Town Pop. 20,768

Living in Dronfield: Liveability Score 61/100

Last updated 7 August 2026

Our overall score for Dronfield is 61/100, built from 9 categories. Measured against other towns, schools stands out most: 54/100 where the typical UK town scores 23/100. Dronfield places 2nd of 4 in the S18 postcode district.

No category drops below 45/100, which is unusual: most UK towns carry at least one clear weak spot. That is 11 points above the national benchmark of 50, the top 10% of all UK towns and villages. Safety (90) sits at 80/100 or above. For the surrounding area, see S18 postcode district.

61
OUT OF 100
Average
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.

Dronfield scores 61 but individual postcodes tell the full story

See the exact score for any postcode, side by side with Dronfield.
Or compare:
S18 1AA S18 2AA S18 3AA S18 4AB S18 7AB S18 8AB S18 9AD S18

Score breakdown

Safety & Environment

Safety
90
51.6 crimes per 1,000 residents · last 12 months Below the England & Wales average of 94.3
Crime rate vs national average · last 12 months
Violence and sexual offences 367 crimes
↓ 47% below national average
Shoplifting 203 crimes
↑ 26% above national average
Anti-social behaviour 153 crimes
↓ 51% below national average
Criminal damage and arson 81 crimes
↓ 43% below national average
Public order 72 crimes
↓ 46% below national average
other 195 crimes
Highest-crime locations
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  1. 1 Petrol Station 132 crimes
  2. 2 Parking Area 78 crimes
  3. 3 Supermarket 66 crimes

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

Environment
67
Air Quality NO₂ 8.5 · PM2.5 7.3 · PM10 11.2 µg/m³
70
Green Space 59
Parks Ample 19
Sports Pitches Ample 30
Allotments Adequate 3
Golf Courses Adequate 2
Tennis Courts Adequate 4
Bowling Greens Adequate 3
Playgrounds Ample 14

Services

Schools
54
Top 10 by Ofsted rating · 14 in area · 23 within 4km
11Good3Ungraded
  • Dronfield Henry Fanshawe SchoolSecondary · inspected 2023
    Good
  • Dronfield Stonelow Junior SchoolPrimary · inspected 2025
    Good
  • Gorseybrigg Primary School and NurseryPrimary · inspected 2023
    Good
  • Lenthall Infant and Nursery SchoolPrimary · inspected 2023
    Good
  • Lowedges Primary AcademyPrimary · inspected 2023
    Good
  • Lower Meadow Primary SchoolPrimary · inspected 2025
    Good
  • Northfield Junior SchoolPrimary · inspected 2024
    Good
  • St Andrew's CofE Methodist (Aided) Primary SchoolPrimary · inspected 2025
    Good
  • Unstone Junior SchoolPrimary · inspected 2021
    Good
  • Unstone St Mary's Nursery & Infant SchoolPrimary · inspected 2024
    Good

Ungraded: inspected, but Ofsted no longer issues a single overall grade (since Sept 2024).

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

Healthcare
45
A&E departmentsSheffield Children's Hospital A&E4.5 mi
Rotherham General Hospital8.2 mi
Rotherham Hospital Urgent Care Center/A&E8.3 mi
Hospital waitsChesterfield Royal Hospital NHS Foundation Trust0.2 mi
Routine referral (median)15 wks
Treated within 18 weeks54.2%
A&E seen within 4 hrs74.2%
2 GP surgeries in area 5 within 4km best 'Good'
GP capacity1,609 patients per GP
2dentists5pharmacies

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
64
Full fibre (FTTP)88.7%
available across North East Derbyshire
Gigabit-capable · incl. cable
92.3%
Ultrafast (300+ Mbps)
92.3%
Superfast (30+ Mbps)
99.5%
Ofcom Connected Nations · 438 postcodes · full fibre at local-authority level

Economy & Bills

Economic Health
76
Employment rate53.3%
Below the Great Britain average of 57.3% of residents aged 16+
Economic activity (16+)
Employed53.3%Unemployed1.9%Retired34.8%Student3.1%Other inactive6.9%
Occupation mix
Professional & managerial44.3%Skilled & technical33.8%Routine & elementary21.9%
Highest qualification (16+)
No qualifications14.6%Level 1 (1–4 GCSEs)9.8%Level 2 (5+ GCSEs)13.8%Level 3 (A levels)18.2%Level 4+ (degree & above)34%Apprenticeship7%Other (incl. vocational)2.6%
Home ownership80.8%
Among the least-deprived 19% of areas in England
Census 2021/22 (Great Britain) · deprivation: IoD 2025 / SIMD
Bills
47
Council tax North East Derbyshire · 2026-27
A £1,645
B £1,919
C £2,193
D £2,467
E £3,015
F £3,563
G £4,112
H £4,934
Energy Yorkshire region
Typical bill regional £1,641/yr
Ofgem price cap, GB average · Apr–Jun 2026
Typical home efficiency local EPC band D
Water Yorkshire Water
Average bill regional £437/yr
Combined water & sewerage · GB average £520

Transport

Transport
49
Dronfield 0.2 mi
Dore and Totley 2.4 mi
Chesterfield 5 mi
J29A M1 7.1 mi
J29A M1 7.3 mi
J30 M1 7.4 mi

Lifestyle

Lifestyle
46
Pubs & Bars Ample 15
Restaurants & Cafes Adequate 12
Supermarkets & Convenience Ample 10
Retail Shopping Ample 34
Takeaways Adequate 9
Fitness Adequate 4

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House Prices

Current median sale prices · last 12 months · England & Wales only

Type Median price Sales
All dwellings £295,000 141
Detached £369,026 56
Semi-detached £267,500 60
Terraced £215,000 19
5-year monthly trend
All Detached Semi Terraced Flat
£138k £227k £318k £407k 2022 2023 2024 2025 2026

Source: HM Land Registry Price Paid Data (OGL v3.0)

Nearby places

Unstone Green 47 1.8 mi away ⇄
Holmesfield 38 1.9 mi away ⇄
Cutthorpe 45 3.1 mi away ⇄
Marsh Lane 40 3.3 mi away ⇄
Ridgeway 41 3.5 mi away ⇄
Highlane 59 4.1 mi away ⇄
Chesterfield 57 4.4 mi away ⇄
Barrow Hill 31 4.4 mi away ⇄
Eckington (North East Derbyshire) 53 4.6 mi away ⇄
Brimington 56 4.9 mi away ⇄
Sheffield 67 5.0 mi away ⇄
Staveley (Chesterfield) 44 5.5 mi away ⇄

Frequently asked questions

Is Dronfield a nice place to live?

Dronfield is a decent place to live for many people. Our liveability score for Dronfield is 61/100, placing it among an average areas in the UK across nine categories: safety, schools, healthcare, environment, transport, broadband, lifestyle, economic health, and bills.

How safe is Dronfield?

Dronfield is a relatively safe area to live. Our safety score is 90/100. There were 1,071 crimes recorded in the area over the past 12 months.

What are the best schools in Dronfield?

Among the top-rated schools in Dronfield are Dronfield Henry Fanshawe School, Dronfield Stonelow Junior School and Gorseybrigg Primary School and Nursery, rated Good by Ofsted. There are 14 rated schools in Dronfield in total.

What are house prices like in Dronfield?

The current median house price in Dronfield is £295,000, in line with the England and Wales average. By property type: detached £369,026, semi-detached £267,500, terraced £215,000. Over the past five years, prices have risen by around 9%. There were 141 sales recorded in the past 12 months.

Dronfield in context

See where Dronfield ranks among the best places to live in Derbyshire

Postcode districts in Dronfield

S18 58 ⇄

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