Area report
Is Ceredigion a good place to live?
Ceredigion, Wales
Report completeness: 90%. Score is based on the categories with data loaded for this area.
In short
Ceredigion scores 64 out of 100 overall, which places it below the median of the 539 UK areas we have scored. Its biggest lead is safety, scoring 100 against the Welsh median of 55; its biggest shortfall is transport, 0 against 74.
- Nearest scored area: Aberystwyth, about 10 miles away, scoring 69.
- Median overall score across the 539 areas in our index: 67 out of 100.
- Report completeness 90 per cent: categories without data are excluded rather than estimated.
How detailed is this report?
Open data is published at different levels of detail, and this report always uses the most granular level available rather than pretending otherwise.
- Point-level for this exact location: Crime (recorded within about one mile of this exact point); Lifestyle (amenities within about 2 km of this exact point); Healthcare (facilities within about 2 km, hospitals within about 8 km); Transport (stops within 800 m and the nearest railway station); Air quality (the 1 km grid cell containing this point).
- Council-level, covering all of Ceredigion: Cost of living, Affordability, Housing, Employment, Broadband, Education. Every postcode and town in the council shares these figures.
- Not scored here: Weather (the nearest Met Office historic station, Aberporth, is 47 km away), too far to describe this location, so it is left out of the overall score.
Research this area further with trusted open data: police.uk street-level crime map, HM Land Registry sold prices, ONS local area profiles, Ofcom broadband checker, StatsWales. This report is open-source intelligence: everything is built from published government and public datasets you can check yourself.
Affordability
Source: HM Land RegistryWith a ten per cent deposit, the average Ceredigion home needs borrowing of 5.5 times a single UK median full-time salary of £39,039, beyond the 4.5 times most lenders will go to, so it takes a second income or a larger deposit. Try your own figures below.
Guidance only, using standard lending multiples and typical outgoings. Not a mortgage offer or financial advice. TrackPostcode.UK is not authorised or regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority; always seek independent professional advice before financial decisions.
Housing
Source: HM Land RegistryUK House Price Index for Ceredigion, all property types. Steady growth scores best; sharp falls and overheating both score lower.
Crime and safety
Source: police.ukVery few crimes were recorded within a mile of this exact point for the month shown. That can mean a genuinely quiet spot, but it can also reflect a gap in the published data - verify on the police.uk street-level map before relying on it.
Recorded crime within about one mile, 2026-08. Busy centres record more than quiet suburbs because more people pass through them than live there, so compare similar types of place. How safety is scored.
Weather and outdoors
Source: Met OfficeNo weather score for Ceredigion. The nearest Met Office historic station, Aberporth, is 47 km away, beyond the 40 km we accept, so its climate would describe somewhere else. Weather is left out of the overall score here rather than borrowed. Why.
Broadband and mobile
Source: Ofcom Connected NationsOfcom Connected Nations coverage for Ceredigion: the share of premises that can get each service, not the share that has taken it up.
Schools and education
Source: DfE and devolved governmentsLocal authority average, key stage 4, all pupils. Source: Welsh Government (StatsWales). Each nation publishes its own measure, so this compares within Wales only. How education is scored.
Healthcare
Source: OpenStreetMapCounted from OpenStreetMap around this exact point; a nearby GP and pharmacy carry the most weight. How it is scored. Contains OpenStreetMap data © OpenStreetMap contributors.
Employment
Source: ONS / NOMISONS Annual Population Survey for Ceredigion, via NOMIS. Most UK councils fall between about 62% and 82% employment.
Environment
Source: Defra UK-AIRDefra modelled background air for the 1 km grid cell around this point (Crown copyright), scored against the WHO 2021 guidelines.
Transport
Source: DfT NaPTANDfT NaPTAN stops around this exact point. Twelve or more stops within 800 m, and a station within 1 km, each earn full marks.
Cost of living
Source: ONSAverage private rent, from the ONS Price Index of Private Rents. Rent stands in for cost of living because it is the largest living cost and the one that varies most between places.
Lifestyle and amenities
Source: OpenStreetMapWhat is nearby
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Food and drink | 0 |
| Shops | 2 |
| Health services | 0 |
| Schools and learning | 0 |
| Parks and sport | 1 |
| Culture and community | 0 |
Counted from OpenStreetMap within about 2 km of this exact point; private gardens are not counted. Contains OpenStreetMap data © OpenStreetMap contributors.
