Town Pop. 429

Living in Defford: Liveability Score 38/100

Last updated 7 August 2026

Defford scores 38/100 overall, across 9 scored categories. The biggest shortfall against other towns is broadband: 22/100 versus a median of 60/100. Of the 6 places sharing the WR8 postcode district, Defford scores lowest.

It scores 6 points above the WR8 postcode district as a whole, which averages 32/100. On economic health specifically, Defford sits 16 points above the WR8 district figure of 64/100. That sits 12 points below the UK-wide average of 50, putting it in the bottom quarter of the towns and villages we score. The same breakdown for the wider area is on the WR8 postcode district.

38
OUT OF 100
Below Avg
Score for:

Settlement area

The built-up area boundary and the postcodes its score is averaged from, each shaded by its own score. Clustered pins are other settlements. Tap one to view or compare it, or zoom in to reveal more.

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Each postcode is coloured by its own overall score on the default weighting. Scores are filled in as postcodes get searched on the site, so a blue dot just means that postcode hasn't been scored yet.

Defford scores 38 but individual postcodes tell the full story

See the exact score for any postcode, side by side with Defford.
Or compare:
WR8 0AA WR8 9AA WR8

Score breakdown

Safety & Environment

Safety
89
319.3 crimes per 1,000 residents · last 12 months Above the England & Wales average of 94.3
Crime rate vs national average · last 12 months
Violence and sexual offences 48 crimes
↑ 236% above national average
Other theft 15 crimes
↑ 465% above national average
Criminal damage and arson 15 crimes
↑ 415% above national average
Anti-social behaviour 15 crimes
↑ 130% above national average
Burglary 13 crimes
↑ 766% above national average
other 31 crimes
Highest-crime locations
Loading map…
  1. 1 Tewkesbury Road 23 crimes
  2. 2 The Close 16 crimes
  3. 3 Motorway Service Area 8 crimes

Source: data.police.uk · England & Wales only

Environment
56
Air Quality NO₂ 4.668 · PM2.5 5.973 · PM10 10.869 µg/m³
76
Green Space 8
Parks Adequate 3
Sports Pitches None
Allotments None
Golf Courses None
Tennis Courts None
Bowling Greens None
Playgrounds None

Services

Schools
19
1 school in area · 4 within 4km
1Good
  • Defford-Cum-Besford CofE SchoolPrimary · inspected 2023
    Good

Score reflects proximity-weighted access to rated schools within 4km: areas with more nearby schools score higher regardless of settlement boundary.

Healthcare
3
A&E departmentsGloucestershire Royal Hospital15.8 mi
Hereford County Hospital24.8 mi
Warwick Hospital26.4 mi
Hospital waitsHerefordshire And Worcestershire Health And Care NHS Trust2 mi
Routine referral (median)3 wks
Treated within 18 weeks90%
Nearest GP surgeryAbbottswood Medical Centre2.2 mi
GP capacity1,204 patients per GP
0dentists0pharmacies

Score reflects proximity to CQC-rated GP surgeries and hospitals, not facility count. Dentists and pharmacies are shown for context but don't affect the score.

Broadband
22
Full fibre (FTTP)79%
available across Wychavon
Gigabit-capable · incl. cable
36.8%
Ultrafast (300+ Mbps)
36.8%
Superfast (30+ Mbps)
100%
Ofcom Connected Nations · 15 postcodes · full fibre at local-authority level

Economy & Bills

Economic Health
80
Employment rate52.4%
Below the Great Britain average of 57.3% of residents aged 16+
Economic activity (16+)
Employed52.4%Unemployed1.3%Retired35.9%Student3.8%Other inactive6.5%
Occupation mix
Professional & managerial48.2%Skilled & technical35.7%Routine & elementary16.1%
Highest qualification (16+)
No qualifications13.4%Level 1 (1–4 GCSEs)8.1%Level 2 (5+ GCSEs)13.3%Level 3 (A levels)15%Level 4+ (degree & above)42.2%Apprenticeship5.7%Other (incl. vocational)2.2%
Home ownership82.2%
Among the least-deprived 38% of areas in England
Census 2021/22 (Great Britain) · deprivation: IoD 2025 / SIMD
Bills
56
Council tax Wychavon · 2026-27
A £1,582
B £1,846
C £2,109
D £2,373
E £2,900
F £3,428
G £3,955
H £4,746
Energy West Midlands region
Typical bill regional £1,641/yr
Ofgem price cap, GB average · Apr–Jun 2026
Typical home efficiency local EPC band D
Water Severn Trent Water
Average bill regional £424/yr
Combined water & sewerage · GB average £520

Transport

Transport
14
Pershore 3.6 mi
Worcestershire Parkway 5 mi
Ashchurch for Tewkesbury 6.2 mi
J8 M5 2.4 mi
J8 M5 3.1 mi
J1 M50 4 mi

Lifestyle

Lifestyle
11
Pubs & Bars Some 2
Restaurants & Cafes None
Supermarkets & Convenience None
Retail Shopping None
Takeaways None
Fitness None

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House Prices

Not enough recent sales

Fewer than 10 sales were recorded in Defford in the last 12 months, which isn't enough for a reliable median. Smaller villages often fall below this in any given year. Figures come from HM Land Registry Price Paid data and are updated monthly, so this may fill in later.

Nearby places

Eckington (Wychavon) 39 1.2 mi away ⇄
Besford 0 1.2 mi away ⇄
Great Comberton 40 2.3 mi away ⇄
Wick (Wychavon) 51 2.6 mi away ⇄
Pershore 46 2.6 mi away ⇄
Little Comberton 39 3.0 mi away ⇄
Drakes Broughton 40 3.4 mi away ⇄
Wyre Piddle 37 3.8 mi away ⇄
Ryall 41 3.9 mi away ⇄
Pinvin 40 4.0 mi away ⇄
Bredon 50 4.0 mi away ⇄
Elmley Castle 40 4.1 mi away ⇄

Frequently asked questions

Is Defford a nice place to live?

Defford has some challenges compared to many UK areas. Our liveability score for Defford is 38/100, placing it among a below-average areas in the UK across nine categories: safety, schools, healthcare, environment, transport, broadband, lifestyle, economic health, and bills.

How safe is Defford?

Defford is a relatively safe area to live. Our safety score is 89/100. There were 137 crimes recorded in the area over the past 12 months.

What are the best schools in Defford?

Among the top-rated schools in Defford is Defford-Cum-Besford CofE School, rated Good by Ofsted. There are 1 rated schools in Defford in total.

Defford in context

See the best places to live in Worcestershire, ranked

Postcode districts in Defford

WR8 32 ⇄

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