TrackPostcode.UK

Area report

Is Farnborough a good place to live?

Rushmoor, South East, England

64 / 100
GoodOverall score

Report completeness: 100%. Score is based on the categories with data loaded for this area.

67Remote workers
63Families
62Retirees
66Young professionals
60Students

In short

Farnborough scores 64 out of 100 overall, which places it below the median of the 539 UK areas we have scored. Its biggest lead is employment, scoring 73 against the English median of 61; its biggest shortfall is cost of living, 48 against 71.

  • Nearest scored area: Aldershot, about 3 miles away, scoring 65.
  • Median overall score across the 539 areas in our index: 67 out of 100.
  • Report completeness 100 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: Weather (from the Met Office Heathrow station, 30 km away); 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 Rushmoor: Cost of living, Affordability, Housing, Employment, Broadband, Education. Every postcode and town in the council shares these figures.

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.

51 / 100
FairAffordability score
£328,963Average price2026-06
8.4xPrice to earningsvs UK median full-time salary
£39,039Earnings assumedONS ASHE, updated annually

With a ten per cent deposit, the average Farnborough home needs borrowing of 7.6 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.

95 / 100
ExcellentHousing score
£328,963Average price2026-06
+2.4%Annual change

UK House Price Index for Rushmoor, all property types. Steady growth scores best; sharp falls and overheating both score lower.

Crime and safety

Source: police.uk
56 / 100
GoodSafety score
63Violent crime
26Anti-social behaviour
13Vehicle crime
4Burglary
28Shoplifting
191All recorded

All recorded crime by type

CategoryRecorded (2026-08)
Violent crime63
Shoplifting28
Anti social behaviour26
Public order22
Criminal damage arson14
Vehicle crime13
Other theft9
Burglary4
Drugs4
Robbery3
Other crime2
Bicycle theft1
Possession of weapons1
Theft from the person1

In 2026-08, 191 crimes were recorded within about a mile of this point in Farnborough - a busy level of recorded crime, typical of urban centres. The most common headline category was violent crime. City and town centres naturally record more incidents than residential streets, so compare like for like.

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 Office
72 / 100
Very goodOutdoor score
1,526Sunshine hours/yr
645 mmRainfall/yr
24.2°CSummer high (avg)
3.6°CWinter low (avg)
23Air frost days/yr
HeathrowNearest weather station30 km away

Outdoor suitability

77Walking
75Running
76Cycling
70Gardening

Farnborough averages about 1,526 sunshine hours a year, around the middle of the UK range, with relatively low rainfall for the UK (about 645 mm a year). Summer days typically reach around 24.2°C and winter nights fall to about 3.6°C.

Averages over 6 years (2020-2025) from the Met Office Heathrow station, 30 km away. How the outdoor score works. Contains Met Office data © Crown copyright.

97 / 100
ExcellentBroadband score
99.3%Superfast availabilitypremises with 30 Mbit/s or more
96.2%Gigabit availabilitypremises with 1 Gbit/s capable

Ofcom Connected Nations coverage for Rushmoor: the share of premises that can get each service, not the share that has taken it up.

40 / 100
FairEducation score
46.5Attainment 8 average score202425
Council levelMeasured atshared by the whole local authority

Local 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.

45 / 100
FairHealthcare score
1GP surgerieswithin about 2 km
5Pharmacieswithin about 2 km
4Dentistswithin about 2 km
4Hospitalswithin about 8 km

Counted from OpenStreetMap around this exact point; a nearby GP and pharmacy carry the most weight. How it is scored. Contains OpenStreetMap data © OpenStreetMap contributors.

73 / 100
Very goodEmployment score
82%Employment rateaged 16-64
NOMIS latest, retrieved Sep 2026Survey period

ONS Annual Population Survey for Rushmoor, via NOMIS. Most UK councils fall between about 62% and 82% employment.

87 / 100
ExcellentEnvironment score
7.11 µg/m³PM2.5 annual meanWHO guideline: 5 µg/m³
10.29 µg/m³NO2 annual meanWHO guideline: 10 µg/m³
2024Data year

Defra modelled background air for the 1 km grid cell around this point (Crown copyright), scored against the WHO 2021 guidelines.

69 / 100
GoodTransport score
29Stops within 800 mbus, tram and metro
0.7 kmNearest railway stationFarnborough (Main) Rail Station
Point-levelMeasured atthis exact location

DfT 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: ONS
48 / 100
FairCost of living score
£1,384Average monthly rentall property types
Jun-26Data period
43%Rent as share of payof UK median full-time gross pay

Average 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: OpenStreetMap
55 / 100
GoodLifestyle score
367Amenities nearbywithin about 2 km
79 + 162Food/drink + shops
89Parks and sport spots

What is nearby

CategoryCount
Food and drink79
Shops162
Health services10
Schools and learning23
Parks and sport89
Culture and community4

Counted from OpenStreetMap within about 2 km of this exact point; private gardens are not counted. Contains OpenStreetMap data © OpenStreetMap contributors.

Who Farnborough suits

Of the 5 profiles we score, Farnborough suits remote workers best, at 67 out of 100.

