Shadwell’s story
10 listed buildings
Historic England lists them inside Shadwell’s built-up area.
23% of its homes were built before 1919, against 15% in the typical UK town.
Explore the history →
ShadwellWest Yorkshire
In West Yorkshire, Yorkshire and The Humber, this village has 1,452 residents.
7 places within 12 milesMap →
Photo: Chemical Engineer · Public domain
Population
1,452
Census 2021 · Leeds council
Median home
£500K
69 sales in 3 years
Median age
47.7
24% are 65+ · West Yorkshire 17%
Degree level
52%
of residents 16+ · England 34%
Walk, cycle, bus
10%
of commuters · England 27%
Is Shadwell a good place to live?
Work and incomes are strong: mean household income £59,714; 0.9% of 16 to 64s claim unemployment benefits. Add health to its strengths (A+) — life expectancy 81.2 for men, 87.9 for women. Where it falls short is cost of living: a typical home costs £500,000 and rent runs £1,145 a month. It also trails on walkability: 10% of commuters get to work on foot, by bike or by public transport.
Figures: income and life expectancy, ONS · claimants, DWP · prices, HM Land Registry, the last three years · commuting, Census 2021. Shadwell is graded on each subject, but towns under 2,500 get no overall grade.
What makes Shadwell stand out
The 3 things Shadwell does most differently from other towns.
Walk, cycle or public transport
Getting around
10% leave the car
of commuters walk, cycle or take public transport (England’s towns 27%)
Listed buildings per 10,000 residents
History
0 Grade II*; 2.8 times the typical UK town for its size
Historic England’s list, October 2026.
Median sale, £ thousands
Housing
1.8 times the typical UK town’s £277K
Standard sales, September 2023 to August 2026.
How Shadwell grades
Each subject compared with the 2,160 UK towns with an overall grade (schools within England), ordered by how far Shadwell is from typical. American towns are graded separately.
Shadwell is graded on each subject, but towns under 2,500 get no overall grade.
Jobs & incomeBased on what households earn, poverty and workA+Open →Cost of livingMedian sale £500,000, 9.9 years of area incomeD−Open →HealthAmong the healthiest places comparedA+Open →SchoolsPrimary results beat 78% of towns in England; secondary results beat 81% of towns in EnglandA−Open →WalkabilityBehind most towns comparedC−Open →SafetyGraded on crime per residentA−Open →Hazard risk0.1% of homes at high or medium risk of flooding from rivers or the seaB−Open →
Character Graded, but not part of the overall grade.
HistoryAbout average among the towns comparedBOpen →Outdoors25% live within 400 m of a park; 0.3 ha of public green space per 1,000 residentsD−Open →Civic life2.1 local charities per 1,000 residents; 100% live within 1 km of a libraryAOpen →
How TownRatings grades towns →
The data
Data highlights are ordered by what stands out in Shadwell.
HousingCost of living grade D−
More households own their home in Shadwell than in West Yorkshire’s towns or across England’s towns: 89%
One in ten households rent privately. Social housing holds 1% of households, lower than both West Yorkshire’s towns (18%) and England’s towns (18%). Half of the 69 standard sales inside Shadwell’s built-up area from September 2023 to August 2026 went for more than £500,000.
£500Kmedian sale
Median sale price · Sep 2023 to Aug 2026
Shadwell£500K
Typical UK town£277K
| By type | Median | Sales |
|---|---|---|
| Detached | £600,055 | 44 |
| Semi-detached | £349,950 | 9 |
| Terraced | £297,500 | 14 |
89%
of households own their home · England 61%
10%
rent privately · England 21%
£1,145
average private rent a month, Leeds council area
£2,325
council tax, Band D, 2026–27
HM Land Registry Price Paid · ONS private rents · MHCLG / Welsh Government council tax · ONS Census 2021 tenure · OGL
SchoolsA−
Results at Shadwell’s schools beat 84% of towns in England
Two thirds of pupils at the 13 primary schools within 3 km met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths (three-year average). The town has one school, shown below. Attainment 8 at the one secondary school within 3 km averages 51.2, and 56% of pupils get grade 5 or above in English and maths.
