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 and civil parishes that attempt to show their populations. The largest settlement in Devon is the city and unitary authority of Plymouth with a population of 264,695, whereas the smallest settlement was the town and civil parish of Beer with a population of 1,283. 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.

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 5,231 [1] would be ranked 35 whilst its neighbour Braunton civil parish, with a population of 8,210, [2] would be ranked 23.

2011 rankTown/cityPopulationNotesImage
2021 [3] 2011 [4] 2001 [5]
1 Plymouth 264,695256,384240,720City 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 130,709117,773111,076City, urban district and the county town (capital) of Devon. Includes Topsham. Exeter panorama 1.jpg
3 Paignton 67,488 [6] 62,75362,761Part of the unitary authority of Torbay. Wards such as Cockington, Torquay station, and Torbay Hospital are included here rather than in Torquay. Paignton beach.jpg
4 Torquay 52,037 [7] 48,56346,650Part of the unitary authority of Torbay Torquay.devon.750pix.jpg
5 Exmouth 35,48834,43232,972Civil parish Exmouth from Dawlish Warren.jpg
6 Newton Abbot 26,74624,02923,580Civil parish Newton abbot view.jpg
7 Barnstaple 23,97624,03320,724Civil parish Barnstaple Long Bridge and surrounding buildings - geograph.org.uk - 1754403.jpg
8 Tiverton 22,29121,33518,621Civil parish River Exe.jpg
9 Bideford 18,26016,61014,407Civil parish Bideford-Devon.jpg
10 Brixham 16,82516,693 [8] 17,457 [9] Civil parish; part of the unitary authority of Torbay. [10] Brixham.devon.750pix.jpg
11 Dawlish 15,25713,16113,135Civil parish Dawlish 2.jpg
12 Teignmouth 14,93214,74914,413Civil parish TeignmouthHarbour.JPG
13 Sidmouth 14,37713,73713,135Civil parish Sidmouth, devon.jpg
14 Tavistock 12,67512,28011,604Civil parish West Street, Tavistock - geograph.org.uk - 193504.jpg
15 Northam 12,35612,06211,018Civil parish Northam Church by Roger A Smith.jpg
16 Kingsteignton 11,93510,45110,615Civil parish Kingsteignton Street - geograph.org.uk - 89779.jpg
17 Ivybridge 11,90111,85112,056Civil parish Fore Street at Ivybridge.jpg
18 Honiton 11,31611,15610,857Civil parish Honiton from the south east.jpg
19 Ilfracombe 11,04211,50910,840Civil parish Ilfracombe.jpg
20 Cullompton 10,4928,4997,609Civil parish Cullompton, Devon, the town from the south west (geograph 57332).jpg
21 Totnes 8,2407,4567,444Civil parish Totnes High Street.jpg
22 Axminster 8,1186,5575,626Civil parish Axminster Town.JPG
23 Crediton 8,0707,6006,837Civil parish Crediton, Union Road from Union Terrace - geograph.org.uk - 958292.jpg
24 Bovey Tracey 7,9967,1686,929Civil parish Bovey Tracey Fore Street.jpg
25 Ottery St. Mary 7,9866,7126,054Civil parish Otterystmarychurch.jpg
26 Seaton 7,6937,0966,798Civil parish Seaton sea front in devon arp.jpg
27 Okehampton 7,3137,1045,846Civil parish Okehampton former A30.jpg
28 South Molton 6,3544,8754,093Civil parish South Molton The Square.jpg
29 Great Torrington 5,7975,7145,279Civil parish Great Torrington Pannier Market on South Street - geograph.org.uk - 1508382.jpg
30 Kingsbridge 5,6835,8875,521Civil parish Fore Street, Kingsbridge.jpg
31 Dartmouth 5,2595,6055,512Civil parish Dartmouth.town.750pix.jpg
32 Budleigh Salterton 5,2405,1854,801Civil parish Budleigh Salterton2.JPG
33 Chudleigh 4,7524,3783,846Civil parish Chudleigh.jpg
34 Exminster 4,6443,6163,310Civil parish Exminster station.jpg
35 Ashburton 4,2244,0873,909Civil parish West Street , Ashburton.jpg
36 Buckfastleigh 3,5713,6313,661Civil parish BuckfastleighRoad.JPG
37 Holsworthy 3,4752,6412,256Civil parish Holsworthy Town.jpg
38 Colyton 2,3742,3162,193Civil parish Colyton-standrew.jpg
39 Bradninch 2,1652,2061,916Civil parish Bradninch.jan.2006.png
40 North Tawton 2,1191,8591,570Civil parish North Tawton Square.jpg
41 Modbury 20071,6771,454Civil parish View down Church Street, Modbury, South Hams, Devon.jpg
42 Hatherleigh 1,9021,7291,306Civil parish Churchyard, Hatherleigh.jpg
43 Hartland 1,8641,7241,676Civil parish Stnectan.jpg
44 Bampton 1,8421,7911,598Civil Parish Castle Street, Bampton.jpg
45 Moretonhampstead 1,7281,7031,536Civil parish Flower decoration - Court Street Moretonhampstead.jpg
46 Salcombe 1,5841,9091,893Civil parish Salcombe.jpg
47 Chulmleigh 1,5821,3231,308Civil parish Chulmleigh - main street - geograph.org.uk - 420150.jpg
48 Chagford 1,5391,4491,470Civil parish Chagford's famous ironmongery stores, Webbers and Bowdens.jpg
49 Lynton and Lynmouth 1,4051,4411,513Civil parish. Includes the town of Lynton and the village of Lynmouth. Lynton Town Hall - geograph.org.uk - 797343.jpg
50 Beer 1,2831,3171,381Civil parish Beer Devon Common Lane.jpg

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Fremington - Population Statistics". citypopulation.de.
  2. ↑ "Braunton - Population Statistics". citypopulations.de.
  3. ↑ "United Kingdom: South West England (Local Authority Districts and Parishes)". citypopulation.de.
  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. ↑ "United Kingdom: Countries and Major Cities". citypopulation.de.
  7. ↑ "United Kingdom: Major Cities in England". citypopulation.de.
  8. ↑ "Census 2011 - Torbay Profile". Torbay Council. 3 July 2013. Archived from the original on 22 February 2014. Retrieved 12 February 2017. (Word document)
  9. ↑ "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.
  10. ↑ "Brixham Town Council". Torbay Council. 29 October 2009. Archived from the original on 9 October 2009. Retrieved 29 October 2009.

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