Farnborough is a markedly better fit for some households than others. It ranks in the bottom 46% of the 539 areas we have scored for young professionals, and the bottom 20% for students. That gap comes from the same twelve categories weighted differently, which is why one overall score can never answer the question on its own.

How Farnborough ranks for each type of household
HouseholdScoreStandingWhat it weights
Young professionals66bottom 46%Weighted towards employment, lifestyle, transport and broadband.
Families63bottom 41%Weighted towards schools, safety, housing and healthcare.
Remote workers67bottom 31%Weighted towards broadband, cost of living, environment and weather.
Retirees62bottom 23%Weighted towards healthcare, safety, environment and cost of living.
Students60bottom 20%Weighted towards cost of living, lifestyle, transport and safety.

The same twelve scores, weighted per household. Set your own weights in the relocation quiz.

Stands out on

  • Housing
  • Broadband
  • Environment

Worth checking carefully

  • Education

How Farnborough compares

Farnborough compared with every other area we have scored
CategoryFarnboroughEngland medianUK medianvs England medianUK position
Cost of living487172-23bottom 17%
Affordability516468-13bottom 26%
Safety565252+4top 38%
Weather7272720top 47%
Employment736159+12top 12%
Housing958383+12top 15%
Transport697575-6bottom 28%
Broadband978888+9top 8%
Environment878991-2bottom 32%
Healthcare455452-9bottom 37%
Education403940+1top 50%
Lifestyle555654-1top 47%

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 Farnborough does well. Measured against everywhere else in the index, the standouts are employment (73, 12 above the median), housing (95, 12 above the median) and broadband (97, 9 above the median).

Where it falls short. Cost of living (48, 23 below), affordability (51, 13 below) and healthcare (45, 9 below).

Near Farnborough, and places like it

Of the 6 scored areas within about 50 miles of Farnborough, 1 scores higher: Aldershot (65). Farnborough scores 64. Aldershot is ahead mainly on healthcare (+16), while Farnborough keeps the advantage on safety (+5).

Scored areas within about 50 miles of Farnborough
AreaDistanceWhereOverallBand
Aldershot2.8 milesRushmoor, South East, England65Good
Camberley3.4 milesSurrey Heath, South East, England58Good
Farnham5.6 milesWaverley, South East, England52Fair
Guildford8.5 milesGuildford, South East, England48Fair
Woking8.7 milesWoking, South East, England55Good
Bracknell8.7 milesBracknell Forest, South East, England58Good

Straight-line distances, so roads are longer. Any place not listed can be searched directly.

Areas with the most similar scoring profile to Farnborough
AreaWhereOverallAverage gap
YateSouth Gloucestershire, South West, England633.7
HavantHavant, South East, England664.4
EastleighEastleigh, South East, England664.5
WaterloovilleHavant, South East, England674.6
ChippenhamWiltshire, South West, England675.4

Average score gap across every category both areas have, so smaller is closer. Neighbouring areas are left out.

Crime in Farnborough: what kind, not just how much

Source: police.uk

What is distinctive about the mix here: shoplifting makes up 15 per cent of recorded crime here against 11 per cent typically, public order makes up 12 per cent of recorded crime here against 7 per cent typically and anti-social behaviour is proportionally lower, at 14 per cent against 18. Shares are the useful comparison because they are unaffected by how busy an area is, which is the thing that otherwise dominates a raw crime count.

Recorded crime in Farnborough by type, August 2026
Offence typeCountShareTypical shareDifference
Violence and sexual offences6333.0%34.0%-1.0
Shoplifting2814.7%10.5%+4.2
Anti-social behaviour2613.6%17.9%-4.3
Public order2211.5%7.4%+4.1
Criminal damage and arson147.3%7.0%+0.3
Vehicle crime136.8%2.9%+3.9
Other theft94.7%5.6%-0.9
Burglary42.1%2.5%-0.4

191 offences recorded within about a mile of this point in August 2026, from police.uk. Counts are of offences reported to the police, so they reflect both crime and the willingness to report it. "Typical share" is the median across the areas in our index that have a breakdown, which is England and Wales only: Police Scotland does not publish to police.uk.

What a home in Farnborough actually costs

Source: HM Land Registry UK HPI

The average home in Farnborough is £328,963, 22 per cent above the median of the areas we have scored. With a ten per cent deposit of £32,896, repaying the rest costs about £1,908 a month, £524 more than renting at the local average of £1,384, and needs a household income of about £65,800 to borrow.

The cost of buying in Farnborough
MeasureFigure
Average property price£328,963 (June 2026)
Change over 12 months+2.4%, rising
Against our index median22% above the £270,569 median across every area we have scored
10% deposit£32,896
15% deposit£49,344
Price to earnings8.4 times UK median full-time earnings of £39,039
Monthly repayment£1,908 on a £296,067 mortgage (10% deposit, 6% over 25 years)
Against renting£524 more than the £1,384 average monthly rent
Income to borrow itAbout £65,800 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 Farnborough, against the limits

Source: Defra modelled background maps

Fine particulates, at 7.1, 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 10.3, is well inside the UK limit of 40 but above the WHO guideline of 10.

