Area report
Is Louth a good place to live?
East Lindsey, East Midlands, England
Report completeness: 90%. Score is based on the categories with data loaded for this area.
In short
Louth scores 63 out of 100 overall, which places it below the median of the 539 UK areas we have scored. Its biggest lead is affordability, scoring 83 against the English median of 64; its biggest shortfall is transport, 31 against 75.
- Nearest scored area: Grimsby, about 14 miles away, scoring 73.
- 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 Lindsey: 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, Waddington, is 41 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 Louth home needs borrowing of 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 East Lindsey, 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 | 54 |
| Anti social behaviour | 46 |
| Criminal damage arson | 14 |
| Vehicle crime | 10 |
| Other theft | 9 |
| Shoplifting | 8 |
| Public order | 7 |
| Burglary | 4 |
| Other crime | 4 |
| Drugs | 3 |
| Possession of weapons | 1 |
In 2026-08, 160 crimes were recorded within about a mile of this point in Louth - 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 Louth. The nearest Met Office historic station, Waddington, is 41 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 Lindsey: 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 Lindsey, 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 | 82 |
| Shops | 214 |
| Health services | 10 |
| Schools and learning | 11 |
| Parks and sport | 35 |
| Culture and community | 4 |
Counted from OpenStreetMap within about 2 km of this exact point; private gardens are not counted. Contains OpenStreetMap data © OpenStreetMap contributors.
Who Louth suits
Of the 4 profiles we score, Louth suits students best, at 67 out of 100.
Louth is a markedly better fit for some households than others. It ranks in the bottom 46% of the 539 areas we have scored for students, and the bottom 11% 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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. |
| Remote workers | 66 | bottom 26% | Weighted towards broadband, cost of living, environment and weather. |
| Families | 60 | bottom 22% | Weighted towards schools, safety, housing and healthcare. |
| Young professionals | 58 | bottom 11% | 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
- Environment
Worth checking carefully
- Employment
- Transport
- Healthcare
- Education
Built only from the categories with data; 1 is still to load for this area.
How Louth compares
| Category | Louth | England median | UK median | vs England median | UK position |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cost of living | 89 | 71 | 72 | +18 | top 6% |
| Affordability | 83 | 64 | 68 | +19 | top 29% |
| Safety | 58 | 52 | 52 | +6 | top 30% |
| Employment | 34 | 61 | 59 | -27 | bottom 6% |
| Housing | 60 | 83 | 83 | -23 | bottom 16% |
| Transport | 31 | 75 | 75 | -44 | bottom 3% |
| Broadband | 63 | 88 | 88 | -25 | bottom 4% |
| Environment | 88 | 89 | 91 | -1 | bottom 37% |
| Healthcare | 42 | 54 | 52 | -12 | bottom 31% |
| Education | 39 | 39 | 40 | 0 | bottom 46% |
| Lifestyle | 50 | 56 | 54 | -6 | bottom 39% |
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 Louth does well. Measured against everywhere else in the index, the standouts are affordability (83, 19 above the median) and cost of living (89, 18 above the median).
Where it falls short. Transport (31, 44 below), employment (34, 27 below) and broadband (63, 25 below).
Near Louth, and places like it
Of the 6 scored areas within about 50 miles of Louth, 6 score higher: Boston (75), Grimsby (73), Lincoln (71) and 3 others. Louth scores 63. Boston is ahead mainly on transport (+48), while Louth keeps the advantage on safety (+11).
| Area | Distance | Where | Overall | Band |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Grimsby | 14 miles | North East Lincolnshire, Yorkshire and The Humber, England | 73 | Very good |
| Skegness | 21 miles | East Lindsey, East Midlands, England | 65 | Good |
| Lincoln | 24 miles | Lincoln, East Midlands, England | 71 | Very good |
| Boston | 27 miles | Boston, East Midlands, England | 75 | Very good |
| Kingston upon Hull | 29 miles | Kingston upon Hull, City of, Yorkshire and The Humber, England | 71 | Very good |
| Sleaford | 30 miles | North Kesteven, East Midlands, England | 70 | Very good |
Straight-line distances, so roads are longer. Any place not listed can be searched directly.
| Area | Where | Overall | Average gap |
|---|---|---|---|
| Leek | Staffordshire Moorlands, West Midlands, England | 63 | 7 |
| Forfar | Angus, Scotland | 69 | 9.2 |
| Gainsborough | West Lindsey, East Midlands, England | 67 | 9.3 |
| Biddulph | Staffordshire Moorlands, West Midlands, England | 63 | 9.3 |
| Kidsgrove | Newcastle-under-Lyme, West Midlands, England | 66 | 9.5 |
Average score gap across every category both areas have, so smaller is closer. Neighbouring areas are left out.
