Area report
Is West Lindsey a good place to live?
West Lindsey, East Midlands, England
Report completeness: 90%. Score is based on the categories with data loaded for this area.
In short
West Lindsey scores 62 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 lifestyle, 6 against 56.
- Nearest scored area: Gainsborough, about 11 miles away, scoring 67.
- 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, 25 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 West Lindsey: 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 West Lindsey 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 West Lindsey, 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
West Lindsey 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, 25 km away. How the outdoor score works. Contains Met Office data © Crown copyright.
Broadband and mobile
Source: Ofcom Connected NationsOfcom Connected Nations coverage for West 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 West 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 | 1 |
| Shops | 2 |
| Health services | 0 |
| Schools and learning | 0 |
| Parks and sport | 1 |
| 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 West Lindsey suits
Of the 3 profiles we score, West Lindsey suits remote workers best, at 66 out of 100.
West Lindsey suits most households about equally: from the bottom 37% for students to the bottom 13% for young professionals of the 539 areas we have scored.
| Household | Score | Standing | What it weights |
|---|---|---|---|
| Students | 65 | bottom 37% | Weighted towards cost of living, lifestyle, transport and safety. |
| Remote workers | 66 | bottom 26% | Weighted towards broadband, cost of living, environment and weather. |
| Retirees | 60 | bottom 19% | Weighted towards healthcare, safety, environment and cost of living. |
| Families | 59 | bottom 18% | Weighted towards schools, safety, housing and healthcare. |
| Young professionals | 59 | bottom 13% | 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
- Transport
- Healthcare
- Education
- Lifestyle
Built only from the categories with data; 1 is still to load for this area.
How West Lindsey compares
| Category | West Lindsey | England median | UK median | vs England median | UK position |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cost of living | 86 | 71 | 72 | +15 | top 15% |
| Affordability | 84 | 64 | 68 | +20 | top 26% |
| Weather | 77 | 72 | 72 | +5 | top 28% |
| Employment | 61 | 61 | 59 | 0 | top 45% |
| Housing | 47 | 83 | 83 | -36 | bottom 9% |
| Transport | 26 | 75 | 75 | -49 | bottom 1% |
| Broadband | 68 | 88 | 88 | -20 | bottom 6% |
| Environment | 88 | 89 | 91 | -1 | bottom 37% |
| Healthcare | 4 | 54 | 52 | -50 | bottom 1% |
| Education | 39 | 39 | 40 | 0 | bottom 46% |
| 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 West Lindsey does well. Measured against everywhere else in the index, the standouts are affordability (84, 20 above the median) and cost of living (86, 15 above the median).
Where it falls short. Lifestyle (6, 50 below), healthcare (4, 50 below) and transport (26, 49 below).
Near West Lindsey, and places like it
Of the 6 scored areas within about 50 miles of West Lindsey, 6 score higher: Grimsby (73), Retford (72), Lincoln (71) and 3 others. West Lindsey scores 62. Grimsby is ahead mainly on healthcare (+81), while West Lindsey keeps the advantage on education (+15).
| Area | Distance | Where | Overall | Band |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gainsborough | 11 miles | West Lindsey, East Midlands, England | 67 | Good |
| Lincoln | 11 miles | Lincoln, East Midlands, England | 71 | Very good |
| Retford | 19 miles | Bassetlaw, East Midlands, England | 72 | Very good |
| Louth | 21 miles | East Lindsey, East Midlands, England | 63 | Good |
| Grimsby | 21 miles | North East Lincolnshire, Yorkshire and The Humber, England | 73 | Very good |
| Kingston upon Hull | 25 miles | Kingston upon Hull, City of, Yorkshire and The Humber, England | 71 | Very good |
Straight-line distances, so roads are longer. Any place not listed can be searched directly.
| Area | Where | Overall | Average gap |
|---|---|---|---|
| Peterhead | Aberdeenshire, Scotland | 65 | 9.8 |
| Fraserburgh | Aberdeenshire, Scotland | 63 | 10.8 |
| Leek | Staffordshire Moorlands, West Midlands, England | 63 | 11.4 |
| Ilford | Somerset, South West, England | 63 | 11.5 |
| Milford Haven | Pembrokeshire, Wales | 64 | 12.1 |
Average score gap across every category both areas have, so smaller is closer. Neighbouring areas are left out.
