Area report
Is King's Lynn and West Norfolk a good place to live?
King's Lynn and West Norfolk, East of England, England
Report completeness: 65%. Score is based on the categories with data loaded for this area.
In short
King's Lynn and West Norfolk scores 59 out of 100 overall, which places it below the median of the 539 UK areas we have scored. Its biggest lead is safety, scoring 95 against the English median of 52; its biggest shortfall is transport, 22 against 75.
- Nearest scored area: King's Lynn, about 7 miles away, scoring 63.
- Median overall score across the 539 areas in our index: 67 out of 100.
- Report completeness 65 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 King's Lynn and West Norfolk: Cost of living, 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 59 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 RegistryWork out what you could afford here from your own salary and savings.
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 RegistryHousing data is being sourced. We only publish figures once they are loaded from HM Land Registry, so nothing here is estimated or invented.
Crime and safety
Source: police.ukAll recorded crime by type
| Category | Recorded (2026-08) |
|---|---|
| Anti social behaviour | 1 |
| Other theft | 1 |
Very 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 King's Lynn and West Norfolk. The nearest Met Office historic station, Cambridge NIAB, is 59 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 King's Lynn and West Norfolk: 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 King's Lynn and West Norfolk, 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 | 1 |
| Shops | 0 |
| Health services | 0 |
| Schools and learning | 0 |
| Parks and sport | 6 |
| 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 King's Lynn and West Norfolk suits
Of the 3 profiles we score, King's Lynn and West Norfolk suits students best, at 61 out of 100.
King's Lynn and West Norfolk suits most households about equally: from the bottom 22% for families to the bottom 8% for young professionals of the 539 areas we have scored.
| Household | Score | Standing | What it weights |
|---|---|---|---|
| Families | 60 | bottom 22% | Weighted towards schools, safety, housing and healthcare. |
| Students | 61 | bottom 22% | Weighted towards cost of living, lifestyle, transport and safety. |
| Remote workers | 64 | bottom 20% | Weighted towards broadband, cost of living, environment and weather. |
| Retirees | 60 | bottom 19% | Weighted towards healthcare, safety, environment and cost of living. |
| Young professionals | 56 | bottom 8% | 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
- Safety
- Environment
Worth checking carefully
- Transport
- Healthcare
- Education
- Lifestyle
Built only from the categories with data; 3 are still to load for this area.
How King's Lynn and West Norfolk compares
| Category | King's Lynn and West Norfolk | England median | UK median | vs England median | UK position |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cost of living | 74 | 71 | 72 | +3 | top 47% |
| Safety | 95 | 52 | 52 | +43 | top 1% |
| Employment | 60 | 61 | 59 | -1 | top 47% |
| Transport | 22 | 75 | 75 | -53 | bottom 1% |
| Broadband | 72 | 88 | 88 | -16 | bottom 11% |
| Environment | 89 | 89 | 91 | 0 | bottom 42% |
| Healthcare | 4 | 54 | 52 | -50 | bottom 1% |
| Education | 38 | 39 | 40 | -1 | bottom 42% |
| Lifestyle | 6 | 56 | 54 | -50 | 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 King's Lynn and West Norfolk does well. Measured against everywhere else in the index, the standouts are safety (95, 43 above the median).
Where it falls short. Transport (22, 53 below), lifestyle (6, 50 below) and healthcare (4, 50 below).
Near King's Lynn and West Norfolk, and places like it
Of the 6 scored areas within about 50 miles of King's Lynn and West Norfolk, 6 score higher: Wisbech (71), Dereham (69), Thetford (69) and 3 others. King's Lynn and West Norfolk scores 59. Wisbech is ahead mainly on lifestyle (+53), while King's Lynn and West Norfolk keeps the advantage on safety (+44).
| Area | Distance | Where | Overall | Band |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| King's Lynn | 6.5 miles | King's Lynn and West Norfolk, East of England, England | 63 | Good |
| Wisbech | 16 miles | Fenland, East of England, England | 71 | Very good |
| Dereham | 17 miles | Breckland, East of England, England | 69 | Good |
| Thetford | 22 miles | Breckland, East of England, England | 69 | Good |
| Ely | 24 miles | East Cambridgeshire, East of England, England | 68 | Good |
| Spalding | 29 miles | South Holland, East Midlands, England | 69 | 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 | 4.8 |
| Romford | Dorset, South West, England | 62 | 7.6 |
| Wadebridge | Cornwall, South West, England | 64 | 9.3 |
| Helston | Cornwall, South West, England | 67 | 11.4 |
| Glastonbury | Somerset, South West, England | 65 | 11.5 |
Average score gap across every category both areas have, so smaller is closer. Neighbouring areas are left out.
