Town Pop. 4,779

Living in Needham Market: Liveability Score 46/100

Last updated 7 August 2026

Our overall score for Needham Market is 46/100, built from 9 categories. That makes it the 3rd highest-scoring of the 16 places in the IP6 postcode district. Safety (91) also clears 80/100.

Schools (14), healthcare (21), lifestyle (24) and transport (27) all fall below 30/100. On the national picture that lands Needham Market in the middle half of all the places we score. Wider context for the surrounding area: IP6 postcode district.

46
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.

Needham Market scores 46 but individual postcodes tell the full story

See the exact score for any postcode, side by side with Needham Market.
Or compare:
IP6 0AA IP6 8AA IP6 9AA IP6

Score breakdown

Safety & Environment

Safety
91
86.8 crimes per 1,000 residents · last 12 months Below the England & Wales average of 94.3
Crime rate vs national average · last 12 months
Violence and sexual offences 164 crimes
≈ similar to national average
Anti-social behaviour 55 crimes
↓ 24% below national average
Criminal damage and arson 34 crimes
≈ similar to national average
Other theft 33 crimes
↑ 11% above national average
Shoplifting 29 crimes
↓ 22% below national average
other 100 crimes
Highest-crime locations
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  1. 1 Cedar Walk 31 crimes
  2. 2 Stowmarket Road 22 crimes
  3. 3 Gilbert Close 21 crimes

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

Environment
59
Air Quality NO₂ 7.2 · PM2.5 7.1 · PM10 12.8 µg/m³
70
Green Space 33
Parks Adequate 3
Sports Pitches Adequate 4
Allotments None
Golf Courses None
Tennis Courts Some 1
Bowling Greens Some 1
Playgrounds Ample 7

Services

Schools
14
1 school in area · 2 within 4km
1Good
  • Bosmere Community 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
21
A&E departmentsIpswich Hospital8 mi
Colchester General Hospital17.5 mi
RAF Lakenheath Medical Hospital26.5 mi
Hospital waitsEast Suffolk And North Essex NHS Foundation Trust0.5 mi
Routine referral (median)12 wks
Treated within 18 weeks60.2%
A&E seen within 4 hrs76.7%
1 GP surgery in area best 'Good'
GP capacity1,706 patients per GP
3dentists1pharmacy

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
54
Full fibre (FTTP)58.2%
available across Mid Suffolk
Gigabit-capable · incl. cable
77.4%
Ultrafast (300+ Mbps)
77.4%
Superfast (30+ Mbps)
99.6%
Ofcom Connected Nations · 136 postcodes · full fibre at local-authority level

Economy & Bills

Economic Health
68
Employment rate56.9%
Below the Great Britain average of 57.3% of residents aged 16+
Economic activity (16+)
Employed56.9%Unemployed2%Retired30.9%Student2.4%Other inactive7.9%
Occupation mix
Professional & managerial39%Skilled & technical36.2%Routine & elementary24.7%
Highest qualification (16+)
No qualifications18.2%Level 1 (1–4 GCSEs)10.5%Level 2 (5+ GCSEs)15%Level 3 (A levels)18.2%Level 4+ (degree & above)29%Apprenticeship6.3%Other (incl. vocational)2.7%
Home ownership74.8%
Among the least-deprived 38% of areas in England
Census 2021/22 (Great Britain) · deprivation: IoD 2025 / SIMD
Bills
58
Council tax Mid Suffolk · 2026-27
A £1,545
B £1,802
C £2,060
D £2,317
E £2,832
F £3,347
G £3,862
H £4,634
Energy Eastern England region
Typical bill regional £1,641/yr
Ofgem price cap, GB average · Apr–Jun 2026
Typical home efficiency local EPC band C
Water Anglian Water
Average bill regional £498/yr
Combined water & sewerage · GB average £520

Transport

Transport
27
Needham Market 0.1 mi
Stowmarket 3.4 mi
Westerfield 6.9 mi
No motorway junctions within 30 mi

Lifestyle

Lifestyle
24
Pubs & Bars Adequate 5
Restaurants & Cafes Adequate 4
Supermarkets & Convenience Adequate 4
Retail Shopping Ample 33
Takeaways Adequate 5
Fitness Ample 5

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House Prices

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

Type Median price Sales
All dwellings £255,500 56
Detached £307,500 10
Semi-detached £258,750 18
Terraced £270,000 17
Flat / Maisonette £140,000 11
5-year monthly trend
All Detached Semi Terraced Flat
£125k £230k £338k £443k 2022 2023 2024 2025 2026

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

Nearby places

Barking 35 2.0 mi away ⇄
Coddenham 35 2.8 mi away ⇄
Sharpstone Street 40 3.1 mi away ⇄
Stowmarket 56 3.4 mi away ⇄
Great Blakenham 46 3.5 mi away ⇄
Stowupland 49 3.5 mi away ⇄
Somersham (Mid Suffolk) 35 3.9 mi away ⇄
Claydon 46 4.0 mi away ⇄
Battisford Tye 29 4.1 mi away ⇄
Stonham Aspal 38 4.1 mi away ⇄
Crowfield 34 4.1 mi away ⇄
Great Bricett 29 4.5 mi away ⇄

Frequently asked questions

Is Needham Market a nice place to live?

Needham Market has some challenges compared to many UK areas. Our liveability score for Needham Market is 46/100, 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 Needham Market?

Needham Market is a relatively safe area to live. Our safety score is 91/100. There were 415 crimes recorded in the area over the past 12 months.

What are the best schools in Needham Market?

Among the top-rated schools in Needham Market is Bosmere Community Primary School, rated Good by Ofsted. There are 1 rated schools in Needham Market in total.

What are house prices like in Needham Market?

The current median house price in Needham Market is £255,500, around 10% below the England and Wales average. By property type: detached £307,500, semi-detached £258,750, terraced £270,000, flat £140,000. Over the past five years, prices have fallen by around 6%. There were 56 sales recorded in the past 12 months.

Needham Market in context

See where Needham Market ranks among the best places to live in Suffolk

Postcode districts in Needham Market

IP6 45 ⇄

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