Oakenshaw’s story
7 listed buildings
Historic England lists them inside Oakenshaw’s built-up area.
36% of its homes were built before 1919, against 15% in the typical UK town.
Explore the history →
OakenshawWest Yorkshire
Some 1,571 people live in this village, in West Yorkshire, Yorkshire and The Humber.
7 places within 12 milesMap →
Photo: Chris Heaton · CC BY-SA 2.0
Population
1,571
Census 2021 · Bradford council
Median home
£170K
89 sales in 3 years
Median age
41
17% are 65+ · West Yorkshire 17%
Degree level
26%
of residents 16+ · England 34%
Walk, cycle, bus
16%
of commuters · England 27%
Is Oakenshaw a good place to live?
Homes are affordable: homes sell for a median £170,000, about 3.7 times local household income. Its weakest is safety — police record 34.2 violent and sexual offences per 1,000 residents a year, and 25.5 home and vehicle crimes. Set beside UK towns of 1,000 to 2,500 people, its crime per resident is higher than in 95%. It lags on hazard risk as well (D): 5.1% of homes at high or medium risk of flooding from rivers or the sea. Its other grades sit near the middle: B for jobs & income and B for walkability.
Figures: prices, HM Land Registry, the last three years · crime, police.uk, averaged Sep 2023 to Aug 2026 · flood risk, Environment Agency · income, ONS · claimants, DWP · commuting, Census 2021. Oakenshaw has fewer than 2,500 residents, so it gets subject grades but no overall grade.
What makes Oakenshaw stand out
The 3 things Oakenshaw does most differently from other towns.
Homes built before 1919
History
36% of homes built before 1919
Against 15% in the typical UK town
Valuation Office Agency, homes by build period.
Walk, cycle or public transport
Getting around
16% leave the car
of commuters walk, cycle or take public transport (England’s towns 27%)
Median sale, £ thousands
Housing
39% below the typical UK town’s £277K
Standard sales, September 2023 to August 2026.
How Oakenshaw grades
Each subject compared with the 2,160 UK towns with an overall grade (schools within England), ordered by how far Oakenshaw is from typical. American towns are graded separately.
Hazard riskGraded on exposure to natural hazardsDOpen →SafetyCrime runs among the highest comparedDOpen →SchoolsPrimary results beat 30% of towns in England; secondary results beat 19% of towns in EnglandC−Open →Cost of livingIn the top fifth of the towns comparedA−Open →HealthLife expectancy 78.8 for men, 82.1 for womenC−Open →WalkabilityBased on walking, cycling and transit to everyday placesBOpen →Jobs & incomeMean household income £47,577; 2.4% of 16 to 64s claim unemployment benefitsBOpen →
Character Graded, but not part of the overall grade.
HistoryAbout average among the towns comparedBOpen →Outdoors100% live within 400 m of a park; 7.4 ha of public green space per 1,000 residentsA−Open →Civic life0.6 local charities per 1,000 residents; 0% live within 1 km of a libraryD−Open →
How TownRatings grades towns →
Nearby attractions
All attractions →National Science and Media Museum and 10 more in and around Oakenshaw
Museums, castles, gardens and days out in and near Oakenshaw. Best known first.
MuseumNational Science and Media Museum4 km outside town, to the north · 442K visitors a year (2015)
CathedralBradford Cathedral4.4 km outside town, to the north
MuseumBolling Hall Museum2.6 km outside town, to the north
Historic houseRed House Museum3.2 km outside town, to the southeast
Historic houseOakwell Hall4 km outside town, to the east
MuseumBradford Police Museum4.2 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 (6)
- National Science and Media Museum: Chemical Engineer, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Bradford Cathedral: Mick Melvin, CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Bolling Hall Museum: StuartBurrows, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Red House Museum: Storye book, CC BY 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Oakwell Hall: Nigel Homer, CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Bradford Police Museum: Mtaylor848, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
The data
Data highlights are ordered by what stands out in Oakenshaw.
