Area report
Is East Suffolk a good place to live?
East Suffolk, East of England, England
Report completeness: 90%. Score is based on the categories with data loaded for this area.
In short
East Suffolk scores 67 out of 100 overall, putting it in the top 49 per cent of the 539 UK areas we have scored. Its biggest lead is safety, scoring 100 against the English median of 52; its biggest shortfall is lifestyle, 1 against 56.
- Nearest scored area: Woodbridge, about 12 miles away, scoring 72.
- 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 East Suffolk: 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, Cambridge NIAB, is 92 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. 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 East Suffolk home needs borrowing of 6.4 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 East Suffolk, 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 East Suffolk. The nearest Met Office historic station, Cambridge NIAB, is 92 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 East Suffolk: 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, state-funded schools. Source: Department for Education. Each nation publishes its own measure, so this compares within England 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 East Suffolk, 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 | 0 |
| Health services | 0 |
| Schools and learning | 0 |
| Parks and sport | 3 |
| 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 East Suffolk suits
Of the 4 profiles we score, East Suffolk suits families and students equally well, at 67 out of 100. The 4 profiles land within 1 points of each other here, so this is a mild lean rather than a strong fit.
East Suffolk 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 44% for retirees. 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. |
| Remote workers | 71 | top 38% | Weighted towards broadband, cost of living, environment and weather. |
| Young professionals | 66 | bottom 46% | Weighted towards employment, lifestyle, transport and broadband. |
| Students | 67 | bottom 46% | Weighted towards cost of living, lifestyle, transport and safety. |
| Retirees | 66 | bottom 44% | Weighted towards healthcare, safety, environment and cost of living. |
The same twelve scores, weighted per household. Set your own weights in the relocation quiz.
Stands out on
- Cost of living
- Safety
- Housing
- Broadband
- Environment
Worth checking carefully
- Transport
- Healthcare
- Education
- Lifestyle
Built only from the categories with data; 1 is still to load for this area.
How East Suffolk compares
| Category | East Suffolk | England median | UK median | vs England median | UK position |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cost of living | 80 | 71 | 72 | +9 | top 33% |
| Affordability | 66 | 64 | 68 | +2 | bottom 47% |
| Safety | 100 | 52 | 52 | +48 | top 1% |
| Employment | 77 | 61 | 59 | +16 | top 8% |
| Housing | 84 | 83 | 83 | +1 | top 47% |
| Transport | 31 | 75 | 75 | -44 | bottom 3% |
| Broadband | 87 | 88 | 88 | -1 | bottom 46% |
| Environment | 90 | 89 | 91 | +1 | bottom 46% |
| Healthcare | 4 | 54 | 52 | -50 | bottom 1% |
| Education | 28 | 39 | 40 | -11 | bottom 10% |
| Lifestyle | 1 | 56 | 54 | -55 | 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 England median only.
What East Suffolk does well. Measured against everywhere else in the index, the standouts are safety (100, 48 above the median), employment (77, 16 above the median) and cost of living (80, 9 above the median).
Where it falls short. Lifestyle (1, 55 below), healthcare (4, 50 below) and transport (31, 44 below).
Near East Suffolk, and places like it
Of the 6 scored areas within about 50 miles of East Suffolk, 4 score higher: Woodbridge (72), Felixstowe (71), Ipswich (70) and Lowestoft (70). East Suffolk scores 67. Woodbridge is ahead mainly on lifestyle (+45).
| Area | Distance | Where | Overall | Band |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Woodbridge | 12 miles | East Suffolk, East of England, England | 72 | Very good |
| Diss | 17 miles | South Norfolk, East of England, England | 67 | Good |
| Ipswich | 18 miles | Ipswich, East of England, England | 70 | Very good |
| Stowmarket | 20 miles | Mid Suffolk, East of England, England | 62 | Good |
| Felixstowe | 20 miles | East Suffolk, East of England, England | 71 | Very good |
| Lowestoft | 20 miles | East Suffolk, East of England, England | 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 | 7.5 |
| Romford | Dorset, South West, England | 62 | 9.4 |
| Bridgnorth | Shropshire, West Midlands, England | 66 | 10.5 |
| Glastonbury | Somerset, South West, England | 65 | 11 |
| Shepton Mallet | Somerset, South West, England | 64 | 11.5 |
Average score gap across every category both areas have, so smaller is closer. Neighbouring areas are left out.
