Scarcroft’s story
4 listed buildings
Historic England lists them inside Scarcroft’s built-up area.
16% of its homes were built before 1919, against 15% in the typical UK town.
Explore the history →
ScarcroftWest Yorkshire
It is a village of 1,634 residents in West Yorkshire, Yorkshire and The Humber.
7 places within 12 milesMap →
Photo: Tim Green aka atouch · CC BY 2.0
Population
1,634
Census 2021 · Leeds council
Median home
£630K
69 sales in 3 years
Median age
47.3
22% are 65+ · West Yorkshire 17%
Degree level
53%
of residents 16+ · England 34%
Walk, cycle, bus
7%
of commuters · England 27%
Is Scarcroft a good place to live?
Scarcroft’s best grade is for health (A+) — life expectancy is 82.6 for men and 87.8 for women. Jobs & income is another plus (A) — mean household income £61,350; 1.2% of 16 to 64s claim unemployment benefits. Buying in is costly: homes sell for a median £630,000, about 12.5 times local household income. Natural hazards are less of a worry than in most UK towns (A). It lags on walkability as well — on the way to work, 7% walk, cycle or take a bus or train.
Figures: life expectancy and income, ONS · claimants, DWP · prices, HM Land Registry, the last three years · flood risk, Environment Agency · commuting, Census 2021. Scarcroft is graded on each subject, but towns under 2,500 get no overall grade.
What makes Scarcroft stand out
The 3 things Scarcroft does most differently from other towns.
Walk, cycle or public transport
Getting around
7% leave the car
of commuters walk, cycle or take public transport (England’s towns 27%)
Median sale, £ thousands
Housing
2.3 times the typical UK town’s £277K
Standard sales, September 2023 to August 2026.
Degree level, 16+
Education
Degree-level qualifications, residents 16+ (England’s towns 34%)
West Yorkshire 30%.
How Scarcroft grades
Each subject compared with the 2,160 UK towns with an overall grade (schools within England), ordered by how far Scarcroft is from typical. American towns are graded separately.
Scarcroft is graded on each subject, but towns under 2,500 get no overall grade.
HealthAmong the healthiest places comparedA+Open →Cost of livingNear the bottom of the towns comparedD−Open →Jobs & incomeGraded on incomes, poverty and employmentAOpen →WalkabilityAmong the hardest places to get around without a carDOpen →Hazard risk0% of homes at high or medium risk of flooding from rivers or the seaAOpen →SafetyIn the top fifth of the towns comparedAOpen →SchoolsPrimary results beat 80% of towns in EnglandA−Open →
Character Graded, but not part of the overall grade.
HistoryBased on listed places, the town’s age and notable peopleCOpen →Outdoors15% live within 400 m of a park; 0.5 ha of public green space per 1,000 residentsD−Open →Civic life1.8 local charities per 1,000 residents; 0% live within 1 km of a libraryC−Open →
How TownRatings grades towns →
The data
Data highlights are ordered by what stands out in Scarcroft.
Health
Fewer people in Scarcroft live with a disability than in West Yorkshire’s towns or across England’s towns: 10%
2.4% of residents described their health as bad or very bad, below both West Yorkshire’s towns (5.7%) and England’s towns (5.2%). Asked at the census, 89% of residents of Scarcroft said they were in good or very good health. Women here live to 87.8 on average and men to 82.6 (2019–23). Seeing a GP means leaving Scarcroft: the nearest practice is 3 miles away.
89%good or very good healthA+Health Grade
General health, self-reported
Good or very good 89%Fair 9%Bad or very bad 2%
| Census 2021 | Scarcroft | West Yorkshire | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Good or very good health | 89% | 81% | 82% |
| Bad or very bad health | 2.4% | 5.7% | 5.2% |
| Disabled (Equality Act) | 10% | 18% | 17% |
82.6
life expectancy at birth, men (2019–23)
87.8
life expectancy at birth, women
ONS Census 2021, general health and disability · OHID Fingertips, life expectancy 2019–23 · OGL · Read these answers with age in mind: they aren’t adjusted, so younger places do better. The Health Grade uses age-adjusted measures, life expectancy and early deaths among them.