Who Ceredigion suits
Of the 4 profiles we score, Ceredigion suits families best, at 67 out of 100.
Ceredigion is a markedly better fit for some households than others. It ranks in the top 25% of the 539 areas we have scored for families, and the bottom 11% for young professionals. That gap comes from the same twelve categories weighted differently, which is why one overall score can never answer the question on its own.
| Household | Score | Standing | What it weights |
|---|---|---|---|
| Families | 67 | top 25% | Weighted towards schools, safety, housing and healthcare. |
| Retirees | 66 | bottom 44% | Weighted towards healthcare, safety, environment and cost of living. |
| Students | 66 | bottom 41% | Weighted towards cost of living, lifestyle, transport and safety. |
| Remote workers | 68 | bottom 40% | Weighted towards broadband, cost of living, environment and weather. |
| Young professionals | 58 | bottom 11% | Weighted towards employment, lifestyle, transport and broadband. |
The same twelve scores, weighted per household. Set your own weights in the relocation quiz.
Stands out on
- Cost of living
- Safety
- Housing
- Environment
Worth checking carefully
- Transport
- Healthcare
- Lifestyle
Built only from the categories with data; 1 is still to load for this area.
How Ceredigion compares
| Category | Ceredigion | Wales median | UK median | vs Wales median | UK position |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cost of living | 87 | 85 | 72 | +2 | top 12% |
| Affordability | 77 | 86 | 68 | -9 | top 42% |
| Safety | 100 | 55 | 52 | +45 | top 1% |
| Employment | 45 | 51 | 59 | -6 | bottom 18% |
| Housing | 87 | 82 | 83 | +5 | top 37% |
| Transport | 0 | 74 | 75 | -74 | bottom 1% |
| Broadband | 50 | 86 | 88 | -36 | bottom 1% |
| Environment | 100 | 99 | 91 | +1 | top 8% |
| Healthcare | 4 | 38 | 52 | -34 | bottom 1% |
| Education | 48 | 53 | 40 | -5 | top 22% |
| Lifestyle | 2 | 41 | 54 | -39 | bottom 1% |
Medians and positions are across the 539 areas in our index. Safety and education are measured differently in each nation, so read those two rows against the Wales median only.
What Ceredigion does well. Measured against everywhere else in the index, the standouts are safety (100, 45 above the median).
Where it falls short. Transport (0, 74 below), lifestyle (2, 39 below) and broadband (50, 36 below).
Near Ceredigion, and places like it
Of the 6 scored areas within about 50 miles of Ceredigion, 6 score higher: Llanelli (72), Brecon (71), Neath (71) and 3 others. Ceredigion scores 64. Llanelli is ahead mainly on transport (+79), while Ceredigion keeps the advantage on safety (+49).
| Area | Distance | Where | Overall | Band |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aberystwyth | 10 miles | Ceredigion, Wales | 69 | Good |
| Brecon | 33 miles | Powys, Wales | 71 | Very good |
| Carmarthen | 34 miles | Carmarthenshire, Wales | 70 | Very good |
| Llanelli | 44 miles | Carmarthenshire, Wales | 72 | Very good |
| Neath | 44 miles | Neath Port Talbot, Wales | 71 | Very good |
| Merthyr Tydfil | 45 miles | Merthyr Tydfil, Wales | 70 | Very good |
Straight-line distances, so roads are longer. Any place not listed can be searched directly.
| Area | Where | Overall | Average gap |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ilford | Somerset, South West, England | 63 | 11.3 |
| Romford | Dorset, South West, England | 62 | 14.3 |
| Kirkwall | Orkney Islands, Scotland | 70 | 15.3 |
| Wadebridge | Cornwall, South West, England | 64 | 15.8 |
| Fort William | Highland, Scotland | 67 | 16.6 |
Average score gap across every category both areas have, so smaller is closer. Neighbouring areas are left out.
