Town Pop. 627

Living in Lower Higham: Liveability Score 47/100

Last updated 7 August 2026

Lower Higham comes out at 47/100 on the 9 categories we can score here. Lifestyle is where Lower Higham most outperforms the national norm: 56/100 against a median of 21/100 across UK towns. Broadband falls furthest short: 34/100 where the typical UK town reaches 60/100.

Among the 12 scored places sharing the ME3 postcode district, Lower Higham ranks 4th. Safety (82) sits at 80/100 or above. Below 30/100: healthcare (13) and schools (29). For the surrounding area, see ME3 postcode district.

47
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.

Lower Higham scores 47 but individual postcodes tell the full story

See the exact score for any postcode, side by side with Lower Higham.
Or compare:
ME3 0AB ME3 7AA ME3 8AA ME3 9AA ME3

Score breakdown

Safety & Environment

Safety
82
127.6 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 31 crimes
↑ 48% above national average
Anti-social behaviour 13 crimes
↑ 36% above national average
Other theft 10 crimes
↑ 156% above national average
Burglary 8 crimes
↑ 266% above national average
Public order 4 crimes
≈ similar to national average
other 14 crimes
Highest-crime locations
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  1. 1 School Lane 12 crimes
  2. 2 Beech Grove 9 crimes
  3. 3 Highwoods Close 8 crimes

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

Environment
69
Air Quality NO₂ 9.8 · PM2.5 7.3 · PM10 12 µg/m³
68
Green Space 71
Parks Some 1
Sports Pitches None
Allotments None
Golf Courses None
Tennis Courts Some 2
Bowling Greens None
Playgrounds None

Services

Schools
29
1 school in area · 17 within 4km
1Good
  • Higham 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
13
A&E departmentsMedway Maritime Hospital4.4 mi
Darent Valley Hospital8.7 mi
Basildon University Hospital8.8 mi
Hospital waitsMedway NHS Foundation Trust0.9 mi
Routine referral (median)13 wks
Treated within 18 weeks62%
A&E seen within 4 hrs74.7%
Nearest GP surgeryCliffe Woods Surgery1.4 mi
GP capacity3,103 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
34
Full fibre (FTTP)72.8%
available across Gravesham
Gigabit-capable · incl. cable
61%
Ultrafast (300+ Mbps)
61%
Superfast (30+ Mbps)
99.2%
Ofcom Connected Nations · 25 postcodes · full fibre at local-authority level

Economy & Bills

Economic Health
77
Employment rate55.8%
Below the Great Britain average of 57.3% of residents aged 16+
Economic activity (16+)
Employed55.8%Unemployed2.2%Retired30.6%Student3.3%Other inactive8.1%
Occupation mix
Professional & managerial39%Skilled & technical41.1%Routine & elementary19.9%
Highest qualification (16+)
No qualifications18.5%Level 1 (1–4 GCSEs)10.5%Level 2 (5+ GCSEs)15.5%Level 3 (A levels)17.1%Level 4+ (degree & above)26.5%Apprenticeship9.1%Other (incl. vocational)2.8%
Home ownership83.6%
Among the least-deprived 37% of areas in England
Census 2021/22 (Great Britain) · deprivation: IoD 2025 / SIMD
Bills
45
Council tax Gravesham · 2026-27
A £1,605
B £1,873
C £2,140
D £2,408
E £2,943
F £3,478
G £4,013
H £4,816
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
33
Higham 0.1 mi
Strood 2.6 mi
Rochester 3.2 mi
J1 M2 2.2 mi
J1 M2 2.3 mi
J2 M2 2.7 mi

Lifestyle

Lifestyle
56
Pubs & Bars None
Restaurants & Cafes None
Supermarkets & Convenience None
Retail Shopping Some 2
Takeaways None
Fitness Some 1

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House Prices

Not enough recent sales

Fewer than 10 sales were recorded in Lower Higham 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

Higham (Gravesham) 45 0.9 mi away ⇄
Cliffe Woods 52 1.5 mi away ⇄
Shorne 33 1.8 mi away ⇄
Cliffe (Medway) 38 2.6 mi away ⇄
Chattenden 49 2.8 mi away ⇄
Lower Upnor 46 3.0 mi away ⇄
Rochester 65 3.2 mi away ⇄
Cobham (Gravesham) 36 3.3 mi away ⇄
Gravesend 61 3.6 mi away ⇄
Cuxton 48 3.8 mi away ⇄
Hoo St Werburgh 45 4.1 mi away ⇄
East Tilbury 43 4.3 mi away ⇄

Frequently asked questions

Is Lower Higham a nice place to live?

Lower Higham has some challenges compared to many UK areas. Our liveability score for Lower Higham is 47/100, 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 Lower Higham?

Lower Higham is a relatively safe area to live. Our safety score is 82/100. There were 80 crimes recorded in the area over the past 12 months.

What are the best schools in Lower Higham?

Among the top-rated schools in Lower Higham is Higham Primary School, rated Good by Ofsted. There are 1 rated schools in Lower Higham in total.

Lower Higham in context

See the best places to live in Kent, ranked

Postcode districts in Lower Higham

ME3 45 ⇄

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