Town Pop. 8,875

Living in Penistone: Liveability Score 61/100

Last updated 7 August 2026

Penistone scores 61/100 overall, across 9 scored categories. Measured against other towns, healthcare stands out most: 57/100 where the typical UK town scores 18/100. That is the highest score of the 8 places in the S36 postcode district.

It scores 7 points above the S36 postcode district as a whole, which averages 54/100. Its healthcare score runs 8 points above the S36 district's 49/100. That is 11 points above the national benchmark of 50, the top 10% of all UK towns and villages. The same breakdown for the wider area is on the S36 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.

Penistone scores 61 but individual postcodes tell the full story

See the exact score for any postcode, side by side with Penistone.
Or compare:
S36 0BJ S36 1AA S36 2AA S36 3SS S36 4AA S36 6AA S36 7AA S36 8AA S36

Score breakdown

Safety & Environment

Safety
84
72.8 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 224 crimes
↓ 24% below national average
Anti-social behaviour 102 crimes
↓ 24% below national average
Public order 56 crimes
≈ similar to national average
Shoplifting 54 crimes
↓ 22% below national average
Criminal damage and arson 48 crimes
↓ 21% below national average
other 162 crimes
Highest-crime locations
Loading map…
  1. 1 Stottercliffe Road 67 crimes
  2. 2 Parking Area 45 crimes
  3. 3 Well House Lane 30 crimes

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

Environment
65
Air Quality NO₂ 5.7 · PM2.5 6.3 · PM10 10 µg/m³
75
Green Space 44
Parks Ample 12
Sports Pitches Ample 11
Allotments Adequate 2
Golf Courses None
Tennis Courts Adequate 4
Bowling Greens Adequate 2
Playgrounds Adequate 6

Services

Schools
35
5 schools in area · 7 within 4km
5Good
  • Oxspring Primary SchoolPrimary · inspected 2024
    Good
  • Penistone Grammar SchoolSecondary · inspected 2023
    Good
  • Penistone St John's Voluntary Aided Primary SchoolPrimary · inspected 2024
    Good
  • Springvale Primary SchoolPrimary · inspected 2023
    Good
  • Thurlstone Primary 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
57
A&E departmentsSheffield Children's Hospital A&E10.7 mi
Huddersfield Royal Infirmary10.9 mi
Dewsbury & District Hospital11.2 mi
Hospital waitsSouth West Yorkshire Partnership NHS Foundation Trust0.1 mi
Routine referral (median)5 wks
Treated within 18 weeks96.4%
2 GP surgeries in area best 'Good'
GP capacity1,191 patients per GP
1dentist2pharmacies

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
83
Gigabit-capable · incl. cable
95.5%
Ultrafast (300+ Mbps)
95.5%
Superfast (30+ Mbps)
99.5%
Ofcom Connected Nations · 188 postcodes

Economy & Bills

Economic Health
71
Employment rate59.6%
Above the Great Britain average of 57.3% of residents aged 16+
Economic activity (16+)
Employed59.6%Unemployed2%Retired27.2%Student3.6%Other inactive7.6%
Occupation mix
Professional & managerial44.8%Skilled & technical31.6%Routine & elementary23.6%
Highest qualification (16+)
No qualifications15.1%Level 1 (1–4 GCSEs)8.6%Level 2 (5+ GCSEs)13.5%Level 3 (A levels)17.5%Level 4+ (degree & above)37.2%Apprenticeship6%Other (incl. vocational)2.1%
Home ownership77.3%
Among the least-deprived 24% of areas in England
Census 2021/22 (Great Britain) · deprivation: IoD 2025 / SIMD
Bills
60
Council tax Barnsley · 2026-27
A £1,551
B £1,809
C £2,068
D £2,326
E £2,843
F £3,360
G £3,877
H £4,652
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
52
Penistone 0.3 mi
Silkstone Common 2.8 mi
Denby Dale 3.6 mi
J37 M1 4.8 mi
J37 M1 5.1 mi
J38 M1 6.1 mi

Lifestyle

Lifestyle
44
Pubs & Bars Adequate 8
Restaurants & Cafes Ample 13
Supermarkets & Convenience Adequate 4
Retail Shopping Ample 68
Takeaways Adequate 6
Fitness Ample 6

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House Prices

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

Type Median price Sales
All dwellings £232,500 74
Detached £340,000 23
Semi-detached £229,500 26
Terraced £210,975 16
5-year monthly trend
All Detached Semi Terraced
£140k £221k £304k £385k 2022 2023 2024 2025 2026

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

Nearby places

Thurlstone 53 1.0 mi away ⇄
Hoylandswaine 53 1.4 mi away ⇄
Oxspring 53 1.5 mi away ⇄
Millhouse Green 50 1.6 mi away ⇄
Ingbirchworth 40 2.3 mi away ⇄
Upper Denby 55 2.8 mi away ⇄
Silkstone Common 54 2.9 mi away ⇄
Thurgoland 40 3.0 mi away ⇄
Silkstone 52 3.1 mi away ⇄
Stocksbridge 52 3.3 mi away ⇄
Cawthorne 47 3.3 mi away ⇄
Denby Dale 57 3.5 mi away ⇄

Frequently asked questions

Is Penistone a nice place to live?

Penistone is a decent place to live for many people. Our liveability score for Penistone 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 Penistone?

Penistone is a relatively safe area to live. Our safety score is 84/100. There were 646 crimes recorded in the area over the past 12 months.

What are the best schools in Penistone?

Among the top-rated schools in Penistone are Oxspring Primary School, Penistone Grammar School and Penistone St John's Voluntary Aided Primary School, rated Good by Ofsted. There are 5 rated schools in Penistone in total.

What are house prices like in Penistone?

The current median house price in Penistone is £232,500, around 18% below the England and Wales average. By property type: detached £340,000, semi-detached £229,500, terraced £210,975. Over the past five years, prices have risen by around 6%. There were 74 sales recorded in the past 12 months.

Penistone in context

See where Penistone ranks among the best places to live in South Yorkshire

Postcode districts in Penistone

S36 54 ⇄

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