England · County

Find your town in West Yorkshire

West Yorkshire has 91 towns of 2,500 or more and 55 villages and smaller places. Towns are graded against towns across England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland on cost of living, safety, schools, health and more.

91graded towns

16grade A− or better

55villages and smaller places

Leedslargest · 536,262

How West Yorkshire compares: its report card →

#1 in West YorkshireRippondenA⁺

Houses on Main Street, Burley-in-Wharfedale

#2 in West YorkshireBurley in WharfedaleA⁺

#3 in West YorkshireShepleyA

#4 in West YorkshireIlkleyA

West Yorkshire at a glance

What West Yorkshire is like

The typical West Yorkshire town grades highest on cost of living and schools against towns across England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, and lowest on safety. Choose a subject to find the towns that do best on it.

The typical town, subject by subjectThe median West Yorkshire town against UK towns · the line marks the typical UK town

How West Yorkshire’s towns grade overall91 graded towns

A16B37C30D8

16 of 91 (18%) grade A− or better, against 25% of UK towns.

Every town ranked by scoreThe full West Yorkshire list, with what drives each grade Compare two townsSide by side, subject by subject

The finder

Find a town that’s…

91 towns · ordered by West Yorkshire rank

A⁺

Ripponden

Town · 4,775 people · #73 of 2,138 nationally

StrongestAHealthASchoolsLowestC⁺Walkability

A⁺

Burley in Wharfedale

Town · 6,806 people · #100 of 2,138 nationally

StrongestA⁺SchoolsA⁺Jobs & incomeLowestC⁻Cost of living

Shepley

Town · 2,515 people · #153 of 2,138 nationally

StrongestAJobs & incomeASafetyLowestCWalkability

Ilkley

Town · 14,852 people · #169 of 2,138 nationally

StrongestA⁺HealthASchoolsLowestDHazard risk

Addingham

Town · 3,247 people · #178 of 2,138 nationally

StrongestA⁺SchoolsA⁺HealthLowestDHazard risk

Shelley

Town · 2,696 people · #197 of 2,138 nationally

StrongestAJobs & incomeASafetyLowestDWalkability

Menston

Town · 5,905 people · #201 of 2,138 nationally

StrongestA⁺Jobs & incomeA⁺HealthLowestDCost of living

A⁻

Marsden

Town · 3,691 people · #362 of 2,138 nationally

StrongestASchoolsA⁻Cost of livingLowestC⁻Hazard risk

A⁻

Honley

Town · 14,399 people · #367 of 2,138 nationally

StrongestA⁻SchoolsA⁻HealthLowestCHazard risk

A⁻

Kirkburton

Town · 4,033 people · #385 of 2,138 nationally

StrongestA⁻Jobs & incomeB⁺HealthLowestCWalkability

A⁻

Garforth

Town · 15,148 people · #409 of 2,138 nationally

StrongestASchoolsAJobs & incomeLowestCCost of living

A⁻

Boston Spa

Town · 6,358 people · #435 of 2,138 nationally

StrongestASchoolsAHealthLowestDCost of living

A⁻

Denby Dale

Town · 2,734 people · #458 of 2,138 nationally

StrongestB⁺SchoolsB⁺Jobs & incomeLowestC⁻Hazard risk

A⁻

Guiseley

Town · 12,462 people · #457 of 2,138 nationally

StrongestA⁺SchoolsA⁺Jobs & incomeLowestC⁻Cost of living

A⁻

Holmfirth

Town · 4,982 people · #493 of 2,138 nationally

StrongestAHealthA⁻SchoolsLowestCHazard risk

A⁻

Bramhope

Town · 3,593 people · #523 of 2,138 nationally

StrongestA⁺HealthAJobs & incomeLowestD⁻Cost of living

B⁺

Rawdon

Town · 6,738 people · #539 of 2,138 nationally

StrongestA⁺Jobs & incomeAHealthLowestDCost of living

B⁺

Calverley

