Town Pop. 111

Living in Hartest: Liveability Score 30/100

Last updated 7 August 2026

Our overall score for Hartest is 30/100, built from 8 categories. Its biggest lead over the typical UK town is economic health: 85/100 against a national town median of 67/100. Furthest below the national norm is broadband, at 32/100 against a town median of 60/100.

Among the 7 scored places sharing the IP29 postcode district, Hartest ranks 6th. The IP29 district averages 46/100, putting Hartest 16 points below its own postcode area. Its economic health score runs 11 points above the IP29 district's 74/100. The same breakdown for the wider area is on the IP29 postcode district.

30
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.

Hartest scores 30 but individual postcodes tell the full story

See the exact score for any postcode, side by side with Hartest.
Or compare:
IP29 4AA IP29 5AA IP29

Score breakdown

Safety & Environment

Safety
—
261.3 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 10 crimes
↑ 171% above national average
Public order 5 crimes
↑ 592% above national average
Anti-social behaviour 3 crimes
↑ 78% above national average
Burglary 3 crimes
↑ 671% above national average
Other crime 2 crimes
↑ 800% above national average
other 6 crimes
Highest-crime locations
Loading map…
  1. 1 Brands Lane 4 crimes
  2. 2 Aveley Lane 3 crimes
  3. 3 Streetfield Close 3 crimes

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

Environment
58
Air Quality NO₂ 4.8 · PM2.5 6.8 · PM10 11.8 µg/m³
74
Green Space 22
Parks None
Sports Pitches None
Allotments None
Golf Courses None
Tennis Courts None
Bowling Greens None
Playgrounds None

Services

Schools
10
1 school in area · 2 within 4km
1Good
  • Hartest Church of England Primary SchoolPrimary · inspected 2024
    Good

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

Healthcare
3
A&E departmentsRAF Lakenheath Medical Hospital18.3 mi
Colchester General Hospital18.3 mi
Ipswich Hospital22.6 mi
Hospital waitsWest Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust2.6 mi
Routine referral (median)11 wks
Treated within 18 weeks66%
A&E seen within 4 hrs78.1%
Nearest GP surgeryGuildhall Surgery Clare5.9 mi
GP capacity1,989 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
32
Full fibre (FTTP)72.1%
available across Babergh
Gigabit-capable · incl. cable
57.8%
Ultrafast (300+ Mbps)
57.8%
Superfast (30+ Mbps)
100%
Ofcom Connected Nations · 6 postcodes · full fibre at local-authority level

Economy & Bills

Economic Health
85
Employment rate59.1%
Above the Great Britain average of 57.3% of residents aged 16+
Economic activity (16+)
Employed59.1%Unemployed2%Retired27.9%Student3.6%Other inactive7.4%
Occupation mix
Professional & managerial42.3%Skilled & technical39.9%Routine & elementary17.8%
Highest qualification (16+)
No qualifications13.3%Level 1 (1–4 GCSEs)9.9%Level 2 (5+ GCSEs)14.5%Level 3 (A levels)17.6%Level 4+ (degree & above)37.5%Apprenticeship5.1%Other (incl. vocational)2.1%
Home ownership79.9%
Around the England average for deprivation
Census 2021/22 (Great Britain) · deprivation: IoD 2025 / SIMD
Bills
51
Council tax Babergh · 2026-27
A £1,561
B £1,822
C £2,082
D £2,342
E £2,862
F £3,383
G £3,903
H £4,684
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
11
Sudbury 7.5 mi
Bury St Edmunds 8 mi
Thurston 9.4 mi
J9A M11 20.9 mi
J9A M11 21.3 mi
J9 M11 21.5 mi

Lifestyle

Lifestyle
6
Pubs & Bars Some 1
Restaurants & Cafes None
Supermarkets & Convenience None
Retail Shopping None
Takeaways None
Fitness Adequate 2

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House Prices

Not enough recent sales

Fewer than 10 sales were recorded in Hartest 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

Lawshall 28 1.9 mi away ⇄
Glemsford 43 2.7 mi away ⇄
Cavendish 41 4.0 mi away ⇄
Chedburgh 43 4.3 mi away ⇄
Long Melford 46 4.7 mi away ⇄
Lavenham 44 5.4 mi away ⇄
Chevington 41 5.5 mi away ⇄
Great Green 40 5.6 mi away ⇄
Sicklesmere 44 5.6 mi away ⇄
Wickhambrook 51 5.8 mi away ⇄
Horringer 53 5.9 mi away ⇄
Clare 51 5.9 mi away ⇄

Frequently asked questions

Is Hartest a nice place to live?

Hartest has some challenges compared to many UK areas. Our liveability score for Hartest is 30/100, placing it among a below-average areas in the UK across nine categories: safety, schools, healthcare, environment, transport, broadband, lifestyle, economic health, and bills.

What are the best schools in Hartest?

Among the top-rated schools in Hartest is Hartest Church of England Primary School, rated Good by Ofsted. There are 1 rated schools in Hartest in total.

Hartest in context

See the best places to live in Suffolk, ranked

Postcode districts in Hartest

IP29 46 ⇄

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