Bottom Boat’s story
Bottom Boat: 30% of homes built before 1919
30% of its homes were built before 1919, against 15% in the typical UK town.
Explore the history →
Bottom BoatWest Yorkshire
A village of 1,191 in West Yorkshire, Yorkshire and The Humber.
7 places within 12 milesMap →
Photo: Mick Melvin · CC BY-SA 2.0
Population
1,191
Census 2021 · Wakefield council
Median home
£175K
43 sales in 3 years
Median age
39.3
17% are 65+ · West Yorkshire 17%
Degree level
20%
of residents 16+ · England 34%
Walk, cycle, bus
18%
of commuters · England 27%
Is Bottom Boat a good place to live?
Bottom Boat 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 safety (C−): 38.3 violent and sexual offences and 13.7 home and vehicle crimes per 1,000 residents a year, averaged Sep 2023 to Aug 2026. Among UK towns of 1,000 to 2,500 people, it has less crime per resident than 8%. The median home sold for £175,000 in the last three years, 3.9 times what households in the Wakefield council area earn in a year.
What makes Bottom Boat stand out
The 3 things Bottom Boat does most differently from other towns.
Homes built before 1919
History
Against 15% in the typical UK town
Valuation Office Agency, homes by build period.
Degree level, 16+
Education
Degree-level qualifications, residents 16+ (England’s towns 34%)
West Yorkshire 30%.
Median sale, £ thousands
Housing
37% below the typical UK town’s £277K
Standard sales, September 2023 to August 2026.
How Bottom Boat grades
Each subject compared with the 2,160 UK towns with an overall grade (schools within England), ordered by how far Bottom Boat is from typical. American towns are graded separately.
Hazard riskAOpen →SchoolsPrimary results beat 93% of towns in England; secondary results beat 67% of towns in EnglandA−Open →SafetyC−Open →Cost of livingrent £806 a monthA−Open →Jobs & incomeMean household income £51,783COpen →HealthLife expectancy 78.4 for men, 83.9 for womenCOpen →WalkabilityB+Open →
Character Graded, but not part of the overall grade.
History0 listed buildingsC−Open →Outdoors100% live within 400 m of a park; 0.8 ha of public green space per 1,000 residentsCOpen →Civic life0% live within 1 km of a libraryDOpen →
How TownRatings grades towns →
The data
Data highlights are ordered by what stands out in Bottom Boat.
Who lives here
Fewer people in Bottom Boat hold a degree than in West Yorkshire’s towns or England’s towns: 20%
That puts Bottom Boat below both West Yorkshire’s towns (30%) and England’s towns (34%). People aged 15 to 24 make up 8% of the town. Half the people of Bottom Boat are older than 39.3.
39.3median age
Bottom BoatWest YorkshireEngland
Ages · share of residents
17%
Qualifications · residents 16 and older
No qualifications28%
Apprenticeship7%
A levels or similar17%
Degree level20%
Women and men · all residents
51% women, 49% men
About an even split. Across England, 51% of residents are women.
| Bottom Boat | West Yorkshire | England | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 15 | 20% | 19% | 18% |
| 15–24 | 8% | 13% | 12% |
| 25–44 | 30% | 27% | 27% |
| 45–64 | 26% | 25% | 25% |
| 65+ | 17% | 17% | 18% |
| No qualifications | 28% | 21% | 18% |
| Apprenticeship | 7% | 5.7% | 5.3% |
| A levels or similar | 17% | 17% | 17% |
| Degree level | 20% | 30% | 34% |
ONS Census 2021 · West Yorkshire and England: all residents of their built-up areas · OGL
Safety
Bottom Boat has more crime per resident than 81% of UK towns
Violence came to 38.3 per 1,000 residents a year, above both West Yorkshire’s towns (31.4) and England’s towns (22). Police recorded 76 crimes inside Bottom Boat’s built-up area in the 12 months to August 2026, plus 7 reports of anti-social behaviour. Violence and sexual offences were 50% of the crimes; the police category includes harassment and stalking.