Town · 3,988 people · #574 of 2,138 nationally

StrongestA⁺Jobs & incomeA⁻HealthLowestC⁻Cost of living

B⁺

Bingley

Large town · 21,334 people · #583 of 2,138 nationally

StrongestA⁻SchoolsA⁻WalkabilityLowestC⁻Safety

B⁺

Lepton

Town · 4,950 people · #589 of 2,138 nationally

StrongestB⁺Cost of livingB⁺Hazard riskLowestC⁻Walkability

B⁺

Shelf and Northowram

Town · 9,191 people · #644 of 2,138 nationally

StrongestA⁻Jobs & incomeA⁻Cost of livingLowestCSchools

B⁺

Holywell Green and Stainland

Town · 2,799 people · #654 of 2,138 nationally

StrongestA⁻Cost of livingA⁻SchoolsLowestCHealth

B⁺

Steeton

Town · 5,019 people · #724 of 2,138 nationally

StrongestAWalkabilityA⁻Jobs & incomeLowestDSafety

B⁺

Wetherby

Town · 11,711 people · #725 of 2,138 nationally

StrongestASchoolsA⁻Jobs & incomeLowestDCost of living

B⁺

Otley

Town · 14,549 people · #726 of 2,138 nationally

StrongestASchoolsA⁻WalkabilityLowestDHazard risk

Clayton West and Scissett

Town · 4,382 people · #772 of 2,138 nationally

StrongestB⁺SchoolsB⁺Jobs & incomeLowestDHazard risk

Walton

Town · 3,266 people · #790 of 2,138 nationally

StrongestB⁺Hazard riskBSafetyLowestCCost of living

Gomersal and Birkenshaw

Town · 13,948 people · #793 of 2,138 nationally

StrongestAHazard riskA⁻Cost of livingLowestC⁻Walkability

Linthwaite and Slaithwaite

Town · 9,242 people · #813 of 2,138 nationally

StrongestA⁻Cost of livingA⁻SchoolsLowestC⁻Safety

Hebden Bridge

Town · 5,230 people · #818 of 2,138 nationally

StrongestA⁺WalkabilityBSchoolsLowestD⁻Hazard risk

Ackworth Moor Top

Town · 6,275 people · #819 of 2,138 nationally

StrongestA⁻HealthB⁺Jobs & incomeLowestC⁻Walkability

Lofthouse and Robin Hood

Town · 4,187 people · #843 of 2,138 nationally

StrongestAHazard riskAJobs & incomeLowestCHealth

Silsden

Town · 8,392 people · #872 of 2,138 nationally

StrongestB⁺WalkabilityBCost of livingLowestC⁻Hazard risk

Wilsden

Town · 3,749 people · #878 of 2,138 nationally

StrongestB⁺Jobs & incomeBCost of livingLowestCWalkability

Ossett

Large town · 21,854 people · #887 of 2,138 nationally

StrongestA⁻SchoolsB⁺Cost of livingLowestCSafety

Crofton

Town · 6,127 people · #895 of 2,138 nationally

StrongestAHazard riskB⁺SchoolsLowestC⁺Walkability

Elland

Town · 15,788 people · #913 of 2,138 nationally

StrongestACost of livingA⁻WalkabilityLowestDSafety

Skelmanthorpe

Town · 4,458 people · #928 of 2,138 nationally

StrongestB⁺SchoolsBCost of livingLowestC⁺Safety

Kirkheaton

Town · 3,492 people · #929 of 2,138 nationally

StrongestAHazard riskA⁻Cost of livingLowestC⁻Schools

Crigglestone and Durkar

Town · 6,672 people · #940 of 2,138 nationally

StrongestA⁻Jobs & incomeB⁺Hazard riskLowestC⁻Walkability

B⁻

Baildon

Town · 17,056 people · #962 of 2,138 nationally

StrongestB⁺WalkabilityBSchoolsLowestC⁻Safety

B⁻

Mytholmroyd

Town · 3,852 people · #1,000 of 2,138 nationally

StrongestAWalkabilityA⁻Cost of livingLowestD⁻Hazard risk

B⁻

Haworth

Town · 5,680 people · #1,007 of 2,138 nationally

StrongestA⁻Cost of livingBWalkabilityLowestC⁻Safety

B⁻

Pudsey

Large town · 34,853 people · #1,027 of 2,138 nationally

StrongestA⁻WalkabilityB⁺SchoolsLowestC⁻Safety

B⁻

Mickletown

Town · 3,362 people · #1,044 of 2,138 nationally

StrongestA⁻Jobs & incomeBSchoolsLowestC⁻Health

B⁻

Netherton (Kirklees)

