Area report
Is Kidsgrove a good place to live?
Newcastle-under-Lyme, West Midlands, England
Report completeness: 90%. Score is based on the categories with data loaded for this area.
In short
Kidsgrove scores 66 out of 100 overall, which places it below the median of the 539 UK areas we have scored. Its biggest lead is affordability, scoring 84 against the English median of 64; its biggest shortfall is employment, 38 against 61.
- Nearest scored area: Biddulph, about 3 miles away, scoring 63.
- 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 Newcastle-under-Lyme: 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, Shawbury, is 43 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 Kidsgrove home needs borrowing of 4.9 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 Newcastle-under-Lyme, all property types. Steady growth scores best; sharp falls and overheating both score lower.
Crime and safety
Source: police.ukAll recorded crime by type
| Category | Recorded (2026-08) |
|---|---|
| Violent crime | 58 |
| Anti social behaviour | 53 |
| Criminal damage arson | 19 |
| Public order | 13 |
| Shoplifting | 10 |
| Other theft | 7 |
| Other crime | 5 |
| Bicycle theft | 3 |
| Burglary | 3 |
| Vehicle crime | 3 |
| Drugs | 2 |
| Possession of weapons | 2 |
| Robbery | 2 |
In 2026-08, 180 crimes were recorded within about a mile of this point in Kidsgrove - 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 OfficeNo weather score for Kidsgrove. The nearest Met Office historic station, Shawbury, is 43 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 Newcastle-under-Lyme: 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 Newcastle-under-Lyme, 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 | 42 |
| Shops | 97 |
| Health services | 7 |
| Schools and learning | 14 |
| Parks and sport | 66 |
| Culture and community | 1 |
Counted from OpenStreetMap within about 2 km of this exact point; private gardens are not counted. Contains OpenStreetMap data © OpenStreetMap contributors.
Who Kidsgrove suits
Of the 4 profiles we score, Kidsgrove suits retirees and students equally well, at 68 out of 100.
Kidsgrove is a markedly better fit for some households than others. It ranks in the top 43% of the 539 areas we have scored for retirees, and the bottom 27% 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Retirees | 68 | top 43% | Weighted towards healthcare, safety, environment and cost of living. |
| Remote workers | 70 | top 44% | Weighted towards broadband, cost of living, environment and weather. |
| Students | 68 | top 49% | Weighted towards cost of living, lifestyle, transport and safety. |
| Families | 63 | bottom 41% | Weighted towards schools, safety, housing and healthcare. |
| Young professionals | 63 | bottom 27% | 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
- Affordability
- Broadband
- Environment
Worth checking carefully
- Employment
- Education
- Lifestyle
Built only from the categories with data; 1 is still to load for this area.
How Kidsgrove compares
| Category | Kidsgrove | England median | UK median | vs England median | UK position |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cost of living | 81 | 71 | 72 | +10 | top 29% |
| Affordability | 84 | 64 | 68 | +20 | top 26% |
| Safety | 57 | 52 | 52 | +5 | top 34% |
| Employment | 38 | 61 | 59 | -23 | bottom 8% |
| Housing | 68 | 83 | 83 | -15 | bottom 25% |
| Transport | 71 | 75 | 75 | -4 | bottom 35% |
| Broadband | 87 | 88 | 88 | -1 | bottom 46% |
| Environment | 90 | 89 | 91 | +1 | bottom 46% |
| Healthcare | 45 | 54 | 52 | -9 | bottom 37% |
| Education | 34 | 39 | 40 | -5 | bottom 26% |
| Lifestyle | 42 | 56 | 54 | -14 | bottom 22% |
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 Kidsgrove does well. Measured against everywhere else in the index, the standouts are affordability (84, 20 above the median) and cost of living (81, 10 above the median).
Where it falls short. Employment (38, 23 below), housing (68, 15 below) and lifestyle (42, 14 below).
