Town Pop. 205

Living in Barking: Liveability Score 35/100

Last updated 7 August 2026

Barking comes out at 35/100 on the 9 categories we can score here. The biggest shortfall against other towns is broadband: 19/100 versus a median of 60/100. Barking places 12th of 16 in the IP6 postcode district.

Against the wider IP6 district average of 45/100, that is 10 points below. That sits 15 points below the UK-wide average of 50, putting it in the bottom quarter of the towns and villages we score. Safety (93) sits at 80/100 or above. Wider context for the surrounding area: IP6 postcode district.

35
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.

Barking scores 35 but individual postcodes tell the full story

See the exact score for any postcode, side by side with Barking.
Or compare:
IP6 0AA IP6 8AA IP6 9AA IP6

Score breakdown

Safety & Environment

Safety
93
365.9 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 32 crimes
↑ 369% above national average
Anti-social behaviour 14 crimes
↑ 349% above national average
Criminal damage and arson 8 crimes
↑ 474% above national average
Public order 6 crimes
↑ 351% above national average
Other theft 6 crimes
↑ 373% above national average
other 9 crimes
Highest-crime locations
Loading map…
  1. 1 Mill Lane 10 crimes
  2. 2 Park/Open Space 6 crimes
  3. 3 Lower Street 5 crimes

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

Environment
56
Air Quality NO₂ 5.836 · PM2.5 6.806 · PM10 11.919 µg/m³
73
Green Space 16
Parks None
Sports Pitches None
Allotments None
Golf Courses None
Tennis Courts None
Bowling Greens None
Playgrounds None

Services

Schools
6

School inspection data is not available for this area.

Healthcare
5
A&E departmentsIpswich Hospital9 mi
Colchester General Hospital15.7 mi
RAF Lakenheath Medical Hospital26.8 mi
Hospital waitsEast Suffolk And North Essex NHS Foundation Trust0.7 mi
Routine referral (median)12 wks
Treated within 18 weeks60.2%
A&E seen within 4 hrs76.7%
Nearest GP surgeryNeedham Market Country Practice1.7 mi
GP capacity1,593 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
19
Full fibre (FTTP)58.2%
available across Mid Suffolk
Gigabit-capable · incl. cable
33.1%
Ultrafast (300+ Mbps)
33.1%
Superfast (30+ Mbps)
100%
Ofcom Connected Nations · 11 postcodes · full fibre at local-authority level

Economy & Bills

Economic Health
75
Employment rate55%
Below the Great Britain average of 57.3% of residents aged 16+
Economic activity (16+)
Employed55%Unemployed2.2%Retired32.9%Student2.2%Other inactive7.7%
Occupation mix
Professional & managerial43.2%Skilled & technical34.9%Routine & elementary21.9%
Highest qualification (16+)
No qualifications18.2%Level 1 (1–4 GCSEs)7.8%Level 2 (5+ GCSEs)13.4%Level 3 (A levels)19.2%Level 4+ (degree & above)31.8%Apprenticeship6.1%Other (incl. vocational)3.4%
Home ownership81.2%
Among the least-deprived 39% of areas in England
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
10
Needham Market 2 mi
Stowmarket 4 mi
Westerfield 7.2 mi
No motorway junctions within 30 mi

Lifestyle

Lifestyle
5
Pubs & Bars Some 1
Restaurants & Cafes None
Supermarkets & Convenience None
Retail Shopping Some 1
Takeaways None
Fitness Adequate 2

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House Prices

Not enough recent sales

Fewer than 10 sales were recorded in Barking 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

Needham Market 46 2.0 mi away ⇄
Great Bricett 29 2.6 mi away ⇄
Somersham (Mid Suffolk) 35 2.8 mi away ⇄
Battisford Tye 29 2.8 mi away ⇄
Nedging Tye 38 3.5 mi away ⇄
Great Blakenham 46 3.6 mi away ⇄
Sharpstone Street 40 3.6 mi away ⇄
Stowmarket 56 3.9 mi away ⇄
Elmsett 38 4.0 mi away ⇄
Claydon 46 4.3 mi away ⇄
Coddenham 35 4.3 mi away ⇄
Burstallhill 0 4.6 mi away ⇄

Frequently asked questions

Is Barking a nice place to live?

Barking has some challenges compared to many UK areas. Our liveability score for Barking is 35/100, 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 Barking?

Barking is a relatively safe area to live. Our safety score is 93/100. There were 75 crimes recorded in the area over the past 12 months.

Barking in context

See the best places to live in Suffolk, ranked

Postcode districts in Barking

IP6 45 ⇄

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