Town · 3,151 people · #1,052 of 2,138 nationally

StrongestB⁺Cost of livingBWalkabilityLowestC⁺Health

B⁻

Morley

Large town · 32,562 people · #1,057 of 2,138 nationally

StrongestA⁻SchoolsA⁻WalkabilityLowestDSafety

B⁻

Mirfield

Town · 19,614 people · #1,070 of 2,138 nationally

StrongestB⁺Cost of livingBJobs & incomeLowestDHazard risk

B⁻

Meltham

Town · 8,325 people · #1,081 of 2,138 nationally

StrongestBHazard riskBCost of livingLowestCSafety

B⁻

Brighouse

Large town · 33,159 people · #1,091 of 2,138 nationally

StrongestA⁻Cost of livingBWalkabilityLowestDSafety

B⁻

Horbury

Town · 9,868 people · #1,112 of 2,138 nationally

StrongestA⁻SchoolsB⁺Cost of livingLowestDSafety

B⁻

Yeadon

Town · 14,273 people · #1,142 of 2,138 nationally

StrongestA⁻WalkabilityB⁺SchoolsLowestC⁻Safety

B⁻

Swillington

Town · 3,077 people · #1,167 of 2,138 nationally

StrongestAHazard riskBSchoolsLowestCSafety

C⁺

Kippax

Town · 10,299 people · #1,184 of 2,138 nationally

StrongestBSchoolsBJobs & incomeLowestCHealth

C⁺

Gildersome

Town · 6,278 people · #1,204 of 2,138 nationally

StrongestAHazard riskBSchoolsLowestCSafety

C⁺

Oakworth

Town · 3,688 people · #1,212 of 2,138 nationally

StrongestA⁻Cost of livingBJobs & incomeLowestDSchools

C⁺

Drighlington

Town · 5,280 people · #1,235 of 2,138 nationally

StrongestAHazard riskB⁺Jobs & incomeLowestC⁻Safety

C⁺

Queensbury

Town · 9,707 people · #1,248 of 2,138 nationally

StrongestAHazard riskA⁻Cost of livingLowestC⁻Safety

C⁺

Pontefract

Large town · 32,982 people · #1,256 of 2,138 nationally

StrongestASchoolsB⁺Cost of livingLowestDSafety

C⁺

Heckmondwike

Town · 13,368 people · #1,271 of 2,138 nationally

StrongestACost of livingA⁻SchoolsLowestDSafety

C⁺

Halifax

Large town · 88,111 people · #1,280 of 2,138 nationally

StrongestACost of livingAWalkabilityLowestD⁻Safety

C⁺

Batley

Large town · 44,494 people · #1,308 of 2,138 nationally

StrongestACost of livingBWalkabilityLowestDSafety

C⁺

Allerton Bywater

Town · 6,958 people · #1,309 of 2,138 nationally

StrongestA⁻SchoolsB⁻Jobs & incomeLowestDHazard risk

C⁺

East Ardsley

Town · 15,238 people · #1,313 of 2,138 nationally

StrongestB⁺Jobs & incomeBHazard riskLowestC⁻Safety

C⁺

Shipley

Large town · 29,228 people · #1,338 of 2,138 nationally

StrongestAWalkabilityA⁻Cost of livingLowestD⁻Safety

C⁺

Liversedge

Town · 17,519 people · #1,345 of 2,138 nationally

StrongestACost of livingB⁻WalkabilityLowestDSafety

C⁺

Sowerby Bridge

Town · 4,483 people · #1,348 of 2,138 nationally

StrongestACost of livingAWalkabilityLowestD⁻Safety

C⁺

Normanton

Large town · 21,976 people · #1,385 of 2,138 nationally

StrongestB⁺WalkabilityB⁺Cost of livingLowestDSafety

Rothwell

Large town · 20,964 people · #1,446 of 2,138 nationally

StrongestB⁺Hazard riskBWalkabilityLowestC⁻Safety

Scholes (near Cleckheaton)

