Town Pop. 38,285

Living in Canvey Island: Liveability Score 55/100

Last updated 7 August 2026

Canvey Island scores 55/100 overall, across 9 scored categories. Measured against other towns, healthcare stands out most: 74/100 where the typical UK town scores 18/100. Safety falls furthest short: 56/100 where the typical UK town reaches 88/100.

That makes it the 3rd highest-scoring of the 6 places in the SS17 postcode district. On healthcare specifically, Canvey Island sits 17 points above the SS17 district figure of 57/100. That puts Canvey Island in the top quarter of the UK towns and villages we score. For the surrounding area, see SS17 postcode district.

55
OUT OF 100
Average
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.

Canvey Island scores 55 but individual postcodes tell the full story

See the exact score for any postcode, side by side with Canvey Island.
Or compare:
SS17 0AA SS17 1AQ SS17 7AA SS17 8AA SS17 9AA SS17 SS8

Score breakdown

Safety & Environment

Safety
56
81.8 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 1,352 crimes
≈ similar to national average
Anti-social behaviour 498 crimes
↓ 14% below national average
Criminal damage and arson 320 crimes
↑ 24% above national average
Public order 209 crimes
↓ 15% below national average
Other theft 171 crimes
↓ 27% below national average
other 581 crimes
Highest-crime locations
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  1. 1 Supermarket 160 crimes
  2. 2 Parking Area 123 crimes
  3. 3 Runwood Road 119 crimes

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

Environment
50
Air Quality NO₂ 10.5 · PM2.5 7.3 · PM10 11.1 µg/m³
69
Green Space 6
Parks Ample 10
Sports Pitches None
Allotments Some 1
Golf Courses Some 1
Tennis Courts Some 1
Bowling Greens None
Playgrounds Adequate 4

Services

Schools
54
Top 10 by Ofsted rating · 12 in area · 13 within 4km
9Good1Requires Improvement1Inadequate1Ungraded
  • Canvey Island Infant School and NurseryPrimary · inspected 2025
    Good
  • Canvey Junior SchoolPrimary · inspected 2023
    Good
  • Leigh Beck Infant School and Nursery AcademyPrimary · inspected 2024
    Good
  • Leigh Beck Junior SchoolPrimary · inspected 2022
    Good
  • Northwick Park Primary and Nursery AcademyPrimary · inspected 2023
    Good
  • St Joseph's Catholic Primary School and NurseryPrimary · inspected 2024
    Good
  • St Katherine's Church of England Primary SchoolPrimary · inspected 2024
    Good
  • William Read Primary AcademyPrimary · inspected 2025
    Good
  • Winter Gardens AcademyPrimary · inspected 2022
    Good
  • Castle View SchoolSecondary · inspected 2023
    Requires Improvement

Ungraded: inspected, but Ofsted no longer issues a single overall grade (since Sept 2024).

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

Healthcare
74
A&E departmentsSouthend University Hospital3.4 mi
Basildon University Hospital3.6 mi
Medway Maritime Hospital8.8 mi
Hospital waitsMid And South Essex NHS Foundation Trust0.6 mi
Routine referral (median)17 wks
Treated within 18 weeks50.6%
A&E seen within 4 hrs68%
6 GP surgeries in area 7 within 4km best 'Good'
GP capacity3,801 patients per GP
3dentists7pharmacies

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
74
Full fibre (FTTP)68.8%
available across Castle Point
Gigabit-capable · incl. cable
91.3%
Ultrafast (300+ Mbps)
91.3%
Superfast (30+ Mbps)
99.2%
Ofcom Connected Nations · 842 postcodes · full fibre at local-authority level

Economy & Bills

Economic Health
39
Employment rate53.1%
Below the Great Britain average of 57.3% of residents aged 16+
Economic activity (16+)
Employed53.1%Unemployed2.9%Retired29.1%Student2.9%Other inactive12.1%
Occupation mix
Professional & managerial27.7%Skilled & technical39%Routine & elementary33.3%
Highest qualification (16+)
No qualifications28.4%Level 1 (1–4 GCSEs)14.4%Level 2 (5+ GCSEs)16.8%Level 3 (A levels)15.7%Level 4+ (degree & above)14.6%Apprenticeship6.8%Other (incl. vocational)3.3%
Home ownership76%
Among the most-deprived 35% of areas in England
Census 2021/22 (Great Britain) · deprivation: IoD 2025 / SIMD
Bills
58
Council tax Castle Point · 2026-27
A £1,546
B £1,804
C £2,061
D £2,319
E £2,834
F £3,350
G £3,865
H £4,638
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
45
Benfleet 1.8 mi
Leigh-on-Sea 3 mi
Pitsea 4.1 mi
J1 M2 10.2 mi
J2 M2 10.3 mi
J1 M2 10.4 mi

Lifestyle

Lifestyle
26
Pubs & Bars Adequate 5
Restaurants & Cafes Adequate 8
Supermarkets & Convenience Ample 16
Retail Shopping Ample 24
Takeaways Adequate 8
Fitness Adequate 2

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House Prices

Current median sale prices · last 12 months · England & Wales only

Type Median price Sales
All dwellings £320,000 224
Detached £340,000 109
Semi-detached £320,000 76
Terraced £300,000 31
5-year monthly trend
All Detached Semi Terraced Flat
£169k £239k £312k £383k 2022 2023 2024 2025 2026

Source: HM Land Registry Price Paid Data (OGL v3.0)

Nearby places

Thundersley and South Benfleet 62 2.9 mi away ⇄
Allhallows 31 4.4 mi away ⇄
North Benfleet 45 4.5 mi away ⇄
High Halstow 46 4.9 mi away ⇄
Rayleigh 60 4.9 mi away ⇄
Fobbing 46 5.0 mi away ⇄
Stanford-le-Hope 57 5.2 mi away ⇄
Cliffe (Medway) 38 5.4 mi away ⇄
Nevendon 44 5.6 mi away ⇄
Southend-on-Sea 64 5.7 mi away ⇄
Basildon 56 6.3 mi away ⇄
Rawreth 44 6.3 mi away ⇄

Frequently asked questions

Is Canvey Island a nice place to live?

Canvey Island is a decent place to live for many people. Our liveability score for Canvey Island is 55/100, placing it among an average areas in the UK across nine categories: safety, schools, healthcare, environment, transport, broadband, lifestyle, economic health, and bills.

How safe is Canvey Island?

Canvey Island has crime levels around the national average. Our safety score is 56/100. There were 3,131 crimes recorded in the area over the past 12 months.

What are the best schools in Canvey Island?

Among the top-rated schools in Canvey Island are Canvey Island Infant School and Nursery, Canvey Junior School and Leigh Beck Infant School and Nursery Academy, rated Good by Ofsted. There are 12 rated schools in Canvey Island in total.

What are house prices like in Canvey Island?

The current median house price in Canvey Island is £320,000, around 12% above the England and Wales average. By property type: detached £340,000, semi-detached £320,000, terraced £300,000. Over the past five years, prices have risen by around 9%. There were 224 sales recorded in the past 12 months.

Canvey Island in context

See where Canvey Island ranks among the best places to live in Essex

Postcode districts in Canvey Island

SS17 53 ⇄
SS8 55 ⇄

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