Air quality in King's Lynn and West Norfolk, against the limits
Source: Defra modelled background mapsFine particulates, at 6.8, 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 4.9, is well inside the UK limit of 40 and inside the WHO guideline of 10.
| Pollutant | King's Lynn and West Norfolk | UK objective | WHO guideline | Standing |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fine particulates (PM2.5) | 6.8 | 10 | 5 | Inside the UK target, above the WHO guideline |
| Nitrogen dioxide (NO₂) | 4.9 | 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 King's Lynn and West Norfolk
Is King's Lynn and West Norfolk a good place to live?
King's Lynn and West Norfolk has an overall liveability score of 59 out of 100 (good) on TrackPostcode.UK, based on 65% 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 King's Lynn and West Norfolk?
About 2 crimes were recorded within roughly a mile of King's Lynn and West Norfolk in 2026-08 (police.uk), giving a safety score of 95 out of 100. Town and city centres naturally record more than residential streets.
What is the weather like in King's Lynn and West Norfolk?
The weather section shows annual sunshine, rainfall and typical temperatures for King's Lynn and West Norfolk from Met Office climate data for the location.
How expensive is it to live in King's Lynn and West Norfolk?
Average private rent in the King's Lynn and West Norfolk area is about £938 a month (Jun-26, ONS), giving King's Lynn and West Norfolk a cost-of-living score of 74 out of 100. Use the affordability calculator to estimate what you could comfortably afford here.
Is King's Lynn and West Norfolk safe?
King's Lynn and West Norfolk scores 95 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.
How fast is broadband in King's Lynn and West Norfolk?
About 96.5% of premises in King's Lynn and West Norfolk can get superfast broadband of 30 Mbit/s or more, and 62% can get a gigabit-capable connection, giving a broadband score of 72 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 King's Lynn and West Norfolk?
77.2% of 16 to 64 year olds in King's Lynn and West Norfolk are in work (NOMIS latest, retrieved Sep 2026, ONS Annual Population Survey via NOMIS), giving an employment score of 60 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 King's Lynn and West Norfolk?
King's Lynn and West Norfolk records 46.1 on Attainment 8 average score (202425), giving an education score of 38 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 King's Lynn and West Norfolk?
For the 1 km grid square containing King's Lynn and West Norfolk, fine particulates (PM2.5) average 6.82 µg/m³ against a World Health Organization guideline of 5 and nitrogen dioxide averages 4.92 µg/m³ against a guideline of 10 (2024, Defra Pollution Climate Mapping, Crown copyright). That gives an environment score of 89 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 King's Lynn and West Norfolk?
Within about two kilometres of this point there are 8 mapped amenities, including 1 places to eat and drink, 6 parks and sports facilities and 1 cultural and community venues, giving a lifestyle score of 6 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 King's Lynn and West Norfolk?
No GP surgery, pharmacy or dentist is mapped within about two kilometres of this point. 1 hospital is within about eight kilometres. That gives a healthcare score of 4 out of 100. Facilities are counted from OpenStreetMap and the score describes how close services are, not waiting times, capacity or clinical quality.
Does King's Lynn and West Norfolk have good transport links?
The nearest railway station is Kings Lynn Rail Station, about 10.2 km away, and there are 2 bus, tram or metro stops within an 800 metre walk, giving a transport score of 22 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 King's Lynn and West Norfolk in?
King's Lynn and West Norfolk is in the King's Lynn and West Norfolk local authority, East of England, England. It falls within the Gayton & Grimston ward and the North West Norfolk 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 King's Lynn and West Norfolk shares them. Weather, crime, amenities, healthcare, transport and air quality are measured for this point instead.
Is King's Lynn and West Norfolk a good place for students?
King's Lynn and West Norfolk scores 61 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 59, so the weighting neither flatters nor penalises this area. Every area we score is ranked on this basis at /best-places-for-students/.
Is King's Lynn and West Norfolk a good place to retire?
King's Lynn and West Norfolk scores 60 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 59, so the weighting neither flatters nor penalises this area. Every area we score is ranked on this basis at /best-for-retirement/.
How does King's Lynn and West Norfolk compare with the rest of England?
King's Lynn and West Norfolk sits in the bottom 16% 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 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 King's Lynn and West Norfolk?
Of the areas we have scored within about 50 miles of King's Lynn and West Norfolk, the highest are Wisbech (71 out of 100, about 16 miles away), Dereham (69 out of 100, about 17 miles away) and Thetford (69 out of 100, about 22 miles away). King's Lynn and West Norfolk itself scores 59. Distances are straight-line from this point, and each of those names links to its own full report.
Which places are most similar to King's Lynn and West Norfolk?
Across the twelve category scores, the closest matches elsewhere in Britain are Ilford (Somerset, South West, England), Romford (Dorset, South West, England) and Wadebridge (Cornwall, South West, 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 King's Lynn and West Norfolk 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.