Town · 2,896 people · #1,473 of 2,138 nationally

StrongestAHazard riskA⁻Cost of livingLowestC⁻Safety

Knottingley

Town · 9,516 people · #1,478 of 2,138 nationally

StrongestA⁻WalkabilityA⁻SchoolsLowestD⁻Safety

Cleckheaton

Town · 11,607 people · #1,477 of 2,138 nationally

StrongestACost of livingBWalkabilityLowestD⁻Safety

Wakefield

Large town · 97,871 people · #1,509 of 2,138 nationally

StrongestA⁻WalkabilityB⁺SchoolsLowestD⁻Safety

Thornton

Town · 5,410 people · #1,513 of 2,138 nationally

StrongestAHazard riskACost of livingLowestDSafety

Huddersfield

City · 141,683 people · #1,543 of 2,138 nationally

StrongestACost of livingA⁻WalkabilityLowestDSafety

Cullingworth

Town · 3,096 people · #1,553 of 2,138 nationally

StrongestB⁻Jobs & incomeC⁺Cost of livingLowestC⁻Hazard risk

Havercroft and Ryhill

Town · 5,204 people · #1,555 of 2,138 nationally

StrongestB⁺Cost of livingBSchoolsLowestDJobs & income

C⁻

Todmorden

Town · 12,971 people · #1,633 of 2,138 nationally

StrongestAWalkabilityACost of livingLowestD⁻Hazard risk

C⁻

Holmfield

Town · 4,150 people · #1,689 of 2,138 nationally

StrongestA⁻Cost of livingBSchoolsLowestD⁻Safety

C⁻

Bradford

City · 333,968 people · #1,723 of 2,138 nationally

StrongestACost of livingA⁻WalkabilityLowestD⁻Safety

C⁻

Denholme

Town · 2,960 people · #1,733 of 2,138 nationally

StrongestAHazard riskA⁻Cost of livingLowestD⁻Safety

C⁻

Dewsbury

Large town · 63,730 people · #1,741 of 2,138 nationally

StrongestACost of livingB⁺WalkabilityLowestD⁻Safety

C⁻

Leeds

City · 536,262 people · #1,807 of 2,138 nationally

StrongestA⁺WalkabilityC⁺SchoolsLowestD⁻Safety

Keighley

Large town · 48,754 people · #1,892 of 2,138 nationally

StrongestAWalkabilityACost of livingLowestD⁻Safety

Castleford

Large town · 45,363 people · #1,903 of 2,138 nationally

StrongestB⁺Cost of livingBWalkabilityLowestD⁻Safety

Upton

Town · 6,332 people · #1,907 of 2,138 nationally

StrongestB⁺Cost of livingBHazard riskLowestDSafety

Featherstone

Town · 11,657 people · #1,965 of 2,138 nationally

StrongestB⁺Cost of livingBWalkabilityLowestD⁻Safety

Hemsworth

Town · 9,177 people · #1,968 of 2,138 nationally

StrongestB⁺WalkabilityBCost of livingLowestD⁻Safety

South Elmsall

Town · 11,187 people · #1,981 of 2,138 nationally

StrongestA⁻WalkabilityB⁺Cost of livingLowestD⁻Safety

D⁻

Fitzwilliam and Kinsley

Town · 4,993 people · #2,068 of 2,138 nationally

StrongestB⁺WalkabilityBCost of livingLowestD⁻Health

D⁻

South Kirkby

Town · 8,880 people · #2,089 of 2,138 nationally

StrongestBCost of livingBHazard riskLowestD⁻Health

Go deeper

West Yorkshire lists

Every list ranks the same 2,500+ towns, so a town’s rank means the same thing on each.

