List of settlements in Devon by population

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Interactive map showing the location of the towns and cities within Devon. The size of the circle corresponds to the size of its 2011 population and the shade of blue or red to its population growth or decline respectively. 2011 map of towns and cities in Devon by population.svg1. Plymouth 256,384 (6%)2. Exeter 117,773 (6%)3. Torquay 65,245 (2%)4. Paignton 49,021 (2%)5. Exmouth 34,432 (4%)6. Barnstaple 24,033 (14%)7. Newton Abbot 24,029 (2%)8. Tiverton 21,335 (13%)9. Brixham 16,693 (-5%)10. Bideford 16,610 (13%)11. Teignmouth 14,749 (2%)12. Sidmouth 13,737 (4%)13. Dawlish 13,161 (0%)14. Tavistock 12,280 (6%)15. Northam 12,062 (9%)16. Ivybridge 11,851 (-2%)17. Ilfracombe 11,509 (6%)18. Honiton 11,156 (3%)19. Kingsteignton 10,451 (-2%)20. Cullompton 8,499 (11%)21. Crediton 7,600 (10%)22. Totnes 7,456 (0%)23. Bovey Tracey 7,168 (3%)24. Okehampton 7,104 (18%)25. Seaton 7,096 (4%)26. Axminster 6,557 (14%)27. Kingsbridge 5,887 (6%)28. Great Torrington 5,714 (8%)29. Dartmouth 5,605 (2%)30. Budleigh Salterton 5,185 (7%)31. Ottery St. Mary 4,898 (11%)32. South Molton 4,875 (16%)33. Chudleigh 4,378 (12%)34. Ashburton 4,087 (4%)35. Buckfastleigh 3,631 (-1%)36. Exminster 3,616 (9%)37. Colyton 3,165 (6%)38. Holsworthy 2,641 (15%)39. Bradninch 2,206 (13%)40. Salcombe 1,909 (1%)41. North Tawton 1,859 (16%)42. Hatherleigh 1,729 (25%)43. Hartland 1,724 (3%)44. Moretonhampstead 1,703 (10%)45. Chagford 1,449 (-1%)46. Chulmleigh 1,323 (1%)47. Beer 1,317 (-5%)
Interactive map showing the location of the towns and cities within Devon. The size of the circle corresponds to the size of its 2011 population and the shade of blue or red to its population growth or decline respectively.

This list is of towns and cities in Devon in order of their population, according to the 2021 census data from the Office for National Statistics. It comprises the Key Statistics for local authorities, civil parishes and wards that attempt to show their populations. The largest settlement in Devon is the city and unitary authority of Plymouth with a population of 266,955, whereas the smallest settlement was the town and civil parish of Beer with a population of 1,280. The city of Exeter, which is home to Exeter Cathedral, is the county town and headquarters of Devon County Council. The ceremonial county of Devon includes unitary authority areas of Plymouth and Torbay, but the non-metropolitan county of Devon excludes such unitary authority areas. It is governed by Devon County Council, whereas Plymouth and Torbay can govern themselves on matters such as transport and education.

Traditionally a town is any settlement which has received a charter of incorporation, more commonly known as a town charter, approved by the monarch. However, since 1974, any civil parish has the right to declare itself as a town. Prior to 1888, city status was given to settlements home to a cathedral of the Church of England such as Exeter. After 1888 it was no longer a necessary condition, leading to Plymouth gaining city-status in 1928. Historical towns such as Plympton, Stonehouse and Devonport, which were merged into the city of Plymouth, have not been included, as well as Topsham, which became a part of Exeter's urban district, and St Marychurch, which was annexed by Torquay. However, the unitary authority area of Torbay recognises the three towns of Torquay, Paignton and Brixham. The ward for Ottery St Mary is also included, as it is titled Ottery St Mary Town.

Changes to population structures have, however, led to explosions in non-traditional settlements that do not fall into traditional, bureaucratic definitions of 'towns'. Several villages, which are not included in this list, have grown steadily and are more populous than many towns. For example, the ward of Fremington, with a population of 4,310. [1] would be ranked 34 whilst its neighbour Braunton civil parish, with a population of 8,128, [2] would be ranked 21.