A−School Grade
| School | Level | Pupils | Letter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shadwell Primary SchoolLargest primary schoolPrimary | Primary | 200 | A |
Department for Education · GIAS, Key Stage 2 and GCSE resultsThe Schools page →
Health
Fewer people in Shadwell live with a disability than in West Yorkshire’s towns or across England’s towns: 11%
87% of people in Shadwell rate their own health good or very good. At the census, 2.5% of residents said their health was bad or very bad, below West Yorkshire’s towns (5.7%) and England’s towns (5.2%) alike. There is no GP practice in the town: the nearest is 1.7 miles off.
87%good or very good healthA+Health Grade
General health, self-reported
Good or very good 87%Fair 10%Bad or very bad 3%
| Census 2021 | Shadwell | West Yorkshire | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Good or very good health | 87% | 81% | 82% |
| Bad or very bad health | 2.5% | 5.7% | 5.2% |
| Disabled (Equality Act) | 11% | 18% | 17% |
81.2
life expectancy at birth, men (2019–23)
87.9
life expectancy at birth, women
ONS Census 2021, general health and disability · OHID Fingertips, life expectancy 2019–23 · OGL · 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.
Work & commuteJobs & income grade A+
Long commutes are the norm in Shadwell: just 16% travel under 5 km, below West Yorkshire’s towns and England’s towns
The Census was taken on 21 March 2021, in lockdown, so 51% of workers were mainly at home; shares here are of those who travelled.
The car took nearly nine in ten commuters, above both West Yorkshire’s towns (74%) and England’s towns (70%). Home was the main workplace for just over half of workers at the census. Work in town: 4% of resident commuters. Jobs per working resident: 0.4.
10%walk, cycle or ride
How commuters got to work · March 2021
Driving89%
On foot5%
Bus2%
Bicycle2%
Train1%
Underground, tram1%
16%
of commuters travel under 5 km · England 45%
51%
worked mainly from home in March 2021
£60K
mean household income, before tax
0.9%
of 16 to 64s claim unemployment benefits (2026)
C−
Walkability: more walkable than 24% 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 Shadwell than in West Yorkshire’s towns or across England’s towns: 14 per 1,000 residents a year
Property crime (burglary and damage) runs at 9 per 1,000 residents a year. The 12 months to August 2026 brought 43 recorded crimes inside Shadwell’s built-up area, and 2 reports of anti-social behaviour. Violence and sexual offences accounted for 51% of recorded crime. Anti-social behaviour, shown but not graded, came to 1.8 reports per 1,000, below West Yorkshire’s towns (7.1) and England’s towns (7.8) alike.
14violent and sexual offences per 1,000 a yearA−Safety Grade
Compared with UK towns its sizeLess crime per resident than 57% 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 & sexual22
Other theft7
Vehicle crime5
Public order3
Damage & arson2
Burglary2
Other crime2
Shoplifting0
Anti-social2
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.
14
violent and sexual offences per 1,000 residents a year, averaged Sep 2023 to Aug 2026
9
burglary, vehicle crime and damage per 1,000 a year, averaged Sep 2023 to Aug 2026
1.8
anti-social behaviour reports per 1,000 (not graded)
43
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.
History
More of the land in Shadwell 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.
Before 1919: that is when 23% of homes were built. Relative to its size, Shadwell keeps 69 listed buildings per 10,000 residents, higher than both West Yorkshire’s towns (25) and England’s towns (39). None of the 10 listed buildings reaches Grade II* or Grade I; all are Grade II.
10listed buildingsBHistory Grade
Listed buildings by grade · Historic England
Grade I0
Grade II*0
Grade II10
0
scheduled monuments
0
registered parks and gardens
23%
of homes built before 1919 · typical UK town 15%
69
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
More people in Shadwell hold a degree than in West Yorkshire’s towns or England’s towns: 52%
People 65 and over make up nearly a quarter of the town. Young adults of 15 to 24 are 6.1% of residents, lower than both West Yorkshire’s towns (13%) and England’s towns (12%). Typical age in Shadwell: 47.7, the median. Children under 15 make up 19% of residents.
