Town Pop. 286

Living in Cowden: Liveability Score 37/100

Last updated 7 August 2026

Our overall score for Cowden is 37/100, built from 9 categories. The biggest shortfall against other towns is broadband: 10/100 versus a median of 60/100. Among the 7 scored places sharing the TN8 postcode district, Cowden ranks 6th.

On environment specifically, Cowden sits 19 points above the TN8 district figure of 56/100. That sits 13 points below the UK-wide average of 50, putting it in the bottom quarter of the towns and villages we score. Also scoring 80 or better: safety (89). For the surrounding area, see TN8 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.

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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.

Cowden scores 37 but individual postcodes tell the full story

See the exact score for any postcode, side by side with Cowden.
Or compare:
TN8 5AA TN8 6AA TN8 7AA TN8 9AP TN8

Score breakdown

Safety & Environment

Safety
89
342.7 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 34 crimes
↑ 257% above national average
Anti-social behaviour 25 crimes
↑ 475% above national average
Vehicle crime 9 crimes
↑ 556% above national average
Burglary 8 crimes
↑ 700% above national average
Other theft 7 crimes
↑ 295% above national average
other 15 crimes
Highest-crime locations
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  1. 1 Pigdown Lane 16 crimes
  2. 2 Petrol Station 10 crimes
  3. 3 Hever Road 9 crimes

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

Environment
75
Air Quality NO₂ 5.6 · PM2.5 6.6 · PM10 10.3 µg/m³
74
Green Space 78
Parks None
Sports Pitches None
Allotments None
Golf Courses Some 1
Tennis Courts Some 2
Bowling Greens None
Playgrounds None

Services

Schools
4

School inspection data is not available for this area.

Healthcare
5
A&E departmentsTunbridge Wells Nuffield Hospital7.9 mi
Tunbridge Wells Hospital at Pembury9.2 mi
East Surrey Hospital11.8 mi
Hospital waitsMedway NHS Foundation Trust3.3 mi
Routine referral (median)13 wks
Treated within 18 weeks62%
A&E seen within 4 hrs74.7%
Nearest GP surgeryGroombridge and Hartfield Medical Group3.1 mi
GP capacity1,843 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)64.8%
available across Sevenoaks
Gigabit-capable · incl. cable
0%
Ultrafast (300+ Mbps)
0%
Superfast (30+ Mbps)
100%
Ofcom Connected Nations · 15 postcodes · full fibre at local-authority level

Economy & Bills

Economic Health
77
Employment rate59.5%
Above the Great Britain average of 57.3% of residents aged 16+
Economic activity (16+)
Employed59.5%Unemployed0.9%Retired25%Student3.9%Other inactive10.6%
Occupation mix
Professional & managerial47%Skilled & technical37.6%Routine & elementary15.5%
Highest qualification (16+)
No qualifications13.2%Level 1 (1–4 GCSEs)8.7%Level 2 (5+ GCSEs)14.3%Level 3 (A levels)16.7%Level 4+ (degree & above)39.4%Apprenticeship5.1%Other (incl. vocational)2.6%
Home ownership71.1%
Around the England average for deprivation
Census 2021/22 (Great Britain) · deprivation: IoD 2025 / SIMD
Bills
28
Council tax Sevenoaks · 2026-27
A £1,681
B £1,962
C £2,242
D £2,522
E £3,082
F £3,643
G £4,203
H £5,044
Energy South East England region
Typical bill regional £1,641/yr
Ofgem price cap, GB average · Apr–Jun 2026
Typical home efficiency local EPC band D
Water Southern Water
Average bill regional £683/yr
Combined water & sewerage · GB average £520

Transport

Transport
25
Cowden 1.1 mi
Hever 2.5 mi
Ashurst 2.9 mi
J9 M23 9.8 mi
J9 M23 9.9 mi
J9 M23 9.9 mi

Lifestyle

Lifestyle
13
Pubs & Bars Some 1
Restaurants & Cafes None
Supermarkets & Convenience None
Retail Shopping None
Takeaways None
Fitness None

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House Prices

Not enough recent sales

Fewer than 10 sales were recorded in Cowden 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

Markbeech 44 1.8 mi away ⇄
Hever 41 2.5 mi away ⇄
Hartfield 37 3.1 mi away ⇄
Upper Hartfield 37 3.7 mi away ⇄
Ashurst Wood 48 3.8 mi away ⇄
Fordcombe 45 3.8 mi away ⇄
Dormansland 46 3.9 mi away ⇄
Edenbridge 43 4.0 mi away ⇄
Forest Row 36 4.2 mi away ⇄
Dormans Park 47 4.3 mi away ⇄
Groombridge 42 4.6 mi away ⇄
Marlpit Hill 46 4.7 mi away ⇄

Frequently asked questions

Is Cowden a nice place to live?

Cowden has some challenges compared to many UK areas. Our liveability score for Cowden 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 Cowden?

Cowden is a relatively safe area to live. Our safety score is 89/100. There were 98 crimes recorded in the area over the past 12 months.

Cowden in context

See the best places to live in Kent, ranked

Postcode districts in Cowden

TN8 37 ⇄

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