2011 rankTown/cityPopulationNotesImage
2021 [3] 2011 [4] 2001 [5]
1 Plymouth 266,955256,384240,720City and unitary authority, which includes the suburbs of Plympton and Plymstock. Plympton used to be a separate town and Plymstock is a parish. Plymouth Barbican and harbour.jpg
2 Exeter 126,175117,773111,076City, urban district and the county town (capital) of Devon. Includes Topsham. Exeter panorama 1.jpg
4 Paignton 67,52049,021 [6] 48,251 [7] Part of the unitary authority of Torbay Paignton beach.jpg
3 Torquay 52,03565,245 [6] 63,998 [7] Part of the unitary authority of Torbay Torquay.devon.750pix.jpg
5 Exmouth 35,50034,43232,972Civil parish Exmouth from Dawlish Warren.jpg
6 Barnstaple 31,27524,03320,724Civil parish Barnstaple Long Bridge and surrounding buildings - geograph.org.uk - 1754403.jpg
7 Newton Abbot 29,65024,02923,580Civil parish Newton abbot view.jpg
8 Tiverton 19,71021,33518,621Civil parish River Exe.jpg
9 Brixham 17,84016,693 [6] 17,457 [7] Civil parish; part of the unitary authority of Torbay. [8] Brixham.devon.750pix.jpg
10 Bideford 19,49016,61014,407Civil parish Bideford-Devon.jpg
11 Teignmouth 15,31514,74914,413Civil parish TeignmouthHarbour.JPG
12 Sidmouth 13,26513,73713,135Civil parish Sidmouth, devon.jpg
13 Dawlish 12,990 ^ 13,16113,135Civil parish Dawlish 2.jpg
14 Tavistock 12,67012,28011,604Civil parish West Street, Tavistock - geograph.org.uk - 193504.jpg
15 Northam 5,19012,06211,018Civil parish Northam Church by Roger A Smith.jpg
16 Ivybridge 12,49011,85112,056Civil parish Fore Street at Ivybridge.jpg
17 Ilfracombe 9,20011,50910,840Civil parish Ilfracombe.jpg
18 Honiton 12,15511,15610,857Civil parish Honiton from the south east.jpg
19 Kingsteignton 11,94010,45110,615Civil parish Kingsteignton Street - geograph.org.uk - 89779.jpg
20 Cullompton 8,8958,4997,609Civil parish Cullompton, Devon, the town from the south west (geograph 57332).jpg
21 Crediton 7,9757,6006,837Civil parish Crediton, Union Road from Union Terrace - geograph.org.uk - 958292.jpg
22 Totnes 9,2157,4567,444Civil parish Totnes High Street.jpg
23 Bovey Tracey 6,2407,1686,929Civil parish Bovey Tracey Fore Street.jpg
24 Okehampton 9,1107,1045,846Civil parish Okehampton former A30.jpg
25 Seaton 7,4357,0966,798Civil parish Seaton sea front in devon arp.jpg
26 Axminster 6,0956,5575,626Civil parish Axminster Town.JPG
27 Kingsbridge 5,6805,8875,521Civil parish Fore Street, Kingsbridge.jpg
28 Great Torrington 5,9555,7145,279Civil parish Great Torrington Pannier Market on South Street - geograph.org.uk - 1508382.jpg
29 Dartmouth 5,2605,6055,512Civil parish Dartmouth.town.750pix.jpg
30 Budleigh Salterton 5,2355,1854,801Civil parish Budleigh Salterton2.JPG
31 Ottery St. Mary 6,0454,8984,366 Ward, which refers to Ottery St Mary as a "town". Otterystmarychurch.jpg
32 South Molton 6,2254,8754,093Civil parish South Molton The Square.jpg
33 Chudleigh 4,3754,3783,846Civil parish Chudleigh.jpg
34 Ashburton 3,3654,0873,909Civil parish West Street , Ashburton.jpg
35 Buckfastleigh 2,7203,6313,661Civil parish BuckfastleighRoad.JPG
36 Exminster 4,3853,6163,310Civil parish Exminster station.jpg
37 Colyton 1,9403,1652,964Civil parish including Colyford Colyton-standrew.jpg
38 Holsworthy 3,4702,6412,256Civil parish Holsworthy Town.jpg
39 Bradninch 1,8252,2061,916Civil parish Bradninch.jan.2006.png
40 Salcombe 1,5851,9091,893Civil parish Salcombe.jpg
41 North Tawton 1,7851,8591,570Civil parish North Tawton Square.jpg
42 Hatherleigh 7301,7291,306Civil parish Churchyard, Hatherleigh.jpg
43 Hartland 9501,7241,676Civil parish Stnectan.jpg
44 Moretonhampstead 1,3351,7031,536Civil parish Flower decoration - Court Street Moretonhampstead.jpg
45 Chagford 1,1051,4491,470Civil parish Chagford's famous ironmongery stores, Webbers and Bowdens.jpg
46 Chulmleigh 1,2351,3231,308Civil parish Chulmleigh - main street - geograph.org.uk - 420150.jpg
47 Beer 1,2801,3171,381Civil parish Beer Devon Common Lane.jpg

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Ward population 2011" . Retrieved 19 February 2015.
  2. ↑ "Key Figures for 2011 Census: Key Statistics: Braunton". Neighbourhood Statistics. Office for National Statistics. 28 March 2011. Retrieved 12 February 2017.
  3. ↑ "Towns and cities, characteristics of built-up areas, England and Wales: Census 2021 - Office for National Statistics". www.ons.gov.uk. Retrieved 27 October 2025.
  4. ↑ "2011 Population: All Usual Residents". Neighbourhood Statistics. Office for National Statistics. 27 March 2011. Archived from the original on 6 January 2009. Retrieved 12 February 2017.
  5. ↑ "Key Figures for 2001 Census: All people". Neighbourhood Statistics. Office for National Statistics. 1 April 2001. Archived from the original on 6 January 2009. Retrieved 28 November 2008.
  6. 1 2 3 "Census 2011 - Torbay Profile". Torbay Council. 3 July 2013. Archived from the original on 22 February 2014. Retrieved 12 February 2017. (Word document)
  7. 1 2 3 "Key Statistics for Tobray — May 2005" (PDF). Census 2001 . The Consultation and Research Team, Torbay Council. p. 2. Archived from the original (PDF) on 13 February 2012. Retrieved 28 November 2008.
  8. ↑ "Brixham Town Council". Torbay Council. 29 October 2009. Archived from the original on 9 October 2009. Retrieved 29 October 2009.

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