38.3violent and sexual offences per 1,000 a yearC−Safety Grade
Compared with UK towns its sizeLess crime per resident than 8% of the 1,541 UK towns of 1,000 to 2,500 people: more crime than most for its size. Context only, not part of the grade.
Reports by type · Sep 2025 to Aug 2026
Violence & sexual38
Vehicle crime10
Public order8
Damage & arson6
Other theft6
Drugs4
Burglary2
Theft from person1
Anti-social7
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.
38.3
violent and sexual offences per 1,000 residents a year, averaged Sep 2023 to Aug 2026
13.7
burglary, vehicle crime and damage per 1,000 a year, averaged Sep 2023 to Aug 2026
9.2
anti-social behaviour reports per 1,000 (not graded)
76
crimes recorded in the 12 months to August 2026
data.police.uk street-level crime · points inside the ONS built-up-area boundary · OGL
History
More of the land in Bottom Boat is conservation area than in West Yorkshire’s towns or England’s towns: 100%
The heritage lists give each building’s grade but not its age, so we don’t say which is oldest.
Of Bottom Boat’s land, 100% lies in conservation areas, above both West Yorkshire’s towns (48%) and England’s towns (7%). Homes from before 1919 make up 30% of the total.
0listed buildingsC−History Grade
Listed buildings by grade · Historic England
Grade I0
Grade II*0
Grade II0
0
scheduled monuments
0
registered parks and gardens
30%
of homes built before 1919 · typical UK town 15%
0
listed buildings per 10,000 residents · typical UK town 24
Historic England list, October 2026 · Valuation Office Agency, homes by build period · OGL
HousingCost of living grade A−
More households in Bottom Boat live in social housing than in West Yorkshire’s towns or England’s towns: 37%
On this, Bottom Boat is above both West Yorkshire’s towns (18%) and England’s towns (18%). Private renters make up 13% of households.
£175Kmedian sale
Median sale price · Sep 2023 to Aug 2026
Bottom Boat£175K
Typical UK town£277K
| By type | Median | Sales |
|---|---|---|
| Detached | £370,000 | 5 |
| Semi-detached | £215,000 | 13 |
| Terraced | £154,000 | 25 |
49%
of households own their home · England 61%
13%
rent privately · England 21%
£806
average private rent a month, Wakefield council area
£2,259
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
More people in Bottom Boat say their health is bad than in West Yorkshire’s towns or across England’s towns: 8.1%
In the comparison, Bottom Boat comes above both West Yorkshire’s towns (5.7%) and England’s towns (5.2%). Bottom Boat has no GP practice of its own; the nearest is 0.8 miles away. These answers aren’t adjusted for age, so young towns look healthier; the Health Grade uses age-adjusted measures, including life expectancy and early deaths.
76%good or very good healthCHealth Grade
General health, self-reported
Good or very good 76%Fair 16%Bad or very bad 8%
| Census 2021 | Bottom Boat | West Yorkshire | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Good or very good health | 76% | 81% | 82% |
| Bad or very bad health | 8.1% | 5.7% | 5.2% |
| Disabled (Equality Act) | 23% | 18% | 17% |
78.4
life expectancy at birth, men (2019–23)
83.9
life expectancy at birth, women
ONS Census 2021, general health and disability · OHID Fingertips, life expectancy 2019–23 · OGL
Work & commuteJobs & income grade C
More people aged 16 to 64 in Bottom Boat claim unemployment benefits than in West Yorkshire’s towns or England’s towns: 5%
The Census was taken on 21 March 2021, in lockdown, so 22% of workers were mainly at home; shares here are of those who travelled.
For Bottom Boat, that is above both West Yorkshire’s towns (2.3%) and England’s towns (2.3%). At the census, 18% of commuters walked, cycled or took the bus or train.
