Area report
Is Neath Port Talbot a good place to live?
Neath Port Talbot, Wales
Report completeness: 75%. Score is based on the categories with data loaded for this area.
In short
Neath Port Talbot scores 72 out of 100 overall, putting it in the top 16 per cent of the 539 UK areas we have scored. Its biggest lead is affordability, scoring 98 against the Welsh median of 86; its biggest shortfall is education, 10 against 53.
- Nearest scored area: Neath, about 3 miles away, scoring 71.
- Median overall score across the 539 areas in our index: 67 out of 100.
- Report completeness 75 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: Lifestyle (amenities within about 2 km of this exact point); 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 Neath Port Talbot: 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, Cardiff Bute Park, 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, 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 Neath Port Talbot home needs borrowing of 3.8 times a single UK median full-time salary of £39,039, inside the 4.5 times most lenders will go to, so one median earner can buy here. 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 Neath Port Talbot, 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 OfficeNo weather score for Neath Port Talbot. The nearest Met Office historic station, Cardiff Bute Park, 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 Neath Port Talbot: 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: OpenStreetMapHealthcare data is being sourced. We only publish figures once they are loaded from OpenStreetMap, so nothing here is estimated or invented.
Employment
Source: ONS / NOMISONS Annual Population Survey for Neath Port Talbot, 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 | 3 |
| Shops | 0 |
| Health services | 0 |
| Schools and learning | 2 |
| Parks and sport | 8 |
| Culture and community | 0 |
Counted from OpenStreetMap within about 2 km of this exact point; private gardens are not counted. Contains OpenStreetMap data © OpenStreetMap contributors.
Who Neath Port Talbot suits
Of the 2 profiles we score, Neath Port Talbot suits students best, at 71 out of 100.
Neath Port Talbot is a markedly better fit for some households than others. It ranks in the top 1% of the 539 areas we have scored for retirees, and the bottom 46% 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 | 80 | top 1% | Weighted towards healthcare, safety, environment and cost of living. |
| Remote workers | 76 | top 9% | Weighted towards broadband, cost of living, environment and weather. |
| Families | 67 | top 25% | Weighted towards schools, safety, housing and healthcare. |
| Students | 71 | top 33% | Weighted towards cost of living, lifestyle, transport and safety. |
| Young professionals | 66 | bottom 46% | 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
- Housing
- Broadband
- Environment
Worth checking carefully
- Employment
- Education
- Lifestyle
Built only from the categories with data; 3 are still to load for this area.
How Neath Port Talbot compares
| Category | Neath Port Talbot | Wales median | UK median | vs Wales median | UK position |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cost of living | 89 | 85 | 72 | +4 | top 6% |
| Affordability | 98 | 86 | 68 | +12 | top 8% |
| Employment | 43 | 51 | 59 | -8 | bottom 15% |
| Housing | 85 | 82 | 83 | +3 | top 44% |
| Transport | 50 | 74 | 75 | -24 | bottom 9% |
| Broadband | 88 | 86 | 88 | +2 | top 50% |
| Environment | 100 | 99 | 91 | +1 | top 8% |
| Education | 10 | 53 | 40 | -43 | bottom 1% |
| Lifestyle | 8 | 41 | 54 | -33 | 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 Wales median only.
What Neath Port Talbot does well. Measured against everywhere else in the index, the standouts are affordability (98, 12 above the median).
Where it falls short. Education (10, 43 below), lifestyle (8, 33 below) and transport (50, 24 below).
Near Neath Port Talbot, and places like it
Of the 6 scored areas within about 50 miles of Neath Port Talbot, 1 scores higher: Bridgend (75). Neath Port Talbot scores 72. Bridgend is ahead mainly on education (+52), while Neath Port Talbot keeps the advantage on affordability (+12).
| Area | Distance | Where | Overall | Band |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Neath | 2.7 miles | Neath Port Talbot, Wales | 71 | Very good |
| Port Talbot | 3.7 miles | Neath Port Talbot, Wales | 72 | Very good |
| Maesteg | 4.6 miles | Bridgend, Wales | 72 | Very good |
| Swansea | 8.4 miles | Swansea, Wales | 71 | Very good |
| Porthcawl | 12 miles | Bridgend, Wales | 70 | Very good |
| Bridgend | 12 miles | Bridgend, Wales | 75 | Very good |
Straight-line distances, so roads are longer. Any place not listed can be searched directly.
| Area | Where | Overall | Average gap |
|---|---|---|---|
| Colwyn Bay | Conwy, Wales | 70 | 7.8 |
| Llandudno | Conwy, Wales | 70 | 8.3 |
| Rhyl | Denbighshire, Wales | 72 | 8.4 |
| Alloa | Clackmannanshire, Scotland | 70 | 9.8 |
| St Andrews | Fife, Scotland | 69 | 9.9 |
Average score gap across every category both areas have, so smaller is closer. Neighbouring areas are left out.
