Town Pop. 489

Living in Bardwell: Liveability Score 32/100

Last updated 7 August 2026

Bardwell comes out at 32/100 on the 8 categories we can score here. Furthest below the national norm is broadband, at 45/100 against a town median of 60/100. That makes it the 14th highest-scoring of the 16 places in the IP31 postcode district.

Against the wider IP31 district average of 41/100, that is 9 points below. That is 18 points below the national benchmark of 50, the bottom 10% of all UK towns and villages. Lifestyle (8), schools (9), healthcare (9) and transport (15) all fall below 30/100. Wider context for the surrounding area: IP31 postcode district.

32
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.

Bardwell scores 32 but individual postcodes tell the full story

See the exact score for any postcode, side by side with Bardwell.
Or compare:
IP31 1AA IP31 2AA IP31 3AA IP31

Score breakdown

Safety & Environment

Safety
—
36.8 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 10 crimes
↓ 39% below national average
Burglary 2 crimes
↑ 17% above national average
Criminal damage and arson 2 crimes
↓ 40% below national average
Other theft 2 crimes
↓ 34% below national average
Drugs 1 crimes
↓ 39% below national average
other 1 crimes
Highest-crime locations
Loading map…
  1. 1 Thetford Road 4 crimes
  2. 2 Lammas Close 4 crimes
  3. 3 Spring Road 3 crimes

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

Environment
56
Air Quality NO₂ 5.1 · PM2.5 6.9 · PM10 12 µg/m³
73
Green Space 18
Parks None
Sports Pitches Adequate 3
Allotments None
Golf Courses None
Tennis Courts None
Bowling Greens None
Playgrounds Some 1

Services

Schools
9
1 school in area · 5 within 4km
1Good
  • Bardwell Church of England Primary SchoolPrimary · inspected 2022
    Good

Score reflects proximity-weighted access to rated schools within 4km: areas with more nearby schools score higher regardless of settlement boundary.

Healthcare
9
A&E departmentsRAF Lakenheath Medical Hospital13.5 mi
Ipswich Hospital23.3 mi
Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital25.1 mi
Hospital waitsWest Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust1.4 mi
Routine referral (median)11 wks
Treated within 18 weeks66%
A&E seen within 4 hrs78.1%
Nearest GP surgeryStanton Surgery1.4 mi
GP capacity1,327 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
45
Full fibre (FTTP)72.9%
available across West Suffolk
Gigabit-capable · incl. cable
80.8%
Ultrafast (300+ Mbps)
80.8%
Superfast (30+ Mbps)
93.7%
Ofcom Connected Nations · 17 postcodes · full fibre at local-authority level

Economy & Bills

Economic Health
77
Employment rate52.3%
Below the Great Britain average of 57.3% of residents aged 16+
Economic activity (16+)
Employed52.3%Unemployed2.1%Retired35.3%Student3.3%Other inactive6.9%
Occupation mix
Professional & managerial44%Skilled & technical35.9%Routine & elementary20.1%
Highest qualification (16+)
No qualifications14.9%Level 1 (1–4 GCSEs)10.4%Level 2 (5+ GCSEs)15.3%Level 3 (A levels)14.9%Level 4+ (degree & above)33.5%Apprenticeship8%Other (incl. vocational)2.9%
Home ownership80.5%
Around the England average for deprivation
Census 2021/22 (Great Britain) · deprivation: IoD 2025 / SIMD
Bills
56
Council tax West Suffolk · 2026-27
A £1,567
B £1,829
C £2,090
D £2,351
E £2,873
F £3,396
G £3,918
H £4,702
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
15
Thurston 5.5 mi
Elmswell 6.6 mi
Bury St Edmunds 7.6 mi
No motorway junctions within 30 mi

Lifestyle

Lifestyle
8
Pubs & Bars Some 2
Restaurants & Cafes None
Supermarkets & Convenience None
Retail Shopping None
Takeaways None
Fitness Adequate 3

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House Prices

Not enough recent sales

Fewer than 10 sales were recorded in Bardwell 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

Stanton (West Suffolk) 47 1.4 mi away ⇄
Ixworth 44 1.9 mi away ⇄
Barningham 35 2.6 mi away ⇄
Coney Weston 29 2.9 mi away ⇄
Upthorpe (West Suffolk) 37 2.9 mi away ⇄
Fakenham Magna 0 3.3 mi away ⇄
Longfield Green 27 3.4 mi away ⇄
Market Weston 33 3.7 mi away ⇄
Pakenham 36 4.0 mi away ⇄
Badwell Ash 37 4.1 mi away ⇄
Walsham le Willows 38 4.1 mi away ⇄
Wattisfield 34 4.2 mi away ⇄

Frequently asked questions

Is Bardwell a nice place to live?

Bardwell has some challenges compared to many UK areas. Our liveability score for Bardwell is 32/100, placing it among a below-average areas in the UK across nine categories: safety, schools, healthcare, environment, transport, broadband, lifestyle, economic health, and bills.

What are the best schools in Bardwell?

Among the top-rated schools in Bardwell is Bardwell Church of England Primary School, rated Good by Ofsted. There are 1 rated schools in Bardwell in total.

Bardwell in context

See the best places to live in Suffolk, ranked

Postcode districts in Bardwell

IP31 41 ⇄

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