Town Pop. 1,199

Living in Balsham: Liveability Score 34/100

Last updated 7 August 2026

Our overall score for Balsham is 34/100, built from 9 categories. Furthest below the national norm is broadband, at 10/100 against a town median of 60/100. Among the 13 scored places sharing the CB21 postcode district, Balsham ranks 10th.

It scores 13 points below the CB21 postcode district as a whole, which averages 47/100. That sits 16 points below the UK-wide average of 50, putting it in the bottom quarter of the towns and villages we score. Safety (93) and economic health (80) sit at 80/100 or above. Wider context for the surrounding area: CB21 postcode district.

34
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.

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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.

Balsham scores 34 but individual postcodes tell the full story

See the exact score for any postcode, side by side with Balsham.
Or compare:
CB21 4AA CB21 5AA CB21 6AA CB21

Score breakdown

Safety & Environment

Safety
93
80.1 crimes per 1,000 residents · last 12 months Below the England & Wales average of 94.3
Crime rate vs national average · last 12 months
Violence and sexual offences 33 crimes
↓ 17% below national average
Vehicle crime 14 crimes
↑ 144% above national average
Anti-social behaviour 12 crimes
↓ 34% below national average
Other theft 12 crimes
↑ 61% above national average
Burglary 9 crimes
↑ 114% above national average
other 16 crimes
Highest-crime locations
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  1. 1 May'S Avenue 11 crimes
  2. 2 High Street 8 crimes
  3. 3 Samworth Close 6 crimes

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

Environment
53
Air Quality NO₂ 4.9 · PM2.5 6.9 · PM10 12 µg/m³
73
Green Space 8
Parks Ample 5
Sports Pitches None
Allotments Some 1
Golf Courses None
Tennis Courts Some 1
Bowling Greens Some 1
Playgrounds Some 1

Services

Schools
8
1 school in area
1Good
  • Meadow Primary SchoolPrimary · inspected 2023
    Good
Healthcare
3
A&E departmentsCambridge Biomedical Campus7.5 mi
Urgent Care Cambridge9.1 mi
RAF Lakenheath Medical Hospital20.2 mi
Hospital waitsCambridgeshire And Peterborough NHS Foundation Trust2.8 mi
Routine referral (median)22 wks
Treated within 18 weeks37.2%
Nearest GP surgeryHaverhill Family Practice6.1 mi
GP capacity2,104 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
10
Full fibre (FTTP)58.3%
available across South Cambridgeshire
Gigabit-capable · incl. cable
12.4%
Ultrafast (300+ Mbps)
12.4%
Superfast (30+ Mbps)
99.6%
Ofcom Connected Nations · 34 postcodes · full fibre at local-authority level

Economy & Bills

Economic Health
80
Employment rate59.2%
Above the Great Britain average of 57.3% of residents aged 16+
Economic activity (16+)
Employed59.2%Unemployed1.9%Retired27.9%Student3.9%Other inactive7.1%
Occupation mix
Professional & managerial52.9%Skilled & technical31.2%Routine & elementary15.8%
Highest qualification (16+)
No qualifications12.1%Level 1 (1–4 GCSEs)8.4%Level 2 (5+ GCSEs)13.1%Level 3 (A levels)15.1%Level 4+ (degree & above)44.5%Apprenticeship4.6%Other (incl. vocational)2.2%
Home ownership74.3%
Among the least-deprived 31% of areas in England
Census 2021/22 (Great Britain) · deprivation: IoD 2025 / SIMD
Bills
38
Council tax South Cambridgeshire · 2026-27
A £1,691
B £1,972
C £2,254
D £2,536
E £3,100
F £3,663
G £4,227
H £5,072
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
12
Dullingham 5.2 mi
Whittlesford Parkway 6.7 mi
Great Chesterford 7.2 mi
J9A M11 6.2 mi
J9A M11 6.8 mi
J9 M11 7.5 mi

Lifestyle

Lifestyle
12
Pubs & Bars Some 2
Restaurants & Cafes Some 1
Supermarkets & Convenience Some 1
Retail Shopping None
Takeaways None
Fitness Adequate 2

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House Prices

Not enough recent sales

Fewer than 10 sales were recorded in Balsham 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

West Wratting 35 1.5 mi away ⇄
West Wickham 35 2.1 mi away ⇄
Horseheath 34 2.7 mi away ⇄
Linton (South Cambridgeshire) 44 2.8 mi away ⇄
Little Abington 42 3.5 mi away ⇄
Brinkley 40 3.7 mi away ⇄
Great Abington 37 3.9 mi away ⇄
Hadstock 35 4.0 mi away ⇄
Shudy Camps 35 4.3 mi away ⇄
Burrough Green 40 4.4 mi away ⇄
Babraham 35 4.7 mi away ⇄
Great Wilbraham 34 4.8 mi away ⇄

Frequently asked questions

Is Balsham a nice place to live?

Balsham has some challenges compared to many UK areas. Our liveability score for Balsham is 34/100, 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 Balsham?

Balsham is a relatively safe area to live. Our safety score is 93/100. There were 96 crimes recorded in the area over the past 12 months.

What are the best schools in Balsham?

Among the top-rated schools in Balsham is Meadow Primary School, rated Good by Ofsted. There are 1 rated schools in Balsham in total.

Balsham in context

See the best places to live in Cambridgeshire, ranked

Postcode districts in Balsham

CB21 47 ⇄

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