Blakedown’s story
3 listed buildings
Historic England lists them inside Blakedown’s built-up area.
20% of its homes were built before 1919, against 15% in the typical UK town.
Explore the history →
BlakedownWorcestershire
Population 1,448: a village in Worcestershire, West Midlands.
7 places within 12 milesMap →
Photo: Philip Halling · CC BY-SA 2.0
Population
1,448
Census 2021 · Wyre Forest council
Median home
£568K
56 sales in 3 years
Median age
46.2
23% are 65+ · Worcestershire 22%
Degree level
41%
of residents 16+ · England 34%
Walk, cycle, bus
8%
of commuters · England 27%
Is Blakedown a good place to live?
Blakedown’s schools beat most: primary results beat 82% of towns in England; secondary results beat 88% of towns in England. It also does well on jobs & income (A) — households earn a mean £52,169 a year, and 0.9% of 16 to 64s claim unemployment benefits. Homes are dear: the median home sold for £567,500, 12.1 years of area income. Elsewhere it is close to typical: B− for safety and B− for hazard risk. Most journeys need a car (D): 8% of commuters get to work on foot, by bike or by public transport.
Figures: income, ONS · claimants, DWP · prices, HM Land Registry, the last three years · crime, police.uk, averaged Sep 2023 to Aug 2026 · flood risk, Environment Agency · commuting, Census 2021. Below 2,500 residents there is no overall grade, so Blakedown has its subject grades alone.
What makes Blakedown stand out
The 3 things Blakedown does most differently from other towns.
Walk, cycle or public transport
Getting around
8% leave the car
of commuters walk, cycle or take public transport (England’s towns 27%)
Median sale, £ thousands
Housing
2 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 98% of UK towns
DWP claimant count, January to August 2026.
How Blakedown grades
Each subject compared with the 2,160 UK towns with an overall grade (schools within England), ordered by how far Blakedown is from typical. American towns are graded separately.
Below 2,500 residents there is no overall grade, so Blakedown has its subject grades alone.
Cost of livingIn the bottom fifth of the towns comparedDOpen →WalkabilityBased on walking, cycling and transit to everyday placesDOpen →SchoolsPrimary results beat 82% of towns in England; secondary results beat 88% of towns in EnglandAOpen →Jobs & incomeIncomes and work are among the strongest comparedAOpen →HealthLife expectancy 81.2 for men, 84.4 for womenB+Open →SafetyAbout average among the towns comparedB−Open →Hazard risk0.2% of homes at high or medium risk of flooding from rivers or the seaB−Open →
Character Graded, but not part of the overall grade.
History3 listed buildingsCOpen →Outdoors79% live within 400 m of a park; 0.8 ha of public green space per 1,000 residentsDOpen →Civic life5.5 local charities per 1,000 residents; 0% live within 1 km of a libraryB+Open →
How TownRatings grades towns →
The data
Data highlights are ordered by what stands out in Blakedown.
HousingCost of living grade D
More households own their home in Blakedown than in Worcestershire’s towns or across England’s towns: 76%
Social housing holds 13% of households, lower than both Worcestershire’s towns (16%) and England’s towns (18%). 10% of households rent privately. Private rents average £825 a month across the Wyre Forest council area.
£568Kmedian sale
Median sale price · Sep 2023 to Aug 2026
Blakedown£568K
Typical UK town£277K
| By type | Median | Sales |
|---|---|---|
| Detached | £625,000 | 35 |
| Semi-detached | £333,000 | 17 |
76%
of households own their home · England 61%
10%
rent privately · England 21%
£825
average private rent a month, Wyre Forest council area
£2,498
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
Exam results at Blakedown’s schools top 90% of towns in England
The town has one school, shown below. 68% of pupils at the 3 primary schools within 3 km met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths (three-year average). Secondary results at the 2 secondary schools within 3 km: an Attainment 8 score of 53.2, with 59% at grade 5 or above in English and maths.