HousingCost of living grade D−
Few households rent privately in Scarcroft: 8%, fewer than in West Yorkshire’s towns and across England’s towns
The owner-occupied share of households is 88%. Social housing holds 3% of households, below both West Yorkshire’s towns (18%) and England’s towns (18%). Private rents average £1,145 a month across the Leeds council area.
£630Kmedian sale
Median sale price · Sep 2023 to Aug 2026
Scarcroft£630K
Typical UK town£277K
| By type | Median | Sales |
|---|---|---|
| Detached | £861,000 | 37 |
| Semi-detached | £475,500 | 8 |
| Terraced | £520,000 | 5 |
| Flat or maisonette | £570,000 | 19 |
88%
of households own their home · England 61%
8%
rent privately · England 21%
£1,145
average private rent a month, Leeds council area
£2,308
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
Scarcroft is a graduates’ town: 53% hold a degree, more than in West Yorkshire’s towns and across England’s towns
Young adults of 15 to 24 account for 8.2% of the town. 22% of residents are 65 or over, higher than both West Yorkshire’s towns (17%) and England’s towns (18%). Half the people of Scarcroft are older than 47.3.
47.3median age
ScarcroftWest YorkshireEngland
Ages · share of residents
22%
Qualifications · residents 16 and older
No qualifications9%
Apprenticeship5%
A levels or similar12%
Degree level53%
Women and men · all residents
52% women, 48% men
About 94 men for every 100 women. Across England, 51% of residents are women.
| Scarcroft | West Yorkshire | England | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 15 | 19% | 19% | 18% |
| 15–24 | 8.2% | 13% | 12% |
| 25–44 | 20% | 27% | 27% |
| 45–64 | 31% | 25% | 25% |
| 65+ | 22% | 17% | 18% |
| No qualifications | 9.1% | 21% | 18% |
| Apprenticeship | 4.7% | 5.7% | 5.3% |
| A levels or similar | 12% | 17% | 17% |
| Degree level | 53% | 30% | 34% |
ONS Census 2021 · West Yorkshire and England: all residents of their built-up areas · OGL
Work & commuteJobs & income grade A
Only 10% of Scarcroft’s commuters work within 5 km, fewer than in West Yorkshire’s towns and across England’s towns
The Census was taken on 21 March 2021, in lockdown, so 46% of workers were mainly at home; shares here are of those who travelled.
90% of commuters drove, above West Yorkshire’s towns (74%) and England’s towns (70%) alike. Home was the main workplace for 46% of workers at the census. The 2026 claimant rate among 16 to 64s was 1.2%.
7%walk, cycle or ride
How commuters got to work · March 2021
Driving90%
Bus3%
On foot3%
Bicycle1%
10%
of commuters travel under 5 km · England 45%
46%
worked mainly from home in March 2021
£61K
mean household income, before tax
1.2%
of 16 to 64s claim unemployment benefits (2026)
D
Walkability: more walkable than 8% of UK towns
ONS Census 2021, method of travel and distance to work · ONS small-area income · DWP claimant count · OGL
Safety
Violence is recorded less often in Scarcroft than in West Yorkshire’s towns or across England’s towns: 10.8 per 1,000 residents a year
Among the 1,541 UK towns of 1,000 to 2,500 people, Scarcroft has less crime per resident than 71% of them. Homes see 8.4 burglaries and acts of damage per 1,000 residents a year. Police recorded 29 crimes inside the town’s built-up area in the 12 months to August 2026, plus 4 reports of anti-social behaviour. Anti-social behaviour, shown but not graded, came to 1.6 reports per 1,000, below both West Yorkshire’s towns (7.1) and England’s towns (7.8).
10.8violent and sexual offences per 1,000 a yearASafety Grade
Compared with UK towns its sizeLess crime per resident than 71% 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 & sexual12
Public order4
Burglary3
Damage & arson2
Vehicle crime2
Robbery2
Other crime2
Other theft1
Anti-social4
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.