All West Yorkshire rankings →

Best places to live91 towns · #1 Ripponden Best small towns54 towns · #1 Ripponden Most affordable towns91 towns · #1 Halifax Safest towns91 towns · #1 Shelley Towns with the best schools91 towns · #1 Addingham Healthiest towns91 towns · #1 Bramhope Best towns for jobs & income91 towns · #1 Menston Most walkable towns91 towns · #1 Hebden Bridge Towns with the lowest flood risk91 towns · #1 Bramhope and 11 more Best towns for the outdoors91 towns · #1 Otley Most historic towns91 towns · #1 Hebden Bridge Towns with the most civic life91 towns · #1 Marsden Towns with the highest household incomes91 towns · #1 MenstonDescribed, no letters Towns with the lowest council tax91 towns · #1 Castleford and 5 moreDescribed, no letters Towns with the mildest winters91 towns · #1 CastlefordDescribed, no letters Towns with the warmest summers91 towns · #1 CastlefordDescribed, no letters Towns with the coolest summers91 towns · #1 MarsdenDescribed, no letters Towns with the fewest frosts91 towns · #1 CastlefordDescribed, no letters Driest towns91 towns · #1 Holmfield and KnottingleyDescribed, no letters Wettest towns91 towns · #1 MarsdenDescribed, no letters

Villages and small towns

55 smaller places in West Yorkshire

Places of 1,000 to 2,500 people have subject grades on their pages, but no overall grade or rank. The search at the top finds these too.

20 places under 1,000 people

Photos: 0: Tim Green · CC BY 2.0 · 1: Stephen Craven · CC BY-SA 2.0 · 2: Nigel Homer · CC BY-SA 2.0 · 3: Colin Smith · CC BY-SA 2.0 · 6: Mtaylor848 · CC BY-SA 3.0 · 7: Andrew Farquhar · CC BY 2.0 · 8: Velella · CC BY-SA 3.0 · 9: steve taylor · CC BY-SA 2.0 · 10: Mtaylor848 · CC BY-SA 4.0 · 14: Richard Harvey · CC BY-SA 2.0 uk · 15: Linda Spashett Storye_book · CC BY 3.0 · 16: Chemical Engineer · CC BY-SA 4.0 · 17: Tim Green from Bradford · CC BY 2.0 · 18: habiloid · CC BY-SA 2.0 · 20: Alexander P Kapp · CC BY-SA 2.0 · 21: Malcolm Street · CC BY-SA 2.0 · 23: Malc McDonald · CC BY-SA 2.0 · 24: Dr Neil Clifton · CC BY-SA 2.0 · 25: Peter Whatley · CC BY-SA 2.0 · 26: Christine Johnstone · CC BY-SA 2.0 · 27: Humphrey Bolton · CC BY-SA 2.0 · 28: Tim Green aka atouch · CC BY 2.0 · 29: Robert Wade · CC BY-SA 2.0 · 30: Mike Kirby · CC BY-SA 2.0 · 31: Betty Longbottom · CC BY-SA 2.0 · 33: MGSpiller · CC BY 2.5 · 34: Steve Fareham · CC BY-SA 2.0 · 35: DS Pugh · CC BY-SA 2.0 · 40: Chris Heaton · CC BY-SA 2.0 · 42: Original uploader was SpaceMonkey at en.wikipedia · CC BY-SA 3.0 · 43: Stephen Armstrong · CC BY-SA 2.0 · 45: Richard Harvey · CC BY-SA 3.0 · 48: Richard Harvey · CC BY-SA 2.5 · 50: J3Mrs. · CC BY-SA 3.0 · 51: Mat Fascione · CC BY-SA 2.0 · 52: Mick Melvin · CC BY-SA 2.0 · 55: SpaceMonkey at English Wikipedia · CC BY-SA 3.0 · 58: Stephen McKay · CC BY-SA 2.0 · 60: Mr Barndoor · CC BY 3.0 · 65: SnoopingAsUsual · Public domain · 66: Dave Bevis · CC BY-SA 2.0 · 73: Jon Farman · Public domain · 75: Decvalts · Public domain · 76: Steve F · CC BY-SA 2.0 · 77: John H Darch · CC BY-SA 2.0 · 78: Ian S · CC BY-SA 2.0 · 83: Tim Green atouch · CC BY 2.0 · 85: Jonathan Clitheroe · CC BY-SA 2.0 · 89: Bill Henderson · CC BY-SA 2.0

Sources: TownRatings grades: our own summary of the data, ranked against UK towns only · ONS Census 2021, output areas summed to the ONS 2022 built-up area. 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.