled by West Sussex council.
Is Cowfold safe?
Against all UK towns, it grades A−.
Is Cowfold expensive to live in?
Homes cost more than in most UK towns: the median sale over three years was £400,000, against £277,000 in the typical UK town. By type: terraced houses £355,585, semi-detached houses £415,000 and detached houses £505,000.
About Cowfold
Village in West Sussex, England
Cowfold is a built-up area of 1,377 people, in the Horsham 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
- 1,377 (Census 2021)
- Council
- Horsham
- County
- West Sussex
- Region
- South East
- Area
- 0.2 sq mi (0.5 km²)
- ONS code
- E63006216
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.