Town Pop. 21,941

Living in Gainsborough: Liveability Score 45/100

Last updated 7 August 2026

Gainsborough comes out at 45/100 on the 9 categories we can score here. Its biggest lead over the typical UK town is transport: 56/100 against a national town median of 21/100. Furthest below the national norm is safety, at 14/100 against a town median of 88/100.

Gainsborough places 2nd of 16 in the DN21 postcode district. Against the wider DN21 district average of 38/100, that is 7 points above. On transport specifically, Gainsborough sits 15 points above the DN21 district figure of 41/100. The same breakdown for the wider area is on the DN21 postcode district.

45
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.

Gainsborough scores 45 but individual postcodes tell the full story

See the exact score for any postcode, side by side with Gainsborough.
Or compare:
DN21 1AA DN21 2AA DN21 3AA DN21 4AA DN21 5AA DN21 9BD DN21

Score breakdown

Safety & Environment

Safety
14
188.1 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 1,438 crimes
↑ 97% above national average
Anti-social behaviour 984 crimes
↑ 195% above national average
Criminal damage and arson 438 crimes
↑ 194% above national average
Shoplifting 426 crimes
↑ 149% above national average
Public order 187 crimes
↑ 31% above national average
other 655 crimes
Highest-crime locations
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  1. 1 Parking Area 417 crimes
  2. 2 Market Place 174 crimes
  3. 3 Supermarket 158 crimes

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

Environment
56
Air Quality NO₂ 6 · PM2.5 7.3 · PM10 12.8 µg/m³
71
Green Space 21
Parks Ample 11
Sports Pitches Ample 18
Allotments Ample 6
Golf Courses Some 1
Tennis Courts Some 1
Bowling Greens Ample 5
Playgrounds Ample 15

Services

Schools
52
Top 10 by Ofsted rating · 14 in area · 15 within 4km
10Good2Requires Improvement2Ungraded
  • Aegir - A Specialist AcademySpecial · inspected 2024
    Good
  • Benjamin Adlard Primary SchoolPrimary · inspected 2021
    Good
  • Castle Wood AcademyPrimary · inspected 2024
    Good
  • Mercer's Wood AcademyPrimary · inspected 2022
    Good
  • Morton Trentside Primary SchoolPrimary · inspected 2023
    Good
  • St George's Church of England Community Primary School, GainsboroughPrimary · inspected 2023
    Good
  • The Gainsborough Nursery SchoolNursery · inspected 2024
    Good
  • The Queen Elizabeth's High School, GainsboroughSecondary · inspected 2023
    Good
  • Warren Wood - A Specialist AcademySpecial · inspected 2021
    Good
  • White's Wood AcademyPrimary · inspected 2022
    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
40
A&E departmentsScunthorpe General Hospital12.3 mi
Lincoln County Hospital14.2 mi
Bassetlaw Hospital14.7 mi
Hospital waitsLincolnshire Partnership NHS Foundation Trust0.2 mi
Routine referral (median)5 wks
Treated within 18 weeks100%
2 GP surgeries in area best 'Good'
GP capacity3,105 patients per GP
5dentists5pharmacies

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
81
Full fibre (FTTP)63.1%
available across West Lindsey
Gigabit-capable · incl. cable
93.1%
Ultrafast (300+ Mbps)
93.3%
Superfast (30+ Mbps)
99.3%
Ofcom Connected Nations · 554 postcodes · full fibre at local-authority level

Economy & Bills

Economic Health
19
Employment rate52%
Below the Great Britain average of 57.3% of residents aged 16+
Economic activity (16+)
Employed52%Unemployed4.5%Retired22.3%Student3.8%Other inactive17.4%
Occupation mix
Professional & managerial24.8%Skilled & technical32.1%Routine & elementary43.1%
Highest qualification (16+)
No qualifications22.6%Level 1 (1–4 GCSEs)13%Level 2 (5+ GCSEs)16.7%Level 3 (A levels)17.6%Level 4+ (degree & above)19.6%Apprenticeship7.4%Other (incl. vocational)3%
Home ownership52.6%
Among the most-deprived 20% of areas in England
Census 2021/22 (Great Britain) · deprivation: IoD 2025 / SIMD
Bills
58
Council tax West Lindsey · 2026-27
A £1,569
B £1,831
C £2,092
D £2,354
E £2,877
F £3,400
G £3,923
H £4,708
Energy Yorkshire region
Typical bill regional £1,641/yr
Ofgem price cap, GB average · Apr–Jun 2026
Typical home efficiency local EPC band D
Water Yorkshire Water
Average bill regional £437/yr
Combined water & sewerage · GB average £520

Transport

Transport
56
Gainsborough Central 0.1 mi
Gainsborough Lea Road 1 mi
Kirton Lindsey 9.3 mi
J3 M180 11 mi
J3 M180 11.1 mi
J2 M180 11.7 mi

Lifestyle

Lifestyle
50
Pubs & Bars Ample 11
Restaurants & Cafes Ample 24
Supermarkets & Convenience Ample 18
Retail Shopping Ample 106
Takeaways Ample 26
Fitness Adequate 4

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House Prices

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

Type Median price Sales
All dwellings £148,000 175
Detached £233,000 37
Semi-detached £150,050 58
Terraced £113,500 74
5-year monthly trend
All Detached Semi Terraced
£79k £138k £199k £258k 2022 2023 2024 2025 2026

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

Nearby places

Lea (West Lindsey) 37 2.0 mi away ⇄
Beckingham 43 2.5 mi away ⇄
Bole 0 2.5 mi away ⇄
Corringham 40 3.2 mi away ⇄
Blyton 32 3.5 mi away ⇄
Heapham 0 3.6 mi away ⇄
Upton (West Lindsey) 38 3.6 mi away ⇄
Walkeringham 36 3.6 mi away ⇄
Kexby 43 4.1 mi away ⇄
Sturton le Steeple 35 4.2 mi away ⇄
Misterton (Bassetlaw) 35 4.2 mi away ⇄
North Wheatley 38 4.5 mi away ⇄

Frequently asked questions

Is Gainsborough a nice place to live?

Gainsborough has some challenges compared to many UK areas. Our liveability score for Gainsborough is 45/100, 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 Gainsborough?

Crime levels in Gainsborough are high relative to the national average. Our safety score is 14/100. There were 4,128 crimes recorded in the area over the past 12 months.

What are the best schools in Gainsborough?

Among the top-rated schools in Gainsborough are Aegir - A Specialist Academy, Benjamin Adlard Primary School and Castle Wood Academy, rated Good by Ofsted. There are 14 rated schools in Gainsborough in total.

What are house prices like in Gainsborough?

The current median house price in Gainsborough is £148,000, around 48% below the England and Wales average. By property type: detached £233,000, semi-detached £150,050, terraced £113,500. Over the past five years, prices have risen by around 12%. There were 175 sales recorded in the past 12 months.

Gainsborough in context

See the best places to live in Lincolnshire, ranked

Postcode districts in Gainsborough

DN21 38 ⇄

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