Area report
Is South Kesteven a good place to live?
South Kesteven, East Midlands, England
Report completeness: 90%. Score is based on the categories with data loaded for this area.
In short
South Kesteven scores 64 out of 100 overall, which places it below the median of the 539 UK areas we have scored. Its biggest lead is housing, scoring 93 against the English median of 83; its biggest shortfall is transport, 9 against 75.
- Nearest scored area: Grantham, about 8 miles away, scoring 72.
- 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: Weather (from the Met Office Waddington station, 36 km away); 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 South Kesteven: 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. 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 South Kesteven home needs borrowing of 5.9 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 South Kesteven, 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
South Kesteven averages about 1,565 sunshine hours a year, towards the sunnier end of the UK range, with relatively low rainfall for the UK (about 636 mm a year). Summer days typically reach around 21.7°C and winter nights fall to about 2.7°C.
Averages over 6 years (2020-2025) from the Met Office Waddington station, 36 km away. How the outdoor score works. Contains Met Office data © Crown copyright.
Broadband and mobile
Source: Ofcom Connected NationsOfcom Connected Nations coverage for South Kesteven: 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 South Kesteven, 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 | 0 |
| Shops | 0 |
| Health services | 0 |
| Schools and learning | 1 |
| Parks and sport | 1 |
| 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 South Kesteven suits
Of the 3 profiles we score, South Kesteven suits remote workers best, at 70 out of 100.
South Kesteven is a markedly better fit for some households than others. It ranks in the top 44% of the 539 areas we have scored for remote workers, and the bottom 15% 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Remote workers | 70 | top 44% | Weighted towards broadband, cost of living, environment and weather. |
| Families | 63 | bottom 41% | Weighted towards schools, safety, housing and healthcare. |
| Students | 64 | bottom 32% | Weighted towards cost of living, lifestyle, transport and safety. |
| Retirees | 61 | bottom 21% | Weighted towards healthcare, safety, environment and cost of living. |
| Young professionals | 60 | bottom 15% | 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
- Housing
- Broadband
- Environment
Worth checking carefully
- Transport
- Healthcare
- Education
- Lifestyle
Built only from the categories with data; 1 is still to load for this area.
How South Kesteven compares
| Category | South Kesteven | England median | UK median | vs England median | UK position |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cost of living | 80 | 71 | 72 | +9 | top 33% |
| Affordability | 72 | 64 | 68 | +8 | top 45% |
| Weather | 77 | 72 | 72 | +5 | top 28% |
| Employment | 60 | 61 | 59 | -1 | top 47% |
| Housing | 93 | 83 | 83 | +10 | top 24% |
| Transport | 9 | 75 | 75 | -66 | bottom 1% |
| Broadband | 84 | 88 | 88 | -4 | bottom 34% |
| Environment | 92 | 89 | 91 | +3 | top 44% |
| Healthcare | 4 | 54 | 52 | -50 | bottom 1% |
| Education | 39 | 39 | 40 | 0 | bottom 46% |
| Lifestyle | 4 | 56 | 54 | -52 | 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 South Kesteven does well. Measured against everywhere else in the index, the standouts are housing (93, 10 above the median), cost of living (80, 9 above the median) and affordability (72, 8 above the median).
Where it falls short. Transport (9, 66 below), lifestyle (4, 52 below) and healthcare (4, 50 below).
Near South Kesteven, and places like it
Of the 6 scored areas within about 50 miles of South Kesteven, 5 score higher: Melton Mowbray (73), Grantham (72), Stamford (71) and 2 others. South Kesteven scores 64. Melton Mowbray is ahead mainly on transport (+66), while South Kesteven keeps the advantage on affordability (+9).
| Area | Distance | Where | Overall | Band |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Grantham | 7.7 miles | South Kesteven, East Midlands, England | 72 | Very good |
| Sleaford | 11 miles | North Kesteven, East Midlands, England | 70 | Very good |
| Stamford | 14 miles | South Kesteven, East Midlands, England | 71 | Very good |
| Spalding | 15 miles | South Holland, East Midlands, England | 69 | Good |
| Oakham | 16 miles | Rutland, East Midlands, England | 62 | Good |
| Melton Mowbray | 18 miles | Melton, East Midlands, England | 73 | Very 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 | 5.8 |
| Romford | Dorset, South West, England | 62 | 7.5 |
| Glastonbury | Somerset, South West, England | 65 | 9.6 |
| Wadebridge | Cornwall, South West, England | 64 | 10.3 |
| Shepton Mallet | Somerset, South West, England | 64 | 10.9 |
Average score gap across every category both areas have, so smaller is closer. Neighbouring areas are left out.
