Town Pop. 58,818

Living in Dartford: Liveability Score 60/100

Last updated 7 August 2026

Dartford scores 60/100 overall, across 9 scored categories. Measured against other towns, healthcare stands out most: 79/100 where the typical UK town scores 18/100. The biggest shortfall against other towns is safety: 21/100 versus a median of 88/100.

That sits 10 points above the UK-wide average of 50, putting it in the top 10% of the towns and villages we score. The same breakdown for the wider area is on the DA1 postcode district.

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.

Dartford scores 60 but individual postcodes tell the full story

See the exact score for any postcode, side by side with Dartford.

Or compare:

DA1 1AA DA1 2AA DA1 3AA DA1 4AA DA1 5AA DA1 9AD DA1 DA10 DA17 DA2

Score breakdown

Safety & Environment

Safety

157.8 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 2,923 crimes

↑ 49% above national average

Shoplifting 2,053 crimes

↑ 347% above national average

Anti-social behaviour 1,146 crimes

↑ 28% above national average

Criminal damage and arson 745 crimes

↑ 87% above national average

Other theft 499 crimes

↑ 37% above national average

other 1,915 crimes

Highest-crime locations

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1 Shopping Area 2,024 crimes
2 Parking Area 426 crimes
3 Supermarket 291 crimes

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

Environment

Air Quality NO₂ 14.7 · PM2.5 8.3 · PM10 13.9 µg/m³

Green Space 76

Parks Ample 38

Sports Pitches Ample 43

Allotments Ample 5

Golf Courses Adequate 2

Tennis Courts Ample 15

Bowling Greens Ample 4

Playgrounds Ample 38

Services

Schools

Top 10 by Ofsted rating · 32 in area · 38 within 4km

3Outstanding24Good5Ungraded

Dartford Grammar SchoolSecondary · inspected 2022
Outstanding
Dartford Grammar School for GirlsSecondary · inspected 2021
Outstanding
Leigh Academy WilmingtonSecondary · inspected 2023
Outstanding
Dartford Bridge Community Primary SchoolPrimary · inspected 2024
Good
Dartford Science & Technology CollegeSecondary · inspected 2022
Good
Haberdashers' Crayford AcademySecondary · inspected 2022
Good
Haberdashers' Crayford PrimaryPrimary · inspected 2024
Good
Harris Academy RiversideSecondary · inspected 2022
Good
Holy Trinity Church of England Primary School, DartfordPrimary · inspected 2023
Good
Joydens Wood Infant SchoolPrimary · inspected 2023
Good

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

A&E departmentsDarent Valley Hospitalin area

Princess Royal University Hospital6.6 mi

Queens Hospital7.1 mi

Hospital waitsMaidstone And Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust0.3 mi

Routine referral (median)9 wks

Treated within 18 weeks76.1%

A&E seen within 4 hrs79.9%

7 GP surgeries in area 9 within 4km best 'Good'

GP capacity2,849 patients per GP

14dentists10pharmacies

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

Full fibre (FTTP)64.8%

available across Dartford

Gigabit-capable · incl. cable

82.8%

Ultrafast (300+ Mbps)

82.8%

Superfast (30+ Mbps)

98.7%

Ofcom Connected Nations · 1,106 postcodes · full fibre at local-authority level

Economy & Bills

Economic Health

Employment rate64.3%

Above the Great Britain average of 57.3% of residents aged 16+

Economic activity (16+)

Employed64.3%Unemployed3.4%Retired17%Student4.5%Other inactive10.8%

Occupation mix

Professional & managerial38.5%Skilled & technical34.9%Routine & elementary26.6%

Highest qualification (16+)

No qualifications16.8%Level 1 (1–4 GCSEs)11.5%Level 2 (5+ GCSEs)15.5%Level 3 (A levels)16.7%Level 4+ (degree & above)31.1%Apprenticeship5.7%Other (incl. vocational)2.7%

Home ownership66.1%

Around the England average for deprivation

Census 2021/22 (Great Britain) · deprivation: IoD 2025 / SIMD

Bills

Council tax Dartford · 2026-27

A £1,583

B £1,847

C £2,111

D £2,375

E £2,903

F £3,431

G £3,958

H £4,750

Energy London region

Typical bill regional £1,641/yr

Ofgem price cap, GB average · Apr–Jun 2026

Typical home efficiency local EPC band D

Water Thames Water

Average bill regional £489/yr

Combined water & sewerage · GB average £520

Transport

Dartford 0.3 mi

Stone Crossing 1.7 mi

Crayford 2 mi

J2 M25 1.2 mi

J2 M25 1.7 mi

J3 M25 3.3 mi

Lifestyle

Pubs & Bars Ample 30

Restaurants & Cafes Ample 48

Supermarkets & Convenience Ample 51

Retail Shopping Ample 228

Takeaways Ample 50

Fitness Ample 10

Places like Dartford Pro

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House Prices

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

Type	Median price	Sales
All dwellings	£366,000	380
Detached	£647,500	28
Semi-detached	£453,000	85
Terraced	£360,000	174
Flat / Maisonette	£235,000	93

5-year monthly trend

All Detached Semi Terraced Flat

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

Frequently asked questions

Is Dartford a nice place to live?

Dartford is a decent place to live for many people. Our liveability score for Dartford is 60/100, 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 Dartford?

Crime levels in Dartford are high relative to the national average. Our safety score is 21/100. There were 9,281 crimes recorded in the area over the past 12 months.

What are the best schools in Dartford?

Among the top-rated schools in Dartford are Dartford Grammar School, Dartford Grammar School for Girls and Leigh Academy Wilmington, rated Outstanding by Ofsted. There are 32 rated schools in Dartford in total.

What are house prices like in Dartford?

The current median house price in Dartford is £366,000, around 28% above the England and Wales average. By property type: detached £647,500, semi-detached £453,000, terraced £360,000, flat £235,000. Over the past five years, prices have risen by around 10%. There were 380 sales recorded in the past 12 months.