What a home in Ceredigion actually costs
Source: HM Land Registry UK HPIThe average home in Ceredigion is £237,176, 12 per cent below the median of the areas we have scored. With a ten per cent deposit of £23,718, repaying the rest costs about £1,375 a month, £657 more than renting at the local average of £718, and needs a household income of about £47,400 to borrow.
| Measure | Figure |
|---|---|
| Average property price | £237,176 (June 2026) |
| Change over 12 months | +1.6%, rising |
| Against our index median | 12% below the £270,569 median across every area we have scored |
| 10% deposit | £23,718 |
| 15% deposit | £35,576 |
| Price to earnings | 6.1 times UK median full-time earnings of £39,039 |
| Monthly repayment | £1,375 on a £213,458 mortgage (10% deposit, 6% over 25 years) |
| Against renting | £657 more than the £718 average monthly rent |
| Income to borrow it | About £47,400 a year at 4.5 times income |
Council-wide average across all property types; the multiple uses UK median full-time earnings (April 2025 (ONS ASHE)). Illustrative arithmetic, not a mortgage assessment or financial advice; TrackPostcode.UK is not authorised or regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority.
Air quality in Ceredigion, against the limits
Source: Defra modelled background mapsFine particulates, at 3.9, sit inside the UK 2040 target of 10 and inside the World Health Organization guideline of 5, which few areas manage. Nitrogen dioxide, at 1.4, is well inside the UK limit of 40 and inside the WHO guideline of 10.
| Pollutant | Ceredigion | UK objective | WHO guideline | Standing |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fine particulates (PM2.5) | 3.9 | 10 | 5 | Inside both |
| Nitrogen dioxide (NO₂) | 1.4 | 40 | 10 | Inside both |
Neighbourhood background levels from the Defra 1 km model; readings beside a busy road are higher. UK figures are the legal limit (NO₂) and 2040 target (PM2.5); WHO figures are health guidelines, not law.
Questions about Ceredigion
Is Ceredigion a good place to live?
Ceredigion has an overall liveability score of 64 out of 100 (good) on TrackPostcode.UK, based on 90% of categories currently loaded. It scores best on safety and cost of living. The score combines cost, affordability, safety, weather and more from open government data.
What is the crime rate in Ceredigion?
About 0 crimes were recorded within roughly a mile of Ceredigion in 2026-08 (police.uk), giving a safety score of 100 out of 100. Town and city centres naturally record more than residential streets.
What is the weather like in Ceredigion?
The weather section shows annual sunshine, rainfall and typical temperatures for Ceredigion from Met Office climate data for the location.
How expensive is it to live in Ceredigion?
Average private rent in the Ceredigion area is about £718 a month (Jun-26, ONS), giving Ceredigion a cost-of-living score of 87 out of 100. Use the affordability calculator to estimate what you could comfortably afford here.
What are house prices like in Ceredigion?
The average property price in Ceredigion is about £237,176 (2026-06, HM Land Registry). Prices changed +1.6% over the year. See the affordability section for how that compares to local earnings.
Is Ceredigion safe?
Ceredigion scores 100 out of 100 for safety - excellent - measured from recorded crime within about a mile of this point for the latest published month (police.uk). That puts it in the top 1% of every area in our index. A safety score is a comparison with other areas rather than a guarantee about a street. Town and city centres record more crime than residential suburbs largely because more people pass through them, so compare places of a similar type before drawing a conclusion.
Can I afford to buy a house in Ceredigion?
The average property in Ceredigion costs about £237,176, which is 6.1 times earnings against assumed full-time earnings of £39,039 a year (ONS ASHE), giving an affordability score of 77 out of 100. Mainstream lenders usually cap borrowing at around four to four and a half times income, so a ratio above that generally means a larger deposit, a second income or a cheaper property than the local average. With a ten per cent deposit, repaying the rest costs about £1,375 a month at 6% over 25 years, £657 more than the £718 average local rent. The affordability calculator on this page estimates it from your own salary and savings.
How fast is broadband in Ceredigion?
About 87% of premises in Ceredigion can get superfast broadband of 30 Mbit/s or more, and 51% can get a gigabit-capable connection, giving a broadband score of 50 out of 100 (Ofcom Connected Nations). These are council-area availability figures - the share of premises able to order each service, not the speed any single line achieves - so check the exact address with the Ofcom broadband checker before committing to it.
What is the job market like in Ceredigion?