What a home in West Lindsey actually costs
Source: HM Land Registry UK HPIThe average home in West Lindsey is £210,732, 22 per cent below the median of the areas we have scored. With a ten per cent deposit of £21,073, repaying the rest costs about £1,222 a month, £485 more than renting at the local average of £737, and needs a household income of about £42,100 to borrow.
| Measure | Figure |
|---|---|
| Average property price | £210,732 (June 2026) |
| Change over 12 months | +8.9%, rising |
| Against our index median | 22% below the £270,569 median across every area we have scored |
| 10% deposit | £21,073 |
| 15% deposit | £31,610 |
| Price to earnings | 5.4 times UK median full-time earnings of £39,039 |
| Monthly repayment | £1,222 on a £189,659 mortgage (10% deposit, 6% over 25 years) |
| Against renting | £485 more than the £737 average monthly rent |
| Income to borrow it | About £42,100 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 West Lindsey, 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 4.2, is well inside the UK limit of 40 and inside the WHO guideline of 10.
| Pollutant | West Lindsey | UK objective | WHO guideline | Standing |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fine particulates (PM2.5) | 7.0 | 10 | 5 | Inside the UK target, above the WHO guideline |
| Nitrogen dioxide (NO₂) | 4.2 | 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 West Lindsey
Is West Lindsey a good place to live?
West Lindsey has an overall liveability score of 62 out of 100 (good) on TrackPostcode.UK, based on 90% of categories currently loaded. It scores best on cost of living and weather. The score combines cost, affordability, safety, weather and more from open government data.
What is the crime rate in West Lindsey?
Recorded crime for West Lindsey 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 West Lindsey?
West Lindsey 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, 25 km away.
How expensive is it to live in West Lindsey?
Average private rent in the West Lindsey area is about £737 a month (Jun-26, ONS), giving West Lindsey a cost-of-living score of 86 out of 100. Use the affordability calculator to estimate what you could comfortably afford here.
What are house prices like in West Lindsey?
The average property price in West Lindsey is about £210,732 (2026-06, HM Land Registry). Prices changed +8.9% over the year. See the affordability section for how that compares to local earnings.
Can I afford to buy a house in West Lindsey?
The average property in West Lindsey costs about £210,732, 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 £1,222 a month at 6% over 25 years, £485 more than the £737 average local rent. The affordability calculator on this page estimates it from your own salary and savings.
How fast is broadband in West Lindsey?
About 92.1% of premises in West Lindsey can get superfast broadband of 30 Mbit/s or more, and 67.2% can get a gigabit-capable connection, giving a broadband score of 68 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 West Lindsey?
77.4% of 16 to 64 year olds in West Lindsey are in work (NOMIS latest, retrieved Sep 2026, ONS Annual Population Survey via NOMIS), giving an employment score of 61 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 West Lindsey?
West 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 West Lindsey?
For the 1 km grid square containing West Lindsey, fine particulates (PM2.5) average 6.98 µg/m³ against a World Health Organization guideline of 5 and nitrogen dioxide averages 4.18 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 West Lindsey?
Within about two kilometres of this point there are 5 mapped amenities, including 1 places to eat and drink, 2 shops, 1 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.
Does West Lindsey have good transport links?
The nearest railway station is Market Rasen Rail Station, about 11.1 km away, and there are 7 bus, tram or metro stops within an 800 metre walk, giving a transport score of 26 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 West Lindsey in?
West Lindsey is in the West Lindsey local authority, East Midlands, England. It falls within the Waddingham and Spital ward and the Gainsborough 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 West Lindsey shares them. Weather, crime, amenities, healthcare, transport and air quality are measured for this point instead.
Is West Lindsey a good place for remote workers?
West Lindsey scores 66 out of 100 on our remote workers profile, which is weighted towards broadband, cost of living, environment and weather. That is 4 points above its general score of 62, because this profile weights the twelve categories differently. Every area we score is ranked on this basis at /best-places-for-remote-workers/.
Is West Lindsey a good place for students?
West Lindsey scores 65 out of 100 on our students profile, which is weighted towards cost of living, lifestyle, transport and safety. That is 3 points above its general score of 62, because this profile weights the twelve categories differently. Every area we score is ranked on this basis at /best-places-for-students/.
How does West Lindsey compare with the rest of England?
West Lindsey sits in the bottom 21% 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 lifestyle, healthcare 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 West Lindsey?
Of the areas we have scored within about 50 miles of West Lindsey, the highest are Grimsby (73 out of 100, about 21 miles away), Retford (72 out of 100, about 19 miles away) and Lincoln (71 out of 100, about 11 miles away). West Lindsey itself scores 62. Distances are straight-line from this point, and each of those names links to its own full report.
Which places are most similar to West Lindsey?
Across the twelve category scores, the closest matches elsewhere in Britain are Peterhead (Aberdeenshire, Scotland), Fraserburgh (Aberdeenshire, Scotland) and Leek (Staffordshire Moorlands, West 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 West 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.