Bishop's Stortford on the map

Bishop's Stortford built-up area

Built-up area9.9 km² (3.8 sq mi)

Location in HertfordshireBishop's Stortford sits where the marker shows within the county.

56,630
Population
21,340
Households
8 / 10
Deprivation decile
Among least deprived
12
Schools nearby
£71,171
Avg. household income
3,119
Businesses
328
People per km²
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About Bishop's Stortford

Bishop's Stortford is a market town in Hertfordshire, England, located in the CM23 postcode area. It lies on the River Stort, which flows through the town and provides a pleasant setting for walking and boating. The town has a historic market square with a clock tower and several shops, cafes, and pubs, offering a traditional English atmosphere. The nearby Stort Valley Way is a popular route for walkers and cyclists, following the river through the surrounding countryside. Bishop's Stortford is well connected by rail, with a station on the West Anglia Main Line, making it accessible for commuters and visitors alike. The town has a mix of residential areas and commercial developments, with a strong sense of community and local heritage.

School Ratings in Bishop's Stortford

Bishop's Stortford is served by 52 schools. Windhill21, The Bishop's Stortford High School and The Hertfordshire & Essex High School and Science College are each rated Outstanding by Ofsted. A further 16 schools hold a Good rating.

House Prices in Bishop's Stortford

Property prices average £524K across the area, and detached homes are the most common property type, typically selling for £664K.

Crime and Anti-Social Behaviour in Bishop's Stortford

Local crime rates sit broadly in line with national averages. Anti-social behaviour accounts for the highest share in Bishop's Stortford, with 66 incidents logged in April 2026.

Deprivation and Employment in Bishop's Stortford

Bishop's Stortford falls within the least deprived areas nationally, based on the 2025 Index of Multiple Deprivation. The area benefits from strong employment, with few residents involuntarily out of work. Income levels across the area tend to be higher than the national average.

Healthcare in Bishop's Stortford

There are 9 GP surgeries within three miles of Bishop's Stortford, the nearest being Helix Medical Centre (0.5 miles away).

Local Data for Bishop's Stortford

Dig deeper into the area around Bishop's Stortford with our free postcode tools.

Food Hygiene Ratings Hygiene scores for cafes, takeaways and shops Nearest GP Surgery Find the GP surgeries closest to a postcode Compare Areas Put two areas head to head House Prices Recent sale prices and trends

Property Prices 9,031 sales

Average Price £524K
£500 , £123.97M
Detached £664K 3,295
Semi £449K 2,237
Terraced £366K 1,760
Flat £256K 1,369

Schools & Education 12 nearby View all schools

33 Primary
9 Secondary
10 Other
Outstanding 3
Good 16

Ofsted ratings for schools in the CM23 postcode area.

Hockerill Anglo-European College Secondary Good 144 yards The Hertfordshire & Essex High School and Science College Secondary Outstanding 0.3 miles White Trees Independent School Not applicable Good 0.3 miles All Saints Church of England Primary School and Nursery, Bishop's Stortford Primary Good 0.4 miles EH3 Buttercups Family Centre 0.4 miles Summercroft Primary School Primary Good 0.4 miles Birchwood High School Secondary 0.5 miles Thorn Grove Primary School Primary Good 0.5 miles St Michael's Church of England Primary School Primary Good 0.6 miles TLC Live Online School Secondary 0.6 miles EH4 Windhill Family Centre 0.7 miles EH5 Little Squirrels Family Centre 0.7 miles

Household Income in Bishop's Stortford ONS 2023

The average total household income in Bishop's Stortford is approximately £71,171 a year before tax, 29% above the national average of £55,302. After tax and benefits, the average disposable (net) household income is around £50,640. These are modelled estimates from the Office for National Statistics for the financial year ending 2023.

Bishop's Stortford £71,171
England & Wales avg. £55,302

Net (after tax) household income averages £50,640.

Businesses in Bishop's Stortford ONS 2025

There are approximately 3,119 active businesses based in Bishop's Stortford, around 55 for every 1,000 residents. The local economy is dominated by small firms: about 91% are micro-businesses employing fewer than 10 people, while 57 are larger employers with 50 or more staff. Figures are from the Office for National Statistics UK Business Counts.

3,119 Total businesses
55 Per 1,000 residents
Micro, 0-9 91%
Small, 10-49 8%
Medium, 50-249 2%
Large, 250+ 0%

Deprivation and Employment in Bishop's Stortford IMD 2025

The 2025 Index of Multiple Deprivation ranks Bishop's Stortford among the least deprived parts of England. Residents generally enjoy good access to employment and higher than average household incomes. Education and health outcomes in the area also compare favourably with the rest of the country.