10.8
violent and sexual offences per 1,000 residents a year, averaged Sep 2023 to Aug 2026
8.4
burglary, vehicle crime and damage per 1,000 a year, averaged Sep 2023 to Aug 2026
1.6
anti-social behaviour reports per 1,000 (not graded)
29
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
Much of Scarcroft is a conservation area: 100% of its land, more than in West Yorkshire’s towns and across England’s towns
The heritage lists give each building’s grade but not its age, so we don’t say which is oldest.
Scarcroft has 4 listed buildings on Historic England’s list, all Grade II. 16% of its homes were built before 1919, lower than West Yorkshire’s towns (21%) and near England’s towns (16%).
4listed buildingsCHistory Grade
Listed buildings by grade · Historic England
Grade I0
Grade II*0
Grade II4
0
scheduled monuments
0
registered parks and gardens
16%
of homes built before 1919 · typical UK town 15%
24
listed buildings per 10,000 residents · typical UK town 24
Historic England list, October 2026 · Valuation Office Agency, homes by build period · OGL
Nearby attractions
All attractions →Harewood House and 4 more in and around Scarcroft
Museums, castles, gardens and days out in and near Scarcroft. Best known first.
Historic houseHarewood House4.8 km outside town, to the northwest
CastleHarewood Castle4.9 km outside town, to the northwest
Historic houseBramham Park3.8 km outside town, to the east
ZooTropical World3.6 km outside town, to the southwestCastleCastleRoundhay Castle (Folly)3.1 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)
- Harewood House: Sirenuk, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Harewood Castle: TJ Blackwell, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Bramham Park: Stephen Richards, CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Tropical World: Frombowen, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
Keep exploring
Everything we know about Scarcroft
14pages on Scarcroft
The big questions
SafetyA10.8 violent and sexual offences per 1,000 residents a year, averaged Sep 2023 to Aug 2026Cost of livingD−Median home £630K · rent £1,145 a monthHousing19 sold in 12 months · busiest street Newman DriveSchoolsA−HealthA+Life expectancy 82.6 (men), 87.8 (women)Work & commuteA57% of working residents work in the townFlood & hazardsA0% of homes at high or medium flood risk
Out and about
Scarcroft’s neighbours
The nearest built-up areas, from ONS’s 2022 boundaries. See them on the map →
ThornerBardseyShadwellEast KeswickCollinghamScholes (Leeds)Barwick in ElmetScarcroft
How the neighbours grade
| Town | People | Miles | Overall | Cost | Safety | Health |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Scarcroft | 1,634 | — | — | D− | A | A+ |
| Thorner | 1,397 | 1.2 | — | D | B+ | A− |
| Bardsey | 1,819 | 1.4 | — | D− | A | A+ |
| Shadwell | 1,452 | 1.7 | — | D− | A− | A+ |
| East Keswick | 1,145 | 1.8 | — | D− | A+ | A+ |
| Collingham | 2,362 | 2.7 | — | D− | A− | A+ |
| Scholes (Leeds) | 2,270 | 3 | — | D | A− | A |
| Barwick in Elmet | 2,180 | 3.5 | — | D | B+ | A− |
Thorner, Bardsey, Shadwell, East Keswick, Collingham, Scholes (Leeds) and Barwick in Elmet have fewer than 2,500 residents, so they get subject grades but no overall grade. People: Census 2021. Miles: centre to centre.
Questions about Scarcroft
Is Scarcroft expensive to live in?
Homes cost more than in most UK towns: the median sale over three years was £630,000, against £277,000 in the typical UK town. By type: flats £570,000, terraced houses £520,000, semi-detached houses £475,500 and detached houses £861,000.
Is Scarcroft safe?
Police recorded 29 crimes inside Scarcroft’s built-up area in the 12 months to August 2026, 41% of them violence and sexual offences, a police category that includes harassment and stalking.
Are schools in Scarcroft good?
Primary results beat 80% of towns in England (Department for Education, Key Stage 2). Places are handled by Leeds council.
About Scarcroft
Village in West Yorkshire, England
Scarcroft is a built-up area of 1,634 people, in the Leeds 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
- 1,634 (Census 2021)
- Council
- Leeds
- County
- West Yorkshire
- Region
- Yorkshire and The Humber
- Area
- 0.4 sq mi (0.9 km²)
- ONS code
- E63000712
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.