18%walk, cycle or ride
How commuters got to work · March 2021
Driving78%
Bus10%
On foot7%
Bicycle1%
37%
of commuters travel under 5 km · England 45%
22%
worked mainly from home in March 2021
£52K
mean household income, before tax
5%
of 16 to 64s claim unemployment benefits (2026)
B+
Walkability: more walkable than 71% of UK towns
ONS Census 2021, method of travel and distance to work · ONS small-area income · DWP claimant count · OGL
Nearby attractions
All attractions →Wakefield Cathedral and 8 more in and around Bottom Boat
Museums, castles, gardens and days out in and near Bottom Boat. Best known first.
CathedralWakefield Cathedral4.4 km outside town, to the southwest
Art galleryThe Hepworth Wakefield4.9 km outside town, to the southwest
MuseumWakefield Museum4.5 km outside town, to the southwest
Historic houseOulton Hall2.5 km outside town, to the north
CastleRothwell Castle Ruins3.3 km outside town, to the northwest
Art galleryThe Art House4.7 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 (6)
- Wakefield Cathedral: Mike Kirby, CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
- The Hepworth Wakefield: Mike Kirby, CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Wakefield Museum: Jill Jennings, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Oulton Hall: Bill Henderson, CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Rothwell Castle Ruins: Mike Kirby, CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
- The Art House: Anne Burgess, CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
Keep exploring
Everything we know about Bottom Boat
14pages on Bottom Boat
The big questions
SafetyC−38.3 violent and sexual offences per 1,000 residents a year, averaged Sep 2023 to Aug 2026Cost of livingA−Median home £175K · rent £806 a monthHousing13 sold in 12 months · busiest street Bottom Boat RoadSchoolsA−1 state schoolHealthCLife expectancy 78.4 (men), 83.9 (women)Work & commuteC39% of working residents work in the townFlood & hazardsA0% of homes at high or medium flood risk
Out and about
Bottom Boat’s neighbours
The nearest built-up areas, from ONS’s 2022 boundaries. See them on the map →
Lofthouse and Robin HoodRothwellNormantonMethleyMickletownThorpe on the HillWakefieldBottom Boat
How the neighbours grade
| Town | People | Miles | Overall | Cost | Safety | Health |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bottom Boat | 1,191 | — | — | A− | C− | C |
| Lofthouse and Robin Hood | 4,187 | 2 | B | B− | C | C |
| Rothwell | 20,964 | 2.2 | C | C+ | C− | C |
| Normanton | 21,976 | 2.3 | C+ | B+ | D | C− |
| Methley | 1,196 | 2.3 | — | B− | B | C− |
| Mickletown | 3,362 | 2.7 | B− | C+ | B− | C− |
| Thorpe on the Hill | 1,232 | 2.9 | — | B− | C | C |
| Wakefield | 97,871 | 3.1 | C | B | D− | D |
Methley and Thorpe on the Hill have fewer than 2,500 residents, so they get subject grades but no overall grade. People: Census 2021. Miles: centre to centre.
Questions about Bottom Boat
Who lives in Bottom Boat?
Fewer households own their home than across England’s towns: 49%, against 61%.
Are schools in Bottom Boat good?
Primary schools stand out: Key Stage 2 results beat 93% of towns in England. Secondary results beat 67%. One state school is inside the town; places are handled by Wakefield council.
Is Bottom Boat expensive to live in?
Homes cost less than in most UK towns: the median sale over three years was £175,000, against £277,000 in the typical UK town. By type: terraced houses £154,000, semi-detached houses £215,000 and detached houses £370,000.
About Bottom Boat
Village in West Yorkshire, England
Bottom Boat is a built-up area of 1,191 people, in the Wakefield 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
- 1,191 (Census 2021)
- Council
- Wakefield
- County
- West Yorkshire
- Region
- Yorkshire and The Humber
- Area
- 0.1 sq mi (0.3 km²)
- ONS code
- E63000915
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.