Safety
Per resident, Oakenshaw sees more crime than 88% of UK towns
124 crimes and 35 reports of anti-social behaviour: that is what police recorded inside Oakenshaw’s built-up area in the 12 months to August 2026. Anti-social behaviour, shown but not graded, came to 14.4 reports per 1,000, above West Yorkshire’s towns (6.8) and England’s towns (7.8) alike. Violence and sexual offences accounted for 44% of recorded crime.
34.2violent and sexual offences per 1,000 a yearDSafety Grade
Compared with UK towns its sizeLess crime per resident than 5% 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 & sexual54
Vehicle crime20
Damage & arson11
Drugs10
Other crime8
Other theft7
Public order6
Burglary5
Anti-social35
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.
34.2
violent and sexual offences per 1,000 residents a year, averaged Sep 2023 to Aug 2026
25.5
burglary, vehicle crime and damage per 1,000 a year, averaged Sep 2023 to Aug 2026
14.4
anti-social behaviour reports per 1,000 (not graded)
124
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−
Most households in Oakenshaw own their home: 69%, more than in West Yorkshire’s towns or across England’s towns
Social housing holds 7% of households. 24% rent privately, above both West Yorkshire’s towns (21%) and England’s towns (21%). Private rents average £762 a month across the Bradford council area.
£170Kmedian sale
Median sale price · Sep 2023 to Aug 2026
Oakenshaw£170K
Typical UK town£277K
| By type | Median | Sales |
|---|---|---|
| Detached | £262,500 | 12 |
| Semi-detached | £208,750 | 26 |
| Terraced | £145,000 | 51 |
69%
of households own their home · England 61%
24%
rent privately · England 21%
£762
average private rent a month, Bradford council area
£2,378
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
Life expectancy in Oakenshaw is shorter than in 75% of UK towns
There is no GP practice in Oakenshaw: the nearest is 1.2 miles off. Disability touches 19% of the town’s population. The nearest A&E to Oakenshaw is Bradford Royal Infirmary, 4.5 miles away.
81%good or very good healthC−Health Grade
General health, self-reported
Good or very good 81%Fair 14%Bad or very bad 5%
| Census 2021 | Oakenshaw | West Yorkshire | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Good or very good health | 81% | 81% | 82% |
| Bad or very bad health | 5.4% | 5.7% | 5.2% |
| Disabled (Equality Act) | 19% | 18% | 17% |
78.8
life expectancy at birth, men (2019–23)
82.1
life expectancy at birth, women
ONS Census 2021, general health and disability · OHID Fingertips, life expectancy 2019–23 · OGL · The census answers take no account of age, so a young town looks healthier; the Health Grade relies on age-adjusted measures, life expectancy and early deaths among them.
Work & commuteJobs & income grade B
Walking, cycling and public transport carry fewer commuters in Oakenshaw than in West Yorkshire’s towns or England’s towns: 16%
The Census was taken on 21 March 2021, in lockdown, so 25% of workers were mainly at home; shares here are of those who travelled.
1% of commuters who live in Oakenshaw also work there. The car took 81% of commuters, above both West Yorkshire’s towns (74%) and England’s towns (70%). For nearly two in five commuters, work was under 5 km away.
16%walk, cycle or ride
How commuters got to work · March 2021
Driving81%
Bus7%
On foot6%
Train1%
Bicycle1%
39%
of commuters travel under 5 km · England 45%
25%
worked mainly from home in March 2021
£48K
mean household income, before tax
2.4%
of 16 to 64s claim unemployment benefits (2026)
B
Walkability: more walkable than 61% of UK towns
ONS Census 2021, method of travel and distance to work · ONS small-area income · DWP claimant count · OGL
History
Oakenshaw keeps more of its old housing than West Yorkshire’s towns or England’s towns: 36% built before 1919
The heritage lists give each building’s grade but not its age, so we don’t say which is oldest.
Its heritage register entries (7 listed buildings) are all Grade II. Relative to its size, Oakenshaw keeps 45 listed buildings per 10,000 residents.