What a home in Neath Port Talbot actually costs
Source: HM Land Registry UK HPIThe average home in Neath Port Talbot is £162,967, 40 per cent below the median of the areas we have scored. With a ten per cent deposit of £16,297, repaying the rest costs about £945 a month, £258 more than renting at the local average of £687, and needs a household income of about £32,600 to borrow.
| Measure | Figure |
|---|---|
| Average property price | £162,967 (June 2026) |
| Change over 12 months | +1.3%, rising |
| Against our index median | 40% below the £270,569 median across every area we have scored |
| 10% deposit | £16,297 |
| 15% deposit | £24,445 |
| Price to earnings | 4.2 times UK median full-time earnings of £39,039 |
| Monthly repayment | £945 on a £146,670 mortgage (10% deposit, 6% over 25 years) |
| Against renting | £258 more than the £687 average monthly rent |
| Income to borrow it | About £32,600 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 Neath Port Talbot, against the limits
Source: Defra modelled background mapsFine particulates, at 4.5, sit inside the UK 2040 target of 10 and inside the World Health Organization guideline of 5, which few areas manage. Nitrogen dioxide, at 4.3, is well inside the UK limit of 40 and inside the WHO guideline of 10.
| Pollutant | Neath Port Talbot | UK objective | WHO guideline | Standing |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fine particulates (PM2.5) | 4.5 | 10 | 5 | Inside both |
| Nitrogen dioxide (NO₂) | 4.3 | 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 Neath Port Talbot
Is Neath Port Talbot a good place to live?
Neath Port Talbot has an overall liveability score of 72 out of 100 (very good) on TrackPostcode.UK, based on 75% 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 Neath Port Talbot?
Recorded crime for Neath Port Talbot 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 Neath Port Talbot?
The weather section shows annual sunshine, rainfall and typical temperatures for Neath Port Talbot from Met Office climate data for the location.
How expensive is it to live in Neath Port Talbot?
Average private rent in the Neath Port Talbot area is about £687 a month (Jun-26, ONS), giving Neath Port Talbot 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 Neath Port Talbot?
The average property price in Neath Port Talbot is about £162,967 (2026-06, HM Land Registry). Prices changed +1.3% over the year. See the affordability section for how that compares to local earnings.
Can I afford to buy a house in Neath Port Talbot?
The average property in Neath Port Talbot costs about £162,967, which is 4.2 times earnings against assumed full-time earnings of £39,039 a year (ONS ASHE), giving an affordability score of 98 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 £945 a month at 6% over 25 years, £258 more than the £687 average local rent. The affordability calculator on this page estimates it from your own salary and savings.
How fast is broadband in Neath Port Talbot?
About 99% of premises in Neath Port Talbot can get superfast broadband of 30 Mbit/s or more, and 83.3% can get a gigabit-capable connection, giving a broadband score of 88 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 Neath Port Talbot?
70.9% of 16 to 64 year olds in Neath Port Talbot are in work (NOMIS latest, retrieved Sep 2026, ONS Annual Population Survey via NOMIS), giving an employment score of 43 out of 100. Unemployment stands at 3.4%. 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 Neath Port Talbot?
Neath Port Talbot records 332.8 on Capped 9 average points score (interim measure) (2024/25), giving an education score of 10 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 Neath Port Talbot?
For the 1 km grid square containing Neath Port Talbot, fine particulates (PM2.5) average 4.53 µg/m³ against a World Health Organization guideline of 5 and nitrogen dioxide averages 4.27 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.
What is there to do in Neath Port Talbot?
Within about two kilometres of this point there are 13 mapped amenities, including 3 places to eat and drink and 8 parks and sports facilities, giving a lifestyle score of 8 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.
Does Neath Port Talbot have good transport links?
The nearest railway station is Neath Rail Station, about 4.4 km away, and there are 13 bus, tram or metro stops within an 800 metre walk, giving a transport score of 50 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 Neath Port Talbot in?
Neath Port Talbot is in the Neath Port Talbot local authority, Wales. It falls within the Cimla and Pelenna ward and the Aberafan Maesteg 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 Neath Port Talbot shares them. Weather, crime, amenities, healthcare, transport and air quality are measured for this point instead.
Is Neath Port Talbot a good place for students?
Neath Port Talbot scores 71 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 72, so the weighting neither flatters nor penalises this area. Every area we score is ranked on this basis at /best-places-for-students/.
Is Neath Port Talbot a good place for young professionals?
Neath Port Talbot scores 66 out of 100 on our young professionals profile, which is weighted towards employment, lifestyle, transport and broadband. That is 6 points below its general score of 72, because this profile weights the twelve categories differently.
How does Neath Port Talbot compare with the rest of Wales?
Neath Port Talbot sits in the top 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 affordability. It is furthest below on education, lifestyle and transport. 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 Neath Port Talbot?
Of the areas we have scored within about 50 miles of Neath Port Talbot, the highest are Bridgend (75 out of 100, about 12 miles away), Port Talbot (72 out of 100, about 4 miles away) and Maesteg (72 out of 100, about 5 miles away). Neath Port Talbot itself scores 72. Distances are straight-line from this point, and each of those names links to its own full report.
Which places are most similar to Neath Port Talbot?
Across the twelve category scores, the closest matches elsewhere in Britain are Colwyn Bay (Conwy, Wales), Llandudno (Conwy, Wales) and Rhyl (Denbighshire, 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 Neath Port Talbot 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.