ASchool Grade
| School | Level | Pupils | Letter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Blakedown CofE Primary SchoolLargest primary schoolPrimary | Primary | 194 | B− |
Department for Education · GIAS, Key Stage 2 and GCSE resultsThe Schools page →
Work & commuteJobs & income grade A
Commuters in Blakedown travel far: only 12% go under 5 km, fewer than in Worcestershire’s towns or England’s towns
The Census was taken on 21 March 2021, in lockdown, so 42% of workers were mainly at home; shares here are of those who travelled.
The car carried 90% of commuters at the census. Working mainly from home: 42% of workers, above Worcestershire’s towns (27%) and England’s towns (31%) alike. Of the commuters living in Blakedown, 3% work in the town itself. The town counts 0.4 jobs per working resident.
8%walk, cycle or ride
How commuters got to work · March 2021
Driving90%
On foot5%
Train3%
12%
of commuters travel under 5 km · England 45%
42%
worked mainly from home in March 2021
£52K
mean household income, before tax
0.9%
of 16 to 64s claim unemployment benefits (2026)
D
Walkability: more walkable than 10% of UK towns
ONS Census 2021, method of travel and distance to work · ONS small-area income · DWP claimant count · OGL
History
All 3 of Blakedown’s listed buildings are Grade II
The heritage lists give each building’s grade but not its age, so we don’t say which is oldest.
Homes from before 1919 make up a fifth of the total, higher than both Worcestershire’s towns (15%) and England’s towns (16%). Scaled to its population, that is 21 listed buildings for every 10,000 people in Blakedown.
3listed buildingsCHistory Grade
Listed buildings by grade · Historic England
Grade I0
Grade II*0
Grade II3
0
scheduled monuments
0
registered parks and gardens
20%
of homes built before 1919 · typical UK town 15%
21
listed buildings per 10,000 residents · typical UK town 24
Historic England list, October 2026 · Valuation Office Agency, homes by build period · OGL
Health
85% of people in Blakedown say their health is good or very good, more than in Worcestershire’s towns or across England’s towns
At the census, 4.4% of residents said their health was bad or very bad, lower than both Worcestershire’s towns (5.1%) and England’s towns (5.2%). 15% of residents in Blakedown live with a disability. There is no GP practice here: the nearest is 1.9 miles off.
85%good or very good healthB+Health Grade
General health, self-reported
Good or very good 85%Fair 10%Bad or very bad 4%
| Census 2021 | Blakedown | Worcestershire | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Good or very good health | 85% | 82% | 82% |
| Bad or very bad health | 4.4% | 5.1% | 5.2% |
| Disabled (Equality Act) | 15% | 18% | 17% |
81.2
life expectancy at birth, men (2019–23)
84.4
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
Blakedown has less crime per resident than 54% of UK towns
52% of the crimes fell under violence and sexual offences. A year of reports to August 2026 adds up to 73 offences in Blakedown and 6 cases of nuisance behaviour. Burglary and damage come to 11.1 per 1,000 residents a year.
19.6violent and sexual offences per 1,000 a yearB−Safety Grade
Compared with UK towns its sizeLess crime per resident than 33% 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
Burglary10
Other theft8
Damage & arson7
Vehicle crime4
Drugs3
Public order1
Weapons1
Anti-social6
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.
19.6
violent and sexual offences per 1,000 residents a year, averaged Sep 2023 to Aug 2026
11.1
burglary, vehicle crime and damage per 1,000 a year, averaged Sep 2023 to Aug 2026
6.9
anti-social behaviour reports per 1,000 (not graded)
73
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.
Who lives here
More people in Blakedown hold a degree than in Worcestershire’s towns or England’s towns: 41%
People 65 and over make up 23% of the town, close to Worcestershire’s towns (22%) and above England’s towns (18%). The share of residents under 15 is 18%. The median resident of Blakedown is 46.2 years old. Young adults of 15 to 24 account for a tenth of the town.
