Area report
Is Holyhead a good place to live?
Isle of Anglesey, Wales
Report completeness: 85%. Score is based on the categories with data loaded for this area.
In short
Holyhead scores 68 out of 100 overall, putting it in the top 44 per cent of the 539 UK areas we have scored. Its biggest lead is weather, scoring 75 against the Welsh median of 62; its biggest shortfall is education, 19 against 53.
- Nearest scored area: Caernarfon, about 19 miles away, scoring 71.
- Median overall score across the 539 areas in our index: 67 out of 100.
- Report completeness 85 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 Valley station, 9 km away); 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 Isle of Anglesey: 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, 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 Holyhead 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 Isle of Anglesey, all property types. Steady growth scores best; sharp falls and overheating both score lower.
Crime and safety
Source: police.ukCrime data could not be loaded for this location.
Weather and outdoors
Source: Met OfficeOutdoor suitability
Holyhead averages about 1,615 sunshine hours a year, towards the sunnier end of the UK range, with typical rainfall for the UK (about 911 mm a year). Summer days typically reach around 19°C and winter nights fall to about 4.9°C.
Averages over 6 years (2020-2025) from the Met Office Valley station, 9 km away. How the outdoor score works. Contains Met Office data © Crown copyright.
Broadband and mobile
Source: Ofcom Connected NationsOfcom Connected Nations coverage for Isle of Anglesey: 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 Isle of Anglesey, 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: OpenStreetMapLifestyle data is being sourced. We only publish figures once they are loaded from OpenStreetMap, so nothing here is estimated or invented.
Who Holyhead suits
Of the 1 profiles we score, Holyhead suits remote workers best, at 71 out of 100.
Holyhead is a markedly better fit for some households than others. It ranks in the top 23% of the 539 areas we have scored for students, and the bottom 41% for families. 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Students | 73 | top 23% | Weighted towards cost of living, lifestyle, transport and safety. |
| Retirees | 70 | top 31% | Weighted towards healthcare, safety, environment and cost of living. |
| Remote workers | 71 | top 40% | Weighted towards broadband, cost of living, environment and weather. |
| Young professionals | 67 | bottom 48% | Weighted towards employment, lifestyle, transport and broadband. |
| Families | 63 | bottom 41% | Weighted towards schools, safety, housing and healthcare. |
The same twelve scores, weighted per household. Set your own weights in the relocation quiz.
Stands out on
- Cost of living
- Environment
Worth checking carefully
- Healthcare
- Education
Built only from the categories with data; 2 are still to load for this area.
How Holyhead compares
| Category | Holyhead | Wales median | UK median | vs Wales median | UK position |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cost of living | 88 | 85 | 72 | +3 | top 9% |
| Affordability | 77 | 86 | 68 | -9 | top 42% |
| Weather | 75 | 62 | 72 | +13 | top 34% |
| Employment | 49 | 51 | 59 | -2 | bottom 25% |
| Housing | 67 | 82 | 83 | -15 | bottom 24% |
| Transport | 64 | 74 | 75 | -10 | bottom 16% |
| Broadband | 67 | 86 | 88 | -19 | bottom 5% |
| Environment | 100 | 99 | 91 | +1 | top 8% |
| Healthcare | 32 | 38 | 52 | -6 | bottom 13% |
| Education | 19 | 53 | 40 | -34 | bottom 2% |
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 Holyhead does well. Measured against everywhere else in the index, the standouts are weather (75, 13 above the median).
Where it falls short. Education (19, 34 below), broadband (67, 19 below) and housing (67, 15 below).
Near Holyhead, and places like it
Of the 5 scored areas within about 50 miles of Holyhead, 4 score higher: Bangor (72), Rhyl (72), Caernarfon (71) and Llandudno (69). Holyhead scores 68. Bangor is ahead mainly on education (+41).
| Area | Distance | Where | Overall | Band |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Caernarfon | 19 miles | Gwynedd, Wales | 71 | Very good |
| Bangor | 22 miles | Gwynedd, Wales | 72 | Very good |
| Llandudno | 33 miles | Conwy, Wales | 69 | Good |
| Colwyn Bay | 38 miles | Conwy, Wales | 68 | Good |
| Rhyl | 47 miles | Denbighshire, Wales | 72 | Very good |
Straight-line distances, so roads are longer. Any place not listed can be searched directly.
| Area | Where | Overall | Average gap |
|---|---|---|---|
| Whitehaven | Cumberland, North West, England | 72 | 5.6 |
| Thurso | Highland, Scotland | 68 | 6.2 |
| St Andrews | Fife, Scotland | 68 | 7.3 |
| Workington | Cumberland, North West, England | 72 | 7.3 |
| Wick | Highland, Scotland | 68 | 7.6 |
Average score gap across every category both areas have, so smaller is closer. Neighbouring areas are left out.