What a home in East Suffolk actually costs
Source: HM Land Registry UK HPIThe average home in East Suffolk is £278,376, 3 per cent above the median of the areas we have scored. With a ten per cent deposit of £27,838, repaying the rest costs about £1,614 a month, £779 more than renting at the local average of £835, and needs a household income of about £55,700 to borrow.
| Measure | Figure |
|---|---|
| Average property price | £278,376 (June 2026) |
| Change over 12 months | +1.2%, rising |
| Against our index median | 3% above the £270,569 median across every area we have scored |
| 10% deposit | £27,838 |
| 15% deposit | £41,756 |
| Price to earnings | 7.1 times UK median full-time earnings of £39,039 |
| Monthly repayment | £1,614 on a £250,538 mortgage (10% deposit, 6% over 25 years) |
| Against renting | £779 more than the £835 average monthly rent |
| Income to borrow it | About £55,700 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 East Suffolk, against the limits
Source: Defra modelled background mapsFine particulates, at 6.6, sit inside the UK 2040 target of 10 but above the World Health Organization guideline of 5, as in most of Britain. Nitrogen dioxide, at 5.1, is well inside the UK limit of 40 and inside the WHO guideline of 10.
| Pollutant | East Suffolk | UK objective | WHO guideline | Standing |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fine particulates (PM2.5) | 6.6 | 10 | 5 | Inside the UK target, above the WHO guideline |
| Nitrogen dioxide (NO₂) | 5.1 | 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 East Suffolk
Is East Suffolk a good place to live?
East Suffolk has an overall liveability score of 67 out of 100 (good) on TrackPostcode.UK, based on 90% of categories currently loaded. It scores best on safety and broadband. The score combines cost, affordability, safety, weather and more from open government data.
What is the crime rate in East Suffolk?
About 0 crimes were recorded within roughly a mile of East Suffolk 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 East Suffolk?
The weather section shows annual sunshine, rainfall and typical temperatures for East Suffolk from Met Office climate data for the location.
How expensive is it to live in East Suffolk?
Average private rent in the East Suffolk area is about £835 a month (Jun-26, ONS), giving East Suffolk a cost-of-living score of 80 out of 100. Use the affordability calculator to estimate what you could comfortably afford here.
What are house prices like in East Suffolk?
The average property price in East Suffolk is about £278,376 (2026-06, HM Land Registry). Prices changed +1.2% over the year. See the affordability section for how that compares to local earnings.
Is East Suffolk safe?
East Suffolk 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 East Suffolk?
The average property in East Suffolk costs about £278,376, which is 7.1 times earnings against assumed full-time earnings of £39,039 a year (ONS ASHE), giving an affordability score of 66 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 £1,614 a month at 6% over 25 years, £779 more than the £835 average local rent. The affordability calculator on this page estimates it from your own salary and savings.
How fast is broadband in East Suffolk?
About 98.3% of premises in East Suffolk can get superfast broadband of 30 Mbit/s or more, and 83.3% can get a gigabit-capable connection, giving a broadband score of 87 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 East Suffolk?
83.4% of 16 to 64 year olds in East Suffolk are in work (NOMIS latest, retrieved Sep 2026, ONS Annual Population Survey via NOMIS), giving an employment score of 77 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 East Suffolk?
East Suffolk records 43.8 on Attainment 8 average score (202425), giving an education score of 28 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 East Suffolk?
For the 1 km grid square containing East Suffolk, fine particulates (PM2.5) average 6.59 µg/m³ against a World Health Organization guideline of 5 and nitrogen dioxide averages 5.08 µg/m³ against a guideline of 10 (2024, Defra Pollution Climate Mapping, Crown copyright). That gives an environment score of 90 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 East Suffolk?
Within about two kilometres of this point there are 3 mapped amenities, including 3 parks and sports facilities, giving a lifestyle score of 1 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 East Suffolk have good transport links?
The nearest railway station is Entrance2, about 4.2 km away, and there are 0 bus, tram or metro stops within an 800 metre walk, giving a transport score of 31 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 East Suffolk in?
East Suffolk is in the East Suffolk local authority, East of England, England. It falls within the Framlingham ward and the Central Suffolk and North Ipswich 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 East Suffolk shares them. Weather, crime, amenities, healthcare, transport and air quality are measured for this point instead.
Is East Suffolk a good place for families?
East Suffolk scores 67 out of 100 on our families profile, which is weighted towards schools, safety, housing and healthcare. That is close to its general score of 67, so the weighting neither flatters nor penalises this area. Every area we score is ranked on this basis at /best-places-for-families/.
Is East Suffolk a good place for students?
East Suffolk scores 67 out of 100 on our students profile, which is weighted towards cost of living, lifestyle, transport and safety. That is close to its general score of 67, so the weighting neither flatters nor penalises this area. Every area we score is ranked on this basis at /best-places-for-students/.
How does East Suffolk compare with the rest of England?
East Suffolk sits in the top 49% 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, employment and cost of living. It is furthest below on lifestyle, healthcare and transport. 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 East Suffolk?
Of the areas we have scored within about 50 miles of East Suffolk, the highest are Woodbridge (72 out of 100, about 12 miles away), Felixstowe (71 out of 100, about 20 miles away) and Ipswich (70 out of 100, about 18 miles away). East Suffolk itself scores 67. Distances are straight-line from this point, and each of those names links to its own full report.
Which places are most similar to East Suffolk?
Across the twelve category scores, the closest matches elsewhere in Britain are Ilford (Somerset, South West, England), Romford (Dorset, South West, England) and Bridgnorth (Shropshire, West Midlands, England). 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 East Suffolk 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.