Blackwell’s story
3 listed buildings
Historic England lists them inside Blackwell’s built-up area.
23% of its homes were built before 1919, against 15% in the typical UK town.
Explore the history →
BlackwellWorcestershire
1,209 people live in this village in Worcestershire, West Midlands.
7 places within 12 milesMap →
Photo: Roy Hughes · CC BY-SA 2.0
Population
1,209
Census 2021 · Bromsgrove council
Median home
£590K
31 sales in 3 years
Median age
50.1
24% are 65+ · Worcestershire 22%
Degree level
46%
of residents 16+ · England 34%
Walk, cycle, bus
7%
of commuters · England 27%
Is Blackwell a good place to live?
Jobs and pay hold up well: mean household income £70,127; 1% of 16 to 64s claim unemployment benefits. Health is a strength (A): life expectancy 81.5 for men, 85 for women. Buying the median home, at £590,000, takes 9.8 years of household income in the Bromsgrove council area. Most journeys need a car: 7% of commuters walk, cycle or take public transport.
Figures: income and life expectancy, ONS · claimants, DWP · commuting, Census 2021 · prices, HM Land Registry, the last three years. Blackwell is graded on each subject, but towns under 2,500 get no overall grade.
What makes Blackwell stand out
The 3 things Blackwell 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
2.1 times the typical UK town’s £277K
Standard sales, September 2023 to August 2026.
Claimant rate, against UK towns
Work
of 16 to 64s in 2026: fewer than in 97% of UK towns
DWP claimant count, January to August 2026.
How Blackwell grades
Each subject compared with the 2,160 UK towns with an overall grade (schools within England), ordered by how far Blackwell is from typical. American towns are graded separately.
Blackwell is graded on each subject, but towns under 2,500 get no overall grade.
Jobs & incomeBased on what households earn, poverty and workA+Open →WalkabilityAmong the hardest places to get around without a carDOpen →HealthAmong the best of the towns comparedAOpen →SafetyBased on crimes reported per residentAOpen →Hazard risk0% of homes at high or medium risk of flooding from rivers or the seaAOpen →SchoolsPrimary results beat 56% of towns in England; secondary results beat 34% of towns in EnglandC+Open →Cost of livingRent £992 a monthB−Open →
Character Graded, but not part of the overall grade.
History3 listed buildingsC+Open →Outdoors29% live within 400 m of a park; 0.7 ha of public green space per 1,000 residentsD−Open →Civic life0.8 local charities per 1,000 residents; 0% live within 1 km of a libraryDOpen →
How TownRatings grades towns →
The data
Data highlights are ordered by what stands out in Blackwell.
Work & commuteJobs & income grade A+
Only 16% of Blackwell’s commuters work within 5 km, fewer than in Worcestershire’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.
Work in town: 2% of resident commuters. The car took 92% of commuters, above both Worcestershire’s towns (82%) and England’s towns (70%). Home was the main workplace for 46% of workers at the census.
7%walk, cycle or ride
How commuters got to work · March 2021
Driving92%
On foot4%
Train3%
16%
of commuters travel under 5 km · England 45%
46%
worked mainly from home in March 2021
£70K
mean household income, before tax
1%
of 16 to 64s claim unemployment benefits (2026)
D
Walkability: more walkable than 5% of UK towns
ONS Census 2021, method of travel and distance to work · ONS small-area income · DWP claimant count · OGL
SchoolsC+
On exam results, Blackwell’s schools trail 56% of towns in England
Key Stage 2 results at the 5 primary schools within 3 km: 63% of pupils meet the expected standard in reading, writing and maths (three-year average). Below is its only school. Secondary results at the one secondary school within 3 km: an Attainment 8 score of 43.4, with 41% at grade 5 or above in English and maths.
C+School Grade
| School | Level | Pupils | Letter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Blackwell First SchoolLargest primary schoolPrimary | Primary | 187 | – |
Department for Education · GIAS, Key Stage 2 and GCSE resultsThe Schools page →
Health
Just 2% of people in Blackwell say their health is bad or very bad, fewer than in Worcestershire’s towns and across England’s towns
The nearest A&E to Blackwell is Alexandra Hospital, 6.4 miles away. Asked at the census, 87% of residents of Blackwell said they were in good or very good health. At the census, 14% of people here had a disability, lower than both Worcestershire’s towns (18%) and England’s towns (17%). Seeing a GP means leaving Blackwell: the nearest practice is 1.1 miles away.
87%good or very good healthAHealth Grade
General health, self-reported
Good or very good 87%Fair 11%Bad or very bad 2%
| Census 2021 | Blackwell | Worcestershire | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Good or very good health | 87% | 82% | 82% |
| Bad or very bad health | 2% | 5.1% | 5.2% |
| Disabled (Equality Act) | 14% | 18% | 17% |
81.5
life expectancy at birth, men (2019–23)
85
life expectancy at birth, women
ONS Census 2021, general health and disability · OHID Fingertips, life expectancy 2019–23 · OGL · Self-reported health favours young towns, since these answers ignore age; the Health Grade leans on age-adjusted measures such as life expectancy and early deaths.
Safety
Fewer crimes per resident in Blackwell than in 88% of UK towns
Violent crime ran at 8.8 per 1,000 residents a year, below both Worcestershire’s towns (19.6) and England’s towns (22). Police figures for Blackwell’s built-up area: 30 crimes and 8 anti-social behaviour reports in the 12 months to August 2026. For its size, Blackwell records less crime per resident than 77% of the 1,541 UK towns of 1,000 to 2,500 people. Violence and sexual offences made up 50% of the total.