7listed buildingsBHistory Grade
Listed buildings by grade · Historic England
Grade I0
Grade II*0
Grade II7
0
scheduled monuments
0
registered parks and gardens
36%
of homes built before 1919 · typical UK town 15%
45
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
Degrees are less common in Oakenshaw than in West Yorkshire’s towns or across England’s towns: 26% of adults
Line up the people of Oakenshaw by age and the one in the middle is 41. One in ten residents are 15 to 24, lower than both West Yorkshire’s towns (13%) and England’s towns (12%). Children are 17% of the town.
41median age
OakenshawWest YorkshireEngland
Ages · share of residents
17%
Qualifications · residents 16 and older
No qualifications21%
Apprenticeship7%
A levels or similar19%
Degree level26%
Women and men · all residents
52% women, 48% men
About 93 men for every 100 women. Across England, 51% of residents are women.
| Oakenshaw | West Yorkshire | England | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 15 | 17% | 19% | 18% |
| 15–24 | 10% | 13% | 12% |
| 25–44 | 27% | 27% | 27% |
| 45–64 | 28% | 25% | 25% |
| 65+ | 17% | 17% | 18% |
| No qualifications | 21% | 21% | 18% |
| Apprenticeship | 7.2% | 5.7% | 5.3% |
| A levels or similar | 19% | 17% | 17% |
| Degree level | 26% | 30% | 34% |
ONS Census 2021 · West Yorkshire and England: all residents of their built-up areas · OGL
Keep exploring
Everything we know about Oakenshaw
14pages on Oakenshaw
The big questions
SafetyD34.2 violent and sexual offences per 1,000 residents a year, averaged Sep 2023 to Aug 2026Cost of livingA−Median home £170K · rent £762 a monthHousing22 sold in 12 months · busiest street Bradford RoadSchoolsC−HealthC−Life expectancy 78.8 (men), 82.1 (women)Work & commuteB40% of working residents work in the townFlood & hazardsD5.1% of homes at high or medium flood risk
Out and about
Oakenshaw’s neighbours
The nearest built-up areas, from ONS’s 2022 boundaries. See them on the map →
Scholes (near Cleckheaton)CleckheatonGomersal and BirkenshawLiversedgeShelf and NorthowramBradfordDrighlingtonOakenshaw
How the neighbours grade
| Town | People | Miles | Overall | Cost | Safety | Health |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oakenshaw | 1,571 | — | — | A− | D | C− |
| Scholes (near Cleckheaton) | 2,896 | 1.4 | C | A− | C− | C |
| Cleckheaton | 11,607 | 1.8 | C | A | D− | C− |
| Gomersal and Birkenshaw | 13,948 | 2 | B | A− | C | C+ |
| Liversedge | 17,519 | 3.1 | C+ | A | D | C− |
| Shelf and Northowram | 9,191 | 3.2 | B+ | A− | C+ | B+ |
| Bradford | 333,968 | 3.2 | C− | A | D− | D− |
| Drighlington | 5,280 | 3.3 | C+ | C | C− | C+ |
People: Census 2021. Miles: centre to centre.
Questions about Oakenshaw
How many listed buildings are there in Oakenshaw?
That is 1.8 times the typical UK town for its size.
Does Oakenshaw flood?
Surface water isn’t included. Check a specific address on GOV.UK’s flood risk service.
Are schools in Oakenshaw good?
GCSE results trail 81% of towns in England, and primary results trail 70% (Department for Education, Attainment 8 and Key Stage 2). Places are handled by Bradford council.
About Oakenshaw
Village in West Yorkshire, England
Oakenshaw is a built-up area of 1,571 people, in the Bradford 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
- 1,571 (Census 2021)
- Council
- Bradford (mostly)
- County
- West Yorkshire
- Region
- Yorkshire and The Humber
- Area
- 0.2 sq mi (0.5 km²)
- ONS code
- E63000868
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.