Modelled background air quality in Farnborough, micrograms per cubic metre
PollutantFarnboroughUK objectiveWHO guidelineStanding
Fine particulates (PM2.5)7.1105Inside the UK target, above the WHO guideline
Nitrogen dioxide (NO₂)10.34010Inside the UK limit, above the WHO guideline

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 Farnborough

Is Farnborough a good place to live?

Farnborough has an overall liveability score of 64 out of 100 (good) on TrackPostcode.UK, based on 100% of categories currently loaded. It scores best on broadband and housing. The score combines cost, affordability, safety, weather and more from open government data.

What is the crime rate in Farnborough?

About 191 crimes were recorded within roughly a mile of Farnborough in 2026-08 (police.uk), giving a safety score of 56 out of 100. Town and city centres naturally record more than residential streets.

What is the weather like in Farnborough?

Farnborough averages 1,526 sunshine hours and about 645 mm of rain a year, giving an outdoor score of 72 out of 100. Summer highs average 24.2°C and winter lows 3.6°C. Based on the Met Office Heathrow station, 30 km away.

How expensive is it to live in Farnborough?

Average private rent in the Rushmoor area is about £1,384 a month (Jun-26, ONS), giving Farnborough a cost-of-living score of 48 out of 100. Use the affordability calculator to estimate what you could comfortably afford here.

What are house prices like in Farnborough?

The average property price in Rushmoor is about £328,963 (2026-06, HM Land Registry). Prices changed +2.4% over the year. See the affordability section for how that compares to local earnings.

Is Farnborough safe?

Farnborough scores 56 out of 100 for safety - good - measured from recorded crime within about a mile of this point for the latest published month (police.uk). That puts it in the top 38% 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 Farnborough?

The average property in Rushmoor costs about £328,963, which is 8.4 times earnings against assumed full-time earnings of £39,039 a year (ONS ASHE), giving an affordability score of 51 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 £1,908 a month at 6% over 25 years, £524 more than the £1,384 average local rent. The affordability calculator on this page estimates it from your own salary and savings.

How fast is broadband in Farnborough?

About 99.3% of premises in Rushmoor can get superfast broadband of 30 Mbit/s or more, and 96.2% can get a gigabit-capable connection, giving a broadband score of 97 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 Farnborough?

82% of 16 to 64 year olds in Rushmoor are in work (NOMIS latest, retrieved Sep 2026, ONS Annual Population Survey via NOMIS), giving an employment score of 73 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 Farnborough?

Rushmoor records 46.5 on Attainment 8 average score (202425), giving an education score of 40 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 Farnborough?

For the 1 km grid square containing Farnborough, fine particulates (PM2.5) average 7.11 µg/m³ against a World Health Organization guideline of 5 and nitrogen dioxide averages 10.29 µg/m³ against a guideline of 10 (2024, Defra Pollution Climate Mapping, Crown copyright). That gives an environment score of 87 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 Farnborough?

Within about two kilometres of this point there are 367 mapped amenities, including 79 places to eat and drink, 162 shops, 89 parks and sports facilities and 4 cultural and community venues, giving a lifestyle score of 55 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.

Are there GPs and dentists near Farnborough?

Within about two kilometres of this point there are 1 GP surgery, 5 pharmacies and 4 dentists. 4 hospitals are within about eight kilometres. That gives a healthcare score of 45 out of 100. Facilities are counted from OpenStreetMap and the score describes how close services are, not waiting times, capacity or clinical quality.

Does Farnborough have good transport links?

The nearest railway station is Farnborough (Main) Rail Station, about 0.7 km away, and there are 29 bus, tram or metro stops within an 800 metre walk, giving a transport score of 69 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 Farnborough in?

Farnborough is in the Rushmoor local authority, South East, England. It falls within the Empress ward and the Aldershot 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 Rushmoor shares them. Weather, crime, amenities, healthcare, transport and air quality are measured for this point instead.

Is Farnborough a good place for remote workers?

Farnborough scores 67 out of 100 on our remote workers profile, which is weighted towards broadband, cost of living, environment and weather. 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-remote-workers/.

Is Farnborough a good place for young professionals?

Farnborough scores 66 out of 100 on our young professionals profile, which is weighted towards employment, lifestyle, transport and broadband. That is close to its general score of 64, so the weighting neither flatters nor penalises this area.

How does Farnborough compare with the rest of England?

Farnborough 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 employment, housing and broadband. It is furthest below on cost of living, affordability and healthcare. 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 Farnborough?

Of the areas we have scored within about 50 miles of Farnborough, the highest are Aldershot (65 out of 100, about 3 miles away), Camberley (58 out of 100, about 3 miles away) and Bracknell (58 out of 100, about 9 miles away). Farnborough 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 Farnborough?

Across the twelve category scores, the closest matches elsewhere in Britain are Yate (South Gloucestershire, South West, England), Havant (Havant, South East, England) and Eastleigh (Eastleigh, South East, 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 Rushmoor 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.