Overall Deprivation
8/10
Income
8/10
Employment
8/10
Education
8/10
Health
9/10
Housing
7/10
Living Environment
7/10
Children 0-15 20%
Working age 64%
Older 65+ 16%
11,288 Children (0-15) 20%
36,066 Working Age 64%
9,258 Older (65+) 16%
Above Average Child Poverty (IDACI) 18.4% of children in income-deprived families
Average Older Person Poverty (IDAOPI) 11.7% of over-60s in income-deprived households
Data from English Indices of Deprivation 2025 · Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0

Crime in Bishop's Stortford 291 crimes · April 2026

Average Crime Area

Bishop's Stortford experiences crime rates that are roughly comparable to the national picture. Violence & sexual offences is the most reported category, consistent with broader patterns across similar communities. Day-to-day life here reflects the usual mix of challenges found in any established town.

Violence & Sexual Offences 88
Anti-Social Behaviour 66
Shoplifting 38
Vehicle Crime 23
Other Theft 19
Burglary 15
Criminal Damage & Arson 13
Drugs 10
Public Order 9
Theft from Person 4
Weapons 3
Bicycle Theft 2
Robbery 1
Local Policing
Hertfordshire Bishops Stortford and Sawbridgeworth Visit force website →
Data from data.police.uk · Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0
Crime figures depend on reporting by individual police forces and may not reflect the full picture in all areas.

Nearest Train Stations 6 stations

Bishops Stortford Train Station 0.5 miles
Stansted Mountfitchet Train Station 2.4 miles
Sawbridgeworth Train Station 4.1 miles
Newport (Essex) Train Station 7.7 miles
Roydon Train Station 8.8 miles
St Margarets (Herts) Train Station 9.3 miles

Location

Nearby Towns & Villages 12 found

Hockerill 0.6 miles Duck End 1.4 miles Birchanger 1.4 miles Thorley Street 1.4 miles Thorley 1.8 miles Great Hallingbury 1.8 miles Tilekiln Green 1.9 miles Start Hill 1.9 miles Latchmore Bank 1.9 miles Hazel End 1.9 miles Thorley Houses 2 miles Bedlar's Green 2 miles

Local Government

District East Hertfordshire
County Hertfordshire
Ward Bishop's Stortford North
Constituency Hertford and Stortford
Parish Manuden
Region East of England

Home Ownership in Bishop's Stortford

Of the 22,601 households in and around Bishop's Stortford, 71% are owned, 11% are socially rented and 18% are privately rented. Home ownership here is higher than the England and Wales average of 63%.

Owned 71% Social rented 11% Private rented 18%

Tenure from the 2021 Census (ONS), for the postcode districts covering Bishop's Stortford.

Frequently Asked Questions about Bishop's Stortford

What is the population of Bishop's Stortford?
Bishop's Stortford has a population of approximately 56,630 residents, based on the latest census figures for the surrounding postcode area.
What is the average house price in Bishop's Stortford?
The average property in and around Bishop's Stortford sold for about £523,607, based on HM Land Registry Price Paid records. That is around 50% above the England and Wales average of £349,091.
Is Bishop's Stortford a deprived area?
Bishop's Stortford sits among the least deprived areas in England, with an Index of Multiple Deprivation decile of 8 out of 10, where 1 is the most deprived and 10 the least deprived.
What postcodes cover Bishop's Stortford?
Bishop's Stortford is covered by the CM22, CM23 postcode districts.
How many schools are there in Bishop's Stortford?
There are 12 schools within easy reach of Bishop's Stortford, spanning primary, secondary and other phases.
Where is the nearest train station to Bishop's Stortford?
The nearest railway station to Bishop's Stortford is Bishops Stortford Train Station, about 0.5 miles away.

Streets in Bishop's Stortford 30 shown View all streets

A1060 4 A120 2 A1250 3 Abbotts Way 2 Adams Close 1 Adderley Road 2 Albury Place 1 Alconbury 1 Alder Close 1 All Saints Close 1 Allerthorp Close 2 Alpha Place 2 Alsa Gardens 2 Alsa Leys 2 Ambrose Close 2 Anderson Close 1 Anglesey Close 1 Appleton Fields 2 Apsley Close 1 Apton Fields 1 Apton Road 6 Archer Place 2 Ardley Crescent 1 Armourers Close 1 Ascot Close 1 Ash View 1 Ashby Rise 1 Ashdale 2 Ashwell Drive 1 Askew Close 1

Postcodes in Bishop's Stortford 50 shown View all postcodes

CM22 6AA CM22 6AB CM22 6AD CM22 6AE CM22 6AF CM22 6AG CM22 6AH CM22 6AJ CM22 6AL CM22 6AN CM22 6AP CM22 6AQ CM22 6AR CM22 6AS CM22 6AT CM22 6AU CM22 6AW CM22 6AX CM22 6AY CM22 6AZ CM22 6BA CM22 6BB CM22 6BD CM22 6BE CM22 6BG CM22 6BH CM22 6BJ CM22 6BL CM22 6BN CM22 6BP CM22 6BQ CM22 6BS CM22 6BT CM22 6BU CM22 6BW CM22 6BY CM22 6BZ CM22 6DA CM22 6DB CM22 6DD CM22 6DE CM22 6DF CM22 6DG CM22 6DH CM22 6DJ CM22 6DL CM22 6DN CM22 6DP CM22 6DQ CM22 6DR