46.2median age
BlakedownWorcestershireEngland
Ages · share of residents
23%
Qualifications · residents 16 and older
No qualifications15%
Apprenticeship4%
A levels or similar17%
Degree level41%
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.
| Blakedown | Worcestershire | England | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 15 | 18% | 16% | 18% |
| 15–24 | 9.9% | 10% | 12% |
| 25–44 | 20% | 24% | 27% |
| 45–64 | 29% | 27% | 25% |
| 65+ | 23% | 22% | 18% |
| No qualifications | 15% | 18% | 18% |
| Apprenticeship | 3.5% | 5.8% | 5.3% |
| A levels or similar | 17% | 17% | 17% |
| Degree level | 41% | 32% | 34% |
ONS Census 2021 · Worcestershire and England: all residents of their built-up areas · OGL
Nearby attractions
All attractions →Severn Valley Railway and 5 more in and around Blakedown
Museums, castles, gardens and days out in and near Blakedown. Best known first.
Heritage railwaySevern Valley Railway3.9 km outside town, to the southwest
Historic houseHarvington Hall3.1 km outside town, to the south
Historic houseHagley Hall3.9 km outside town, to the northeast
MuseumKidderminster Railway Museum3.9 km outside town, to the southwestMuseumMuseumMuseum of Carpet4.2 km outside town, to the southwestMuseumMuseumMilitary Wireless Museum in the Midlands4.2 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)
- Severn Valley Railway: Duncan Harris, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Harvington Hall: Dave606 at English Wikipedia, CC BY 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Hagley Hall: Hagley Hall, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Kidderminster Railway Museum: Rept0n1x, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
Keep exploring
Everything we know about Blakedown
14pages on Blakedown
The big questions
SafetyB−19.6 violent and sexual offences per 1,000 residents a year, averaged Sep 2023 to Aug 2026Cost of livingDMedian home £568K · rent £825 a monthHousing16 sold in 12 months · busiest street Belbroughton RoadSchoolsA1 state schoolHealthB+Life expectancy 81.2 (men), 84.4 (women)Work & commuteA53% of working residents work in the townFlood & hazardsB−0.2% of homes at high or medium flood risk
Out and about
Blakedown’s neighbours
The nearest built-up areas, from ONS’s 2022 boundaries. See them on the map →
HagleyCookleyKidderminsterWolverleyStourbridgeKinverRomsleyBlakedown
How the neighbours grade
| Town | People | Miles | Overall | Cost | Safety | Health |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Blakedown | 1,448 | — | — | D | B− | B+ |
| Hagley | 7,012 | 1.9 | A+ | B | A− | A+ |
| Cookley | 1,971 | 2.4 | — | C | B | B |
| Kidderminster | 57,567 | 3.2 | D | B− | D | C− |
| Wolverley | 1,208 | 3.6 | — | C− | B− | B |
| Stourbridge | 56,961 | 3.7 | C+ | B | C− | C |
| Kinver | 4,651 | 4 | B | C+ | B− | B |
| Romsley | 1,153 | 5.1 | — | A− | C+ | B+ |
Cookley, Wolverley 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 Blakedown
Is Blakedown expensive to live in?
Homes cost more than in most UK towns: the median sale over three years was £567,500, against £277,000 in the typical UK town. By type: semi-detached houses £333,000 and detached houses £625,000.
Are schools in Blakedown good?
GCSE results beat 88% of towns in England, and primary results beat 82% (Department for Education, Attainment 8 and Key Stage 2). One state school is inside the town; places are handled by Worcestershire council.
Is Blakedown safe?
Against all UK towns, it grades B−.
About Blakedown
Village in Worcestershire, England
Blakedown is a built-up area of 1,448 people, in the Wyre Forest 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
- 1,448 (Census 2021)
- Council
- Wyre Forest
- County
- Worcestershire
- Region
- West Midlands
- Area
- 0.3 sq mi (0.8 km²)
- ONS code
- E63003019
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.