47.7median age
ShadwellWest YorkshireEngland
Ages · share of residents
24%
Qualifications · residents 16 and older
No qualifications9%
Apprenticeship4%
A levels or similar12%
Degree level52%
Women and men · all residents
52% women, 48% men
About 94 men for every 100 women. Across England, 51% of residents are women. Women live longer than men, so towns with many older residents have more women.
| Shadwell | West Yorkshire | England | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 15 | 19% | 19% | 18% |
| 15–24 | 6.1% | 13% | 12% |
| 25–44 | 20% | 27% | 27% |
| 45–64 | 30% | 25% | 25% |
| 65+ | 24% | 17% | 18% |
| No qualifications | 8.8% | 21% | 18% |
| Apprenticeship | 4.1% | 5.7% | 5.3% |
| A levels or similar | 12% | 17% | 17% |
| Degree level | 52% | 30% | 34% |
ONS Census 2021 · West Yorkshire and England: all residents of their built-up areas · OGL
Nearby attractions
All attractions →Tropical World and 2 more in and around Shadwell
Museums, castles, gardens and days out in and near Shadwell. Best known first.
ZooTropical World1.9 km outside town, to the southwest
GardenPotternewton Park4.5 km outside town, to the southwestCastleCastleRoundhay Castle (Folly)1.4 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 (2)
- Tropical World: Frombowen, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Potternewton Park: Chemical Engineer, Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
Keep exploring
Everything we know about Shadwell
14pages on Shadwell
The big questions
SafetyA−14 violent and sexual offences per 1,000 residents a year, averaged Sep 2023 to Aug 2026Cost of livingD−Median home £500K · rent £1,145 a monthHousing20 sold in 12 months · busiest street Main StreetSchoolsA−1 state schoolHealthA+Life expectancy 81.2 (men), 87.9 (women)Work & commuteA+63% of working residents work in the townFlood & hazardsB−0.1% of homes at high or medium flood risk
Out and about
Shadwell’s neighbours
The nearest built-up areas, from ONS’s 2022 boundaries. See them on the map →
ScarcroftThornerScholes (Leeds)BardseyEast KeswickBarwick in ElmetLeedsShadwell
How the neighbours grade
| Town | People | Miles | Overall | Cost | Safety | Health |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shadwell | 1,452 | — | — | D− | A− | A+ |
| Scarcroft | 1,634 | 1.7 | — | D− | A | A+ |
| Thorner | 1,397 | 2.2 | — | D | B+ | A− |
| Scholes (Leeds) | 2,270 | 2.6 | — | D | A− | A |
| Bardsey | 1,819 | 3 | — | D− | A | A+ |
| East Keswick | 1,145 | 3.2 | — | D− | A+ | A+ |
| Barwick in Elmet | 2,180 | 3.6 | — | D | B+ | A− |
| Leeds | 536,262 | 4.2 | C− | C+ | D− | C− |
Scarcroft, Thorner, Scholes (Leeds), Bardsey, East Keswick 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 Shadwell
How many listed buildings are there in Shadwell?
That is 2.8 times the typical UK town for its size.
Is Shadwell expensive to live in?
Homes cost more than in most UK towns: the median sale over three years was £500,000, against £277,000 in the typical UK town. By type: terraced houses £297,500, semi-detached houses £349,950 and detached houses £600,055.
Are schools in Shadwell good?
GCSE results beat 81% of towns in England, and primary results beat 78% (Department for Education, Attainment 8 and Key Stage 2). One state school is inside the town; places are handled by Leeds council.
Is Shadwell safe?
About the middle for its size: 43% of the 1,541 UK towns of 1,000 to 2,500 people report less crime per resident. Against all UK towns, it grades A−.
About Shadwell
Village in West Yorkshire, England
Shadwell is a built-up area of 1,452 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
- 1,452 (Census 2021)
- Council
- Leeds
- County
- West Yorkshire
- Region
- Yorkshire and The Humber
- Area
- 0.2 sq mi (0.5 km²)
- ONS code
- E63000723
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.