Crime in Louth: 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 5 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 | 54 | 33.8% | 34.0% | -0.3 |
| Anti-social behaviour | 46 | 28.7% | 17.9% | +10.8 |
| Criminal damage and arson | 14 | 8.8% | 7.0% | +1.8 |
| Vehicle crime | 10 | 6.3% | 2.9% | +3.4 |
| Other theft | 9 | 5.6% | 5.6% | +0.0 |
| Shoplifting | 8 | 5.0% | 10.5% | -5.5 |
| Public order | 7 | 4.4% | 7.4% | -3.0 |
| Burglary | 4 | 2.5% | 2.5% | 0.0 |
160 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 Louth actually costs
Source: HM Land Registry UK HPIThe average home in Louth is £216,315, 20 per cent below the median of the areas we have scored. With a ten per cent deposit of £21,632, repaying the rest costs about £1,254 a month, £559 more than renting at the local average of £695, and needs a household income of about £43,300 to borrow.
| Measure | Figure |
|---|---|
| Average property price | £216,315 (June 2026) |
| Change over 12 months | +7.4%, rising |
| Against our index median | 20% below the £270,569 median across every area we have scored |
| 10% deposit | £21,632 |
| 15% deposit | £32,447 |
| Price to earnings | 5.5 times UK median full-time earnings of £39,039 |
| Monthly repayment | £1,254 on a £194,683 mortgage (10% deposit, 6% over 25 years) |
| Against renting | £559 more than the £695 average monthly rent |
| Income to borrow it | About £43,300 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 Louth, against the limits
Source: Defra modelled background mapsFine particulates, at 7.0, 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 5.7, is well inside the UK limit of 40 and inside the WHO guideline of 10.
| Pollutant | Louth | UK objective | WHO guideline | Standing |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fine particulates (PM2.5) | 7.0 | 10 | 5 | Inside the UK target, above the WHO guideline |
| Nitrogen dioxide (NO₂) | 5.7 | 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 Louth
Is Louth a good place to live?
Louth has an overall liveability score of 63 out of 100 (good) on TrackPostcode.UK, based on 90% of categories currently loaded. It scores best on cost of living and broadband. The score combines cost, affordability, safety, weather and more from open government data.
What is the crime rate in Louth?
About 160 crimes were recorded within roughly a mile of Louth in 2026-08 (police.uk), giving a safety score of 58 out of 100. Town and city centres naturally record more than residential streets.
What is the weather like in Louth?
The weather section shows annual sunshine, rainfall and typical temperatures for Louth from Met Office climate data for the location.
How expensive is it to live in Louth?
Average private rent in the East Lindsey area is about £695 a month (Jun-26, ONS), giving Louth a cost-of-living score of 89 out of 100. Use the affordability calculator to estimate what you could comfortably afford here.
What are house prices like in Louth?
The average property price in East Lindsey is about £216,315 (2026-06, HM Land Registry). Prices changed +7.4% over the year. See the affordability section for how that compares to local earnings.
Is Louth safe?
Louth scores 58 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 30% 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 Louth?
The average property in East Lindsey costs about £216,315, which is 5.5 times earnings against assumed full-time earnings of £39,039 a year (ONS ASHE), giving an affordability score of 83 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 £1,254 a month at 6% over 25 years, £559 more than the £695 average local rent. The affordability calculator on this page estimates it from your own salary and savings.
How fast is broadband in Louth?
About 91.3% of premises in East Lindsey can get superfast broadband of 30 Mbit/s or more, and 61.4% can get a gigabit-capable connection, giving a broadband score of 63 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 Louth?
67.4% of 16 to 64 year olds in East Lindsey are in work (NOMIS latest, retrieved Sep 2026, ONS Annual Population Survey via NOMIS), giving an employment score of 34 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 Louth?
East Lindsey records 46.5 on Attainment 8 average score (202425), giving an education score of 39 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 Louth?
For the 1 km grid square containing Louth, fine particulates (PM2.5) average 6.98 µg/m³ against a World Health Organization guideline of 5 and nitrogen dioxide averages 5.72 µg/m³ against a guideline of 10 (2024, Defra Pollution Climate Mapping, Crown copyright). That gives an environment score of 88 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 Louth?
Within about two kilometres of this point there are 356 mapped amenities, including 82 places to eat and drink, 214 shops, 35 parks and sports facilities and 4 cultural and community venues, giving a lifestyle score of 50 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 Louth?
Within about two kilometres of this point there are 2 GP surgeries, 4 pharmacies and 3 dentists. 1 hospital is within about eight kilometres. That gives a healthcare score of 42 out of 100. Facilities are counted from OpenStreetMap and the score describes how close services are, not waiting times, capacity or clinical quality.
Does Louth have good transport links?
The nearest railway station is Cleethorpes Rail Station, about 21.7 km away, and there are 32 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 Louth in?
Louth is in the East Lindsey local authority, East Midlands, England. It falls within the Priory & St James' ward and the Louth and Horncastle 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 Lindsey shares them. Weather, crime, amenities, healthcare, transport and air quality are measured for this point instead.
Is Louth a good place for students?
Louth scores 67 out of 100 on our students profile, which is weighted towards cost of living, lifestyle, transport and safety. That is 4 points above its general score of 63, because this profile weights the twelve categories differently. Every area we score is ranked on this basis at /best-places-for-students/.
Is Louth a good place to retire?
Louth scores 66 out of 100 on our retirees profile, which is weighted towards healthcare, safety, environment and cost of living. That is 3 points above its general score of 63, because this profile weights the twelve categories differently. Every area we score is ranked on this basis at /best-for-retirement/.
How does Louth compare with the rest of England?
Louth sits in the bottom 25% 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 transport, employment and broadband. 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 Louth?
Of the areas we have scored within about 50 miles of Louth, the highest are Boston (75 out of 100, about 27 miles away), Grimsby (73 out of 100, about 14 miles away) and Lincoln (71 out of 100, about 24 miles away). Louth itself scores 63. Distances are straight-line from this point, and each of those names links to its own full report.
Which places are most similar to Louth?
Across the twelve category scores, the closest matches elsewhere in Britain are Leek (Staffordshire Moorlands, West Midlands, England), Forfar (Angus, Scotland) and Gainsborough (West Lindsey, East 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 Lindsey 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.