What a home in Holyhead actually costs
Source: HM Land Registry UK HPIThe average home in Holyhead is £239,726, 11 per cent below the median of the areas we have scored. With a ten per cent deposit of £23,973, repaying the rest costs about £1,390 a month, £682 more than renting at the local average of £708, and needs a household income of about £47,900 to borrow.
| Measure | Figure |
|---|---|
| Average property price | £239,726 (June 2026) |
| Change over 12 months | +6.7%, rising |
| Against our index median | 11% below the £270,569 median across every area we have scored |
| 10% deposit | £23,973 |
| 15% deposit | £35,959 |
| Price to earnings | 6.1 times UK median full-time earnings of £39,039 |
| Monthly repayment | £1,390 on a £215,753 mortgage (10% deposit, 6% over 25 years) |
| Against renting | £682 more than the £708 average monthly rent |
| Income to borrow it | About £47,900 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 Holyhead, against the limits
Source: Defra modelled background mapsFine particulates, at 4.4, sit inside the UK 2040 target of 10 and inside the World Health Organization guideline of 5, which few areas manage. Nitrogen dioxide, at 3.4, is well inside the UK limit of 40 and inside the WHO guideline of 10.
| Pollutant | Holyhead | UK objective | WHO guideline | Standing |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fine particulates (PM2.5) | 4.4 | 10 | 5 | Inside both |
| Nitrogen dioxide (NO₂) | 3.4 | 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 Holyhead
Is Holyhead a good place to live?
Holyhead has an overall liveability score of 68 out of 100 (good) on TrackPostcode.UK, based on 85% of categories currently loaded. It scores best on cost of living and weather. The score combines cost, affordability, safety, weather and more from open government data.
What is the crime rate in Holyhead?
Recorded crime for Holyhead is shown in the crime and safety section, from police.uk for England and Wales or Scottish Government statistics for Scotland.
What is the weather like in Holyhead?
Holyhead averages 1,615 sunshine hours and about 911 mm of rain a year, giving an outdoor score of 75 out of 100. Summer highs average 19°C and winter lows 4.9°C. Based on the Met Office Valley station, 9 km away.
How expensive is it to live in Holyhead?
Average private rent in the Isle of Anglesey area is about £708 a month (Jun-26, ONS), giving Holyhead a cost-of-living score of 88 out of 100. Use the affordability calculator to estimate what you could comfortably afford here.
What are house prices like in Holyhead?
The average property price in Isle of Anglesey is about £239,726 (2026-06, HM Land Registry). Prices changed +6.7% over the year. See the affordability section for how that compares to local earnings.
Can I afford to buy a house in Holyhead?
The average property in Isle of Anglesey costs about £239,726, 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 £1,390 a month at 6% over 25 years, £682 more than the £708 average local rent. The affordability calculator on this page estimates it from your own salary and savings.
How fast is broadband in Holyhead?
About 95.4% of premises in Isle of Anglesey can get superfast broadband of 30 Mbit/s or more, and 56.6% can get a gigabit-capable connection, giving a broadband score of 67 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 Holyhead?
73.2% of 16 to 64 year olds in Isle of Anglesey are in work (NOMIS latest, retrieved Sep 2026, ONS Annual Population Survey via NOMIS), giving an employment score of 49 out of 100. Unemployment stands at 5.1%. 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 Holyhead?
Isle of Anglesey records 337.7 on Capped 9 average points score (interim measure) (2024/25), giving an education score of 19 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 Holyhead?
For the 1 km grid square containing Holyhead, fine particulates (PM2.5) average 4.35 µg/m³ against a World Health Organization guideline of 5 and nitrogen dioxide averages 3.44 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.
Are there GPs and dentists near Holyhead?
Within about two kilometres of this point there are 2 GP surgeries, 1 pharmacy and 2 dentists. 1 hospital is within about eight kilometres. That gives a healthcare score of 32 out of 100. Facilities are counted from OpenStreetMap and the score describes how close services are, not waiting times, capacity or clinical quality.
Does Holyhead have good transport links?
The nearest railway station is Holyhead Rail Station, about 0.5 km away, and there are 20 bus, tram or metro stops within an 800 metre walk, giving a transport score of 64 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 Holyhead in?
Holyhead is in the Isle of Anglesey local authority, Wales. It falls within the Parc a'r Mynydd ward and the Ynys Môn 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 Isle of Anglesey shares them. Weather, crime, amenities, healthcare, transport and air quality are measured for this point instead.
Is Holyhead a good place for remote workers?
Holyhead scores 71 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 68, because this profile weights the twelve categories differently. Every area we score is ranked on this basis at /best-places-for-remote-workers/.
How does Holyhead compare with the rest of Wales?
Holyhead sits in the top 44% 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 weather. It is furthest below on education, broadband and housing. 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 Holyhead?
Of the areas we have scored within about 50 miles of Holyhead, the highest are Bangor (72 out of 100, about 22 miles away), Rhyl (72 out of 100, about 47 miles away) and Caernarfon (71 out of 100, about 19 miles away). Holyhead itself scores 68. Distances are straight-line from this point, and each of those names links to its own full report.
Which places are most similar to Holyhead?
Across the twelve category scores, the closest matches elsewhere in Britain are Whitehaven (Cumberland, North West, England), Thurso (Highland, Scotland) and St Andrews (Fife, 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 Isle of Anglesey 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.