Town Pop. 6,549

Living in Downham Market: Liveability Score 53/100

Last updated 7 August 2026

Our overall score for Downham Market is 53/100, built from 9 categories. Healthcare is where Downham Market most outperforms the national norm: 55/100 against a median of 18/100 across UK towns. The biggest shortfall against other towns is economic health: 48/100 versus a median of 67/100.

That is the highest score of the 5 places in the PE38 postcode district. The PE38 district averages 45/100, putting Downham Market 8 points above its own postcode area. On the national picture that lands Downham Market in the top quarter of all the places we score. The same breakdown for the wider area is on the PE38 postcode district.

53
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.

Loading map…

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.

Score breakdown

Safety & Environment

Safety
72
111.9 crimes per 1,000 residents · last 12 months Above the England & Wales average of 94.3
Violence and sexual offences 272 crimes
↑ 25% above national average
Anti-social behaviour 124 crimes
↑ 24% above national average
Shoplifting 70 crimes
↑ 37% above national average
Criminal damage and arson 66 crimes
↑ 49% above national average
Other theft 59 crimes
↑ 45% above national average
other 142 crimes
Loading map…
  1. 1 Court Gardens 64 crimes
  2. 2 Parking Area 62 crimes
  3. 3 Supermarket 46 crimes

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

Environment
58
Air Quality NO₂ 5.3 · PM2.5 6.9 · PM10 11.8 µg/m³
73
Green Space 22
Parks Ample 11
Sports Pitches Ample 19
Allotments None
Golf Courses Adequate 2
Tennis Courts Ample 8
Bowling Greens Adequate 2
Playgrounds Ample 16

Services

Schools
31
5 schools in area
5Good
  • Denver Voluntary Controlled Primary SchoolPrimary · inspected 2023
    Good
  • Downham Market AcademySecondary · inspected 2022
    Good
  • Downham Market, Hillcrest Primary SchoolPrimary · inspected 2023
    Good
  • Nelson AcademyPrimary · inspected 2022
    Good
  • Wimbotsham and Stow AcademyPrimary · inspected 2022
    Good
Healthcare
55
A&E departmentsRAF Lakenheath Medical Hospital15.4 mi
Peterborough City Hospital26.9 mi
Urgent Care Cambridge27.7 mi
Hospital waitsCambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust0.2 mi
Routine referral (median)11 wks
Treated within 18 weeks62.9%
A&E seen within 4 hrs71.1%
3 GP surgeries in area best 'Good'
GP capacity2,719 patients per GP
2dentists2pharmacies

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
79
Full fibre (FTTP)62%
available across King's Lynn and West Norfolk
Gigabit-capable · incl. cable
84.1%
Ultrafast (300+ Mbps)
84.1%
Superfast (30+ Mbps)
100%
Ofcom Connected Nations · 279 postcodes · full fibre at local-authority level

Economy & Bills

Economic Health
48
Employment rate56%
Below the Great Britain average of 57.3% of residents aged 16+
Employed56%Unemployed2.7%Retired26.7%Student3%Other inactive11.6%
Professional & managerial32.9%Skilled & technical35.8%Routine & elementary31.3%
No qualifications20.8%Level 1 (1–4 GCSEs)12.6%Level 2 (5+ GCSEs)15.2%Level 3 (A levels)16.5%Level 4+ (degree & above)25.3%Apprenticeship6.3%Other (incl. vocational)3.3%
Home ownership63.7%
Around the England average for deprivation
Census 2021/22 (Great Britain) · deprivation: IoD 2025 / SIMD
Bills
49
Council tax Kings Lynn and West Norfolk · 2026-27
A £1,620
B £1,890
C £2,160
D £2,430
E £2,970
F £3,510
G £4,050
H £4,860
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
32
Downham Market 0.5 mi
Watlington 4.8 mi
Littleport 10.1 mi
J31 M11 28.6 mi
J14 M11 29 mi
J16 A1(M) 29.1 mi

Lifestyle

Lifestyle
44
Pubs & Bars Adequate 5
Restaurants & Cafes Ample 15
Supermarkets & Convenience Ample 6
Retail Shopping Ample 79
Takeaways Ample 13
Fitness Adequate 4

Places like Downham Market Pro

Pick the categories you want to beat. Pro members see the most similar settlements that score higher in all of them.

Find somewhere like Downham Market, but with a higher score in

ProSimilar settlements is a Pro featureUpgrade to Pro

House Prices

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

Type Median price Sales
All dwellings £255,000 109
Detached £305,000 55
Semi-detached £228,250 22
Terraced £228,000 21
Flat / Maisonette £129,500 11
5-year monthly trend
All Detached Semi Terraced Flat
£121k £196k £273k £349k 2022 2023 2024 2025 2026

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

Nearby places

Frequently asked questions

Is Downham Market a nice place to live?

Downham Market is a decent place to live for many people. Our liveability score for Downham Market is 53/100, 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 Downham Market?

Downham Market has crime levels below the national average. Our safety score is 72/100. There were 733 crimes recorded in the area over the past 12 months.

What are the best schools in Downham Market?

Among the top-rated schools in Downham Market are Denver Voluntary Controlled Primary School, Downham Market Academy and Downham Market, Hillcrest Primary School, rated Good by Ofsted. There are 5 rated schools in Downham Market in total.

What are house prices like in Downham Market?

The current median house price in Downham Market is £255,000, around 11% below the England and Wales average. By property type: detached £305,000, semi-detached £228,250, terraced £228,000, flat £129,500. Over the past five years, prices have risen by around 11%. There were 109 sales recorded in the past 12 months.

Check your exact postcode

Get a personalised score for any UK postcode, tailored to what matters most to you.

Score my postcode