What a home in South Kesteven actually costs
Source: HM Land Registry UK HPIThe average home in South Kesteven is £255,363, 6 per cent below the median of the areas we have scored. With a ten per cent deposit of £25,536, repaying the rest costs about £1,481 a month, £640 more than renting at the local average of £841, and needs a household income of about £51,100 to borrow.
| Measure | Figure |
|---|---|
| Average property price | £255,363 (June 2026) |
| Change over 12 months | +2.2%, rising |
| Against our index median | 6% below the £270,569 median across every area we have scored |
| 10% deposit | £25,536 |
| 15% deposit | £38,304 |
| Price to earnings | 6.5 times UK median full-time earnings of £39,039 |
| Monthly repayment | £1,481 on a £229,827 mortgage (10% deposit, 6% over 25 years) |
| Against renting | £640 more than the £841 average monthly rent |
| Income to borrow it | About £51,100 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 South Kesteven, against the limits
Source: Defra modelled background mapsFine particulates, at 6.4, 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 4.4, is well inside the UK limit of 40 and inside the WHO guideline of 10.
| Pollutant | South Kesteven | UK objective | WHO guideline | Standing |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fine particulates (PM2.5) | 6.4 | 10 | 5 | Inside the UK target, above the WHO guideline |
| Nitrogen dioxide (NO₂) | 4.4 | 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 South Kesteven
Is South Kesteven a good place to live?
South Kesteven has an overall liveability score of 64 out of 100 (good) on TrackPostcode.UK, based on 90% of categories currently loaded. It scores best on housing and broadband. The score combines cost, affordability, safety, weather and more from open government data.
What is the crime rate in South Kesteven?
Recorded crime for South Kesteven 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 South Kesteven?
South Kesteven averages 1,565 sunshine hours and about 636 mm of rain a year, giving an outdoor score of 77 out of 100. Summer highs average 21.7°C and winter lows 2.7°C. Based on the Met Office Waddington station, 36 km away.
How expensive is it to live in South Kesteven?
Average private rent in the South Kesteven area is about £841 a month (Jun-26, ONS), giving South Kesteven a cost-of-living score of 80 out of 100. Use the affordability calculator to estimate what you could comfortably afford here.
What are house prices like in South Kesteven?
The average property price in South Kesteven is about £255,363 (2026-06, HM Land Registry). Prices changed +2.2% over the year. See the affordability section for how that compares to local earnings.
Can I afford to buy a house in South Kesteven?
The average property in South Kesteven costs about £255,363, which is 6.5 times earnings against assumed full-time earnings of £39,039 a year (ONS ASHE), giving an affordability score of 72 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 £1,481 a month at 6% over 25 years, £640 more than the £841 average local rent. The affordability calculator on this page estimates it from your own salary and savings.
How fast is broadband in South Kesteven?
About 96.5% of premises in South Kesteven can get superfast broadband of 30 Mbit/s or more, and 82.4% can get a gigabit-capable connection, giving a broadband score of 84 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 South Kesteven?
77.3% of 16 to 64 year olds in South Kesteven 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 South Kesteven?
South Kesteven 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 South Kesteven?
For the 1 km grid square containing South Kesteven, fine particulates (PM2.5) average 6.41 µg/m³ against a World Health Organization guideline of 5 and nitrogen dioxide averages 4.38 µg/m³ against a guideline of 10 (2024, Defra Pollution Climate Mapping, Crown copyright). That gives an environment score of 92 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 South Kesteven?
Within about two kilometres of this point there are 2 mapped amenities, including 1 parks and sports facilities, giving a lifestyle score of 4 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 South Kesteven have good transport links?
The nearest railway station is Grantham Rail Station, about 12 km away, and there are 0 bus, tram or metro stops within an 800 metre walk, giving a transport score of 9 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 South Kesteven in?
South Kesteven is in the South Kesteven local authority, East Midlands, England. It falls within the Lincrest ward and the Grantham and Bourne 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 South Kesteven shares them. Weather, crime, amenities, healthcare, transport and air quality are measured for this point instead.
Is South Kesteven a good place for remote workers?
South Kesteven scores 70 out of 100 on our remote workers profile, which is weighted towards broadband, cost of living, environment and weather. That is 6 points above its general score of 64, because this profile weights the twelve categories differently. Every area we score is ranked on this basis at /best-places-for-remote-workers/.
Is South Kesteven a good place for students?
South Kesteven scores 64 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 64, 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 South Kesteven compare with the rest of England?
South Kesteven sits in the bottom 30% 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 housing, cost of living and affordability. 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 South Kesteven?
Of the areas we have scored within about 50 miles of South Kesteven, the highest are Melton Mowbray (73 out of 100, about 18 miles away), Grantham (72 out of 100, about 8 miles away) and Stamford (71 out of 100, about 14 miles away). South Kesteven itself scores 64. Distances are straight-line from this point, and each of those names links to its own full report.
Which places are most similar to South Kesteven?
Across the twelve category scores, the closest matches elsewhere in Britain are Ilford (Somerset, South West, England), Romford (Dorset, South West, England) and Glastonbury (Somerset, 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 South Kesteven 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.