71.8% of 16 to 64 year olds in Ceredigion are in work (NOMIS latest, retrieved Sep 2026, ONS Annual Population Survey via NOMIS), giving an employment score of 45 out of 100. UK local authorities typically range from about 62% to 82%. This is a whole-authority figure, so it describes the local labour market rather than any one town within it.
Are the schools good in Ceredigion?
Ceredigion records 351.8 on Capped 9 average points score (interim measure) (2024/25), giving an education score of 48 out of 100. Each nation publishes its own attainment measure and they are not interchangeable, so education scores compare within England, Scotland or Wales and not across them. Attainment is published for the whole council or county rather than for a school catchment, so check individual schools with the inspectorate before deciding.
What is the air quality like in Ceredigion?
For the 1 km grid square containing Ceredigion, fine particulates (PM2.5) average 3.92 µg/m³ against a World Health Organization guideline of 5 and nitrogen dioxide averages 1.36 µg/m³ against a guideline of 10 (2024, Defra Pollution Climate Mapping, Crown copyright). That gives an environment score of 100 out of 100; an area meeting both guideline levels scores 100. These are modelled background concentrations for the square, not a reading taken at the roadside.
What is there to do in Ceredigion?
Within about two kilometres of this point there are 3 mapped amenities, including 2 shops and 1 parks and sports facilities, giving a lifestyle score of 2 out of 100. Counts come from OpenStreetMap and are measured at this exact location rather than averaged across the council, so they reflect how well served this particular spot is. Contains OpenStreetMap data © OpenStreetMap contributors.
Does Ceredigion have good transport links?
The nearest railway station is Aberystwyth Rail Station (Main Entrance), about 16.3 km away, and there are 0 bus, tram or metro stops within an 800 metre walk, giving a transport score of 0 out of 100. Stops come from the DfT NaPTAN dataset and are counted for this exact point, so the figure measures access rather than how frequently anything runs.
Which council area is Ceredigion in?
Ceredigion is in the Ceredigion local authority, Wales. It falls within the Lledrod ward and the Ceredigion Preseli parliamentary constituency. Cost of living, housing, affordability, employment, broadband and education figures in this report are published at local-authority level, so every postcode and town inside Ceredigion shares them. Weather, crime, amenities, healthcare, transport and air quality are measured for this point instead.
Is Ceredigion a good place for families?
Ceredigion scores 67 out of 100 on our families profile, which is weighted towards schools, safety, housing and healthcare. That is 3 points above its general score of 64, because this profile weights the twelve categories differently. Every area we score is ranked on this basis at /best-places-for-families/.
Is Ceredigion a good place to retire?
Ceredigion scores 66 out of 100 on our retirees profile, which is weighted towards healthcare, safety, environment and cost of living. That is close to its general score of 64, so the weighting neither flatters nor penalises this area. Every area we score is ranked on this basis at /best-for-retirement/.
How does Ceredigion compare with the rest of Wales?
Ceredigion sits in the bottom 30% of the 539 UK areas we have scored. The median area in the index scores 67 out of 100. It is furthest above the benchmark for its nation on safety. It is furthest below on transport, lifestyle and broadband. Categories are compared against the area's own nation where the samples allow it, because crime and school attainment are measured differently either side of the border.
What are the best places to live near Ceredigion?
Of the areas we have scored within about 50 miles of Ceredigion, the highest are Llanelli (72 out of 100, about 44 miles away), Brecon (71 out of 100, about 33 miles away) and Neath (71 out of 100, about 44 miles away). Ceredigion itself scores 64. Distances are straight-line from this point, and each of those names links to its own full report.
Which places are most similar to Ceredigion?
Across the twelve category scores, the closest matches elsewhere in Britain are Ilford (Somerset, South West, England), Romford (Dorset, South West, England) and Kirkwall (Orkney Islands, Scotland). Similarity is the average gap across every category both areas have data for, with immediate neighbours excluded, so these are places that score alike rather than places that look alike or sit nearby.
What area does this report cover?
Weather, crime, local amenities, healthcare access, transport access and air quality are measured for this exact point. Cost of living, affordability, housing, employment and broadband come from official statistics for the Ceredigion council area, so nearby postcodes and towns in the same council share those figures. Education comes from the local authority, or from the county where attainment is only published at county level. The "How detailed is this report" section explains each level.