South West · England
Truro area guide
Population
583,289
Cornwall
Avg. house price
£277,017
+2.4% /yr
Avg. rent (pcm)
£1,003
+4.6% /yr
Rental yield
4.3%
gross
Truro sits within Cornwall; property and population figures shown are for the wider Cornwall area. Sources: ONS mid-2024 population, HM Land Registry / ONS house prices and ONS private rents.
About Truro
Truro is the county town and only city of Cornwall, situated in the south west of England towards the southern coast of the county, a few miles inland from the Fal estuary. It owes its city status to Truro Cathedral, completed in the early twentieth century, which remains the dominant feature of its skyline. The city has a long history as a centre of trade and administration, growing wealthy in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries through the tin and copper mining industries, and much of its Georgian architecture survives in the streets around Lemon Street and Boscawen Street. Today it functions as Cornwall's principal retail, administrative and commercial hub, while retaining a compact, historic market-town character.
Schools & education
Truro is home to a range of schools, including state primaries and secondaries as well as well-known independent schools such as Truro School and Truro High School for Girls. Truro and Penwith College is the main further education provider based in the city, offering A-levels, vocational courses and some higher education programmes. There is no university campus within Truro itself, but higher education is accessible nearby at the Penryn Campus near Falmouth, shared by the University of Exeter and Falmouth University, around ten miles away.
Transport & airports
Truro railway station sits on the Cornish Main Line, with regular services to Plymouth, Exeter and London Paddington, as well as a branch line connecting to Falmouth. The city is well placed on Cornwall's road network, close to the A30, the main trunk road running the length of the county, and the A39, which links Truro to north Cornwall and Devon. Within the city, roads can be narrow and congested at peak times, and Truro has park-and-ride facilities to ease access to the centre. The nearest major airport is Cornwall Airport Newquay, which offers domestic flights and some seasonal international routes.
Economy & jobs
As Cornwall's county town, Truro serves as the administrative and commercial centre for the wider region, hosting Cornwall Council's main offices and a concentration of retail, legal and financial services not found elsewhere in the county. The Royal Cornwall Hospital at Treliske, on the edge of the city, is one of the largest employers in Cornwall. Tourism also contributes to the local economy, given Truro's role as a gateway to the Cornish coast and countryside, alongside a retail sector built around its shopping streets and Lemon Quay area. Cornwall as a whole has an average house price of £277,017 and average monthly rent of £1,003, with Truro generally commanding higher property values than many other parts of the county owing to its city status and central location.
Living in Truro
Truro offers a small-city lifestyle with a strong sense of history, centred on its cathedral, independent shops and cultural venues such as the Hall for Cornwall theatre and the Royal Cornwall Museum. It attracts families, professionals and retirees drawn to its combination of amenities, good schools and proximity to the Cornish coastline and countryside. Cornwall's overall population stands at 583,289, and Truro itself is a comparatively small city, giving it a close-knit, community feel rather than the pace of larger urban centres. Its setting makes it well suited to those wanting easy access to beaches, countryside and market-town living within a short drive.
Truro FAQs
What is the population of Truro?
Truro is a small city, generally cited as having a population of around 18,000 to 20,000 people, within a wider Cornwall population of 583,289 (ONS mid-2024).
What is the nearest airport to Truro?
The nearest major airport is Cornwall Airport Newquay, which offers domestic flights and some seasonal international services.
Is there a university in Truro?
Truro does not have its own university campus, but Truro and Penwith College provides further and some higher education locally, while the University of Exeter and Falmouth University share a campus at Penryn, near Falmouth, around ten miles from Truro.
Latest Truro property news
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This guide is provided for general information. Statistics are from official sources on the dates shown; other details are an overview and may change. Browse all UK city guides →