Near Kidsgrove, and places like it
Of the 6 scored areas within about 50 miles of Kidsgrove, 2 score higher: Stoke-on-Trent (76) and Newcastle-under-Lyme (68). Kidsgrove scores 66. Stoke-on-Trent is ahead mainly on housing (+31), while Kidsgrove keeps the advantage on education (+18).
| Area | Distance | Where | Overall | Band |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Biddulph | 3.3 miles | Staffordshire Moorlands, West Midlands, England | 63 | Good |
| Newcastle-under-Lyme | 5.3 miles | Newcastle-under-Lyme, West Midlands, England | 68 | Good |
| Stoke-on-Trent | 5.3 miles | Stoke-on-Trent, West Midlands, England | 76 | Very good |
| Congleton | 5.4 miles | Cheshire East, North West, England | 66 | Good |
| Sandbach | 6.5 miles | Cheshire East, North West, England | 65 | Good |
| Crewe | 8.4 miles | Cheshire East, North West, England | 66 | Good |
Straight-line distances, so roads are longer. Any place not listed can be searched directly.
| Area | Where | Overall | Average gap |
|---|---|---|---|
| Caerphilly | Caerphilly, Wales | 68 | 5 |
| Colwyn Bay | Conwy, Wales | 70 | 5.2 |
| Blackwood | Caerphilly, Wales | 70 | 5.2 |
| Glossop | High Peak, East Midlands, England | 65 | 5.3 |
| Llandudno | Conwy, Wales | 70 | 5.5 |
Average score gap across every category both areas have, so smaller is closer. Neighbouring areas are left out.
Crime in Kidsgrove: what kind, not just how much
Source: police.ukWhat is distinctive about the mix here: anti-social behaviour makes up 29 per cent of recorded crime here against 18 per cent typically and shoplifting is proportionally lower, at 6 per cent against 11. 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.
| Offence type | Count | Share | Typical share | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Violence and sexual offences | 58 | 32.2% | 34.0% | -1.8 |
| Anti-social behaviour | 53 | 29.4% | 17.9% | +11.5 |
| Criminal damage and arson | 19 | 10.6% | 7.0% | +3.6 |
| Public order | 13 | 7.2% | 7.4% | -0.2 |
| Shoplifting | 10 | 5.6% | 10.5% | -4.9 |
| Other theft | 7 | 3.9% | 5.6% | -1.7 |
| Other | 5 | 2.8% | 1.5% | +1.3 |
| Bicycle theft | 3 | 1.7% | 0.6% | +1.1 |
180 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 Kidsgrove actually costs
Source: HM Land Registry UK HPIThe average home in Kidsgrove is £209,547, 23 per cent below the median of the areas we have scored. With a ten per cent deposit of £20,955, repaying the rest costs about £1,215 a month, £388 more than renting at the local average of £827, and needs a household income of about £41,900 to borrow.
| Measure | Figure |
|---|---|
| Average property price | £209,547 (June 2026) |
| Change over 12 months | +6.6%, rising |
| Against our index median | 23% below the £270,569 median across every area we have scored |
| 10% deposit | £20,955 |
| 15% deposit | £31,432 |
| Price to earnings | 5.4 times UK median full-time earnings of £39,039 |
| Monthly repayment | £1,215 on a £188,592 mortgage (10% deposit, 6% over 25 years) |
| Against renting | £388 more than the £827 average monthly rent |
| Income to borrow it | About £41,900 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 Kidsgrove, against the limits
Source: Defra modelled background mapsFine particulates, at 6.7, 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 9.2, is well inside the UK limit of 40 and inside the WHO guideline of 10.
| Pollutant | Kidsgrove | UK objective | WHO guideline | Standing |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fine particulates (PM2.5) | 6.7 | 10 | 5 | Inside the UK target, above the WHO guideline |
| Nitrogen dioxide (NO₂) | 9.2 | 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 Kidsgrove
Is Kidsgrove a good place to live?
Kidsgrove has an overall liveability score of 66 out of 100 (good) on TrackPostcode.UK, based on 90% of categories currently loaded. It scores best on broadband and cost of living. The score combines cost, affordability, safety, weather and more from open government data.