8.8violent and sexual offences per 1,000 a yearASafety Grade
Compared with UK towns its sizeLess crime per resident than 77% 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 & sexual15
Burglary5
Vehicle crime4
Damage & arson3
Other crime2
Public order1
Shoplifting0
Other theft0
Anti-social8
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.
8.8
violent and sexual offences per 1,000 residents a year, averaged Sep 2023 to Aug 2026
9.1
burglary, vehicle crime and damage per 1,000 a year, averaged Sep 2023 to Aug 2026
6.6
anti-social behaviour reports per 1,000 (not graded)
30
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
Old homes shape Blackwell: 23% were built before 1919, more than in Worcestershire’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.
None of the 3 listed buildings reaches Grade II* or Grade I; all are Grade II. Per 10,000 residents, Blackwell counts 25 listed buildings, below Worcestershire’s towns (50) and England’s towns (39) alike.
3listed buildingsC+History Grade
Listed buildings by grade · Historic England
Grade I0
Grade II*0
Grade II3
0
scheduled monuments
0
registered parks and gardens
23%
of homes built before 1919 · typical UK town 15%
25
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 B−
More households own their home in Blackwell than in Worcestershire’s towns or across England’s towns: 90%
2% of households rent from a council or housing body. Private renters make up 8% of households, below both Worcestershire’s towns (15%) and England’s towns (21%). Half of the 31 standard sales inside Blackwell’s built-up area from September 2023 to August 2026 went for more than £590,000.
£590Kmedian sale
Median sale price · Sep 2023 to Aug 2026
Blackwell£590K
Typical UK town£277K
| By type | Median | Sales |
|---|---|---|
| Detached | £625,000 | 26 |
90%
of households own their home · England 61%
8%
rent privately · England 21%
£992
average private rent a month, Bromsgrove council area
£2,468
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
Degrees are more common in Blackwell than in Worcestershire’s towns or across England’s towns: 46% of adults
The 65-and-over age group makes up 24% of residents. Young adults of 15 to 24 are 8.5% of residents, below both Worcestershire’s towns (10%) and England’s towns (12%). Blackwell has a median age of 50.1 years.
50.1median age
BlackwellWorcestershireEngland
Ages · share of residents
24%
Qualifications · residents 16 and older
No qualifications11%
Apprenticeship4%
A levels or similar14%
Degree level46%
Women and men · all residents
52% women, 48% men
About 91 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.
| Blackwell | Worcestershire | England | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 15 | 17% | 16% | 18% |
| 15–24 | 8.5% | 10% | 12% |
| 25–44 | 18% | 24% | 27% |
| 45–64 | 33% | 27% | 25% |
| 65+ | 24% | 22% | 18% |
| No qualifications | 11% | 18% | 18% |
| Apprenticeship | 4.1% | 5.8% | 5.3% |
| A levels or similar | 14% | 17% | 17% |
| Degree level | 46% | 32% | 34% |
ONS Census 2021 · Worcestershire and England: all residents of their built-up areas · OGL
Nearby attractions
All attractions →Avoncroft Museum of Buildings and 2 more in and around Blackwell
Museums, castles, gardens and days out in and near Blackwell. Best known first.
MuseumAvoncroft Museum of Buildings4.5 km outside town, to the southwestMuseumMuseumNorton Collection Museum2.4 km outside town, to the southwestMuseumMuseumNational Telephone Kiosk Collection4.4 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 (1)
- Avoncroft Museum of Buildings: Mike Goodwin, CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
Keep exploring
Everything we know about Blackwell
14pages on Blackwell
The big questions
SafetyA8.8 violent and sexual offences per 1,000 residents a year, averaged Sep 2023 to Aug 2026Cost of livingB−Median home £590K · rent £992 a monthHousing10 sold in 12 months · busiest street Linthurst NewtownSchoolsC+1 state schoolHealthALife expectancy 81.5 (men), 85 (women)Work & commuteA+57% of working residents work in the townFlood & hazardsA0% of homes at high or medium flood risk
Out and about
Blackwell’s neighbours
The nearest built-up areas, from ONS’s 2022 boundaries. See them on the map →
Barnt GreenAlvechurchCatshillBromsgroveStoke PriorRedditchRomsleyBlackwell
How the neighbours grade
| Town | People | Miles | Overall | Cost | Safety | Health |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Blackwell | 1,209 | — | — | B− | A | A |
| Barnt Green | 3,821 | 1.1 | A− | B− | B | A |
| Alvechurch | 3,412 | 1.8 | B+ | B+ | B | A− |
| Catshill | 10,173 | 1.9 | B | A | B− | B− |
| Bromsgrove | 34,759 | 2.4 | B+ | A | C | C+ |
| Stoke Prior | 2,226 | 4.7 | — | A | B+ | B− |
| Redditch | 81,634 | 4.9 | D | B− | C− | C− |
| Romsley | 1,153 | 5 | — | A− | C+ | B+ |
Stoke Prior and Romsley have fewer than 2,500 residents, so they get subject grades but no overall grade. People: Census 2021. Miles: centre to centre.
Questions about Blackwell
Is Blackwell expensive to live in?
Homes cost more than in most UK towns: the median sale over three years was £590,000, against £277,000 in the typical UK town. Household incomes are higher than in 89% of UK towns, so cost of living still grades B−.
Does Blackwell flood?
Surface water isn’t included. Check a specific address on GOV.UK’s flood risk service.
About Blackwell
Village in Worcestershire, England
Blackwell is a built-up area of 1,209 people, in the Bromsgrove 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
- 1,209 (Census 2021)
- Council
- Bromsgrove
- County
- Worcestershire
- Region
- West Midlands
- Area
- 0.3 sq mi (0.7 km²)
- ONS code
- E63003145
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.