Town Pop. 1,151

Living in Bacton and Cotton: Liveability Score 37/100

Last updated 7 August 2026

Bacton and Cotton comes out at 37/100 on the 9 categories we can score here. The biggest shortfall against other towns is broadband: 11/100 versus a median of 60/100. That makes it the 10th highest-scoring of the 13 places in the IP14 postcode district.

It scores 12 points below the IP14 postcode district as a whole, which averages 49/100. That is 13 points below the national benchmark of 50, the bottom quarter of all UK towns and villages. Safety (93) also clears 80/100. Wider context for the surrounding area: IP14 postcode district.

37
OUT OF 100
Below Avg
Score for:

Settlement area

The built-up area boundary and the postcodes its score is averaged from, each shaded by its own score. Clustered pins are other settlements. Tap one to view or compare it, or zoom in to reveal more.

Loading map…

Each postcode is coloured by its own overall score on the default weighting. Scores are filled in as postcodes get searched on the site, so a blue dot just means that postcode hasn't been scored yet.

Bacton and Cotton scores 37 but individual postcodes tell the full story

See the exact score for any postcode, side by side with Bacton and Cotton.
Or compare:
IP14 1AA IP14 2AA IP14 3AA IP14 4AA IP14 5AA IP14 6AA IP14 9AR IP14

Score breakdown

Safety & Environment

Safety
93
99 crimes per 1,000 residents · last 12 months Above the England & Wales average of 94.3
Crime rate vs national average · last 12 months
Violence and sexual offences 52 crimes
↑ 36% above national average
Public order 14 crimes
↑ 88% above national average
Other theft 11 crimes
↑ 55% above national average
Anti-social behaviour 10 crimes
↓ 43% below national average
Vehicle crime 9 crimes
↑ 63% above national average
other 18 crimes
Highest-crime locations
Loading map…
  1. 1 Earlsbrook 12 crimes
  2. 2 Mill Road 11 crimes
  3. 3 Dove Lane 8 crimes

Source: data.police.uk · England & Wales only

Environment
54
Air Quality NO₂ 5.274 · PM2.5 6.798 · PM10 11.961 µg/m³
73
Green Space 9
Parks Some 1
Sports Pitches None
Allotments Adequate 2
Golf Courses None
Tennis Courts None
Bowling Greens None
Playgrounds Some 1

Services

Schools
9
1 school in area
1Good
  • Bacton Primary SchoolPrimary · inspected 2023
    Good
Healthcare
16
A&E departmentsIpswich Hospital15.6 mi
RAF Lakenheath Medical Hospital21 mi
Colchester General Hospital24.5 mi
Hospital waitsEast Suffolk And North Essex NHS Foundation Trust3 mi
Routine referral (median)12 wks
Treated within 18 weeks60.2%
A&E seen within 4 hrs76.7%
Nearest GP surgeryMendlesham Medical Group3 mi
GP capacity1,026 patients per GP
0dentists0pharmacies

Score reflects proximity to CQC-rated GP surgeries and hospitals, not facility count. Dentists and pharmacies are shown for context but don't affect the score.

Broadband
11
Full fibre (FTTP)58.2%
available across Mid Suffolk
Gigabit-capable · incl. cable
18.5%
Ultrafast (300+ Mbps)
18.5%
Superfast (30+ Mbps)
96.8%
Ofcom Connected Nations · 62 postcodes · full fibre at local-authority level

Economy & Bills

Economic Health
69
Employment rate54.5%
Below the Great Britain average of 57.3% of residents aged 16+
Economic activity (16+)
Employed54.5%Unemployed1.8%Retired32.8%Student2.5%Other inactive8.4%
Occupation mix
Professional & managerial39.6%Skilled & technical36.5%Routine & elementary23.9%
Highest qualification (16+)
No qualifications17.2%Level 1 (1–4 GCSEs)10.2%Level 2 (5+ GCSEs)15.4%Level 3 (A levels)18.5%Level 4+ (degree & above)29.4%Apprenticeship6%Other (incl. vocational)3.3%
Home ownership78.9%
Around the England average for deprivation
Census 2021/22 (Great Britain) · deprivation: IoD 2025 / SIMD
Bills
58
Council tax Mid Suffolk · 2026-27
A £1,545
B £1,802
C £2,060
D £2,317
E £2,832
F £3,347
G £3,862
H £4,634
Energy Eastern England region
Typical bill regional £1,641/yr
Ofgem price cap, GB average · Apr–Jun 2026
Typical home efficiency local EPC band D
Water Anglian Water
Average bill regional £498/yr
Combined water & sewerage · GB average £520

Transport

Transport
14
Elmswell 4.7 mi
Stowmarket 5.2 mi
Needham Market 7.9 mi
No motorway junctions within 30 mi

Lifestyle

Lifestyle
7
Pubs & Bars Some 2
Restaurants & Cafes None
Supermarkets & Convenience Some 1
Retail Shopping Some 1
Takeaways None
Fitness None

Places like Bacton and Cotton Pro

Pick the categories you want to beat. Pro members see the most similar settlements that score higher in all of them.

Find somewhere like Bacton and Cotton, but with a higher score in …

ProSimilar settlements is a Pro featureUpgrade to Pro

House Prices

Not enough recent sales

Fewer than 10 sales were recorded in Bacton and Cotton in the last 12 months, which isn't enough for a reliable median. Smaller villages often fall below this in any given year. Figures come from HM Land Registry Price Paid data and are updated monthly, so this may fill in later.

Nearby places

Finningham 36 1.4 mi away ⇄
Wickham Skeith 37 2.6 mi away ⇄
Old Newton 40 2.9 mi away ⇄
Gislingham 35 2.9 mi away ⇄
Mendlesham 37 3.0 mi away ⇄
Haughley 41 3.7 mi away ⇄
Walsham le Willows 38 4.2 mi away ⇄
Wetherden 44 4.2 mi away ⇄
Wetheringsett 40 4.2 mi away ⇄
Badwell Ash 37 4.4 mi away ⇄
Stowupland 49 4.5 mi away ⇄
Elmswell 47 4.7 mi away ⇄

Frequently asked questions

Is Bacton and Cotton a nice place to live?

Bacton and Cotton has some challenges compared to many UK areas. Our liveability score for Bacton and Cotton is 37/100, placing it among a below-average areas in the UK across nine categories: safety, schools, healthcare, environment, transport, broadband, lifestyle, economic health, and bills.

How safe is Bacton and Cotton?

Bacton and Cotton is a relatively safe area to live. Our safety score is 93/100. There were 114 crimes recorded in the area over the past 12 months.

What are the best schools in Bacton and Cotton?

Among the top-rated schools in Bacton and Cotton is Bacton Primary School, rated Good by Ofsted. There are 1 rated schools in Bacton and Cotton in total.

Bacton and Cotton in context

See the best places to live in Suffolk, ranked

Postcode districts in Bacton and Cotton

IP14 49 ⇄

Check your exact postcode

Get a personalised score for any UK postcode, tailored to what matters most to you.

Score my postcode