What is the crime rate in Kidsgrove?
About 180 crimes were recorded within roughly a mile of Kidsgrove in 2026-08 (police.uk), giving a safety score of 57 out of 100. Town and city centres naturally record more than residential streets.
What is the weather like in Kidsgrove?
The weather section shows annual sunshine, rainfall and typical temperatures for Kidsgrove from Met Office climate data for the location.
How expensive is it to live in Kidsgrove?
Average private rent in the Newcastle-under-Lyme area is about £827 a month (Jun-26, ONS), giving Kidsgrove a cost-of-living score of 81 out of 100. Use the affordability calculator to estimate what you could comfortably afford here.
What are house prices like in Kidsgrove?
The average property price in Newcastle-under-Lyme is about £209,547 (2026-06, HM Land Registry). Prices changed +6.6% over the year. See the affordability section for how that compares to local earnings.
Is Kidsgrove safe?
Kidsgrove scores 57 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 34% 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 Kidsgrove?
The average property in Newcastle-under-Lyme costs about £209,547, which is 5.4 times earnings against assumed full-time earnings of £39,039 a year (ONS ASHE), giving an affordability score of 84 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 £1,215 a month at 6% over 25 years, £388 more than the £827 average local rent. The affordability calculator on this page estimates it from your own salary and savings.
How fast is broadband in Kidsgrove?
About 98.2% of premises in Newcastle-under-Lyme can get superfast broadband of 30 Mbit/s or more, and 83.4% 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 Kidsgrove?
69% of 16 to 64 year olds in Newcastle-under-Lyme are in work (NOMIS latest, retrieved Sep 2026, ONS Annual Population Survey via NOMIS), giving an employment score of 38 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 Kidsgrove?
Newcastle-under-Lyme records 45.2 on Attainment 8 average score (202425), giving an education score of 34 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 Kidsgrove?
For the 1 km grid square containing Kidsgrove, fine particulates (PM2.5) average 6.65 µg/m³ against a World Health Organization guideline of 5 and nitrogen dioxide averages 9.17 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 Kidsgrove?
Within about two kilometres of this point there are 227 mapped amenities, including 42 places to eat and drink, 97 shops, 66 parks and sports facilities and 1 cultural and community venues, giving a lifestyle score of 42 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 Kidsgrove?
Within about two kilometres of this point there are 2 GP surgeries, 4 pharmacies and 3 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 Kidsgrove have good transport links?
The nearest railway station is Kidsgrove Rail Station, about 0.3 km away, and there are 33 bus, tram or metro stops within an 800 metre walk, giving a transport score of 71 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 Kidsgrove in?
Kidsgrove is in the Newcastle-under-Lyme local authority, West Midlands, England. It falls within the Kidsgrove & Ravenscliffe ward and the Stoke-on-Trent North 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 Newcastle-under-Lyme shares them. Weather, crime, amenities, healthcare, transport and air quality are measured for this point instead.
Is Kidsgrove a good place to retire?
Kidsgrove scores 68 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 66, so the weighting neither flatters nor penalises this area. Every area we score is ranked on this basis at /best-for-retirement/.
Is Kidsgrove a good place for students?
Kidsgrove scores 68 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 66, 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 Kidsgrove compare with the rest of England?
Kidsgrove sits in the bottom 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 affordability and cost of living. It is furthest below on employment, housing and lifestyle. 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 Kidsgrove?
Of the areas we have scored within about 50 miles of Kidsgrove, the highest are Stoke-on-Trent (76 out of 100, about 5 miles away), Newcastle-under-Lyme (68 out of 100, about 5 miles away) and Congleton (66 out of 100, about 5 miles away). Kidsgrove itself scores 66. Distances are straight-line from this point, and each of those names links to its own full report.
Which places are most similar to Kidsgrove?
Across the twelve category scores, the closest matches elsewhere in Britain are Caerphilly (Caerphilly, Wales), Colwyn Bay (Conwy, Wales) and Blackwood (Caerphilly, Wales). 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 Newcastle-under-Lyme 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.