Town Pop. 1,866

Living in Read: Liveability Score 51/100

Last updated 7 August 2026

Read comes out at 51/100 on the 9 categories we can score here. Its biggest lead over the typical UK town is schools: 41/100 against a national town median of 23/100. That makes it the 4th highest-scoring of the 7 places in the BB12 postcode district.

On schools specifically, Read sits 29 points below the BB12 district figure of 70/100. Also scoring 80 or better: safety (90) and economic health (82). Below 30/100: healthcare (13) and lifestyle (18). For the surrounding area, see BB12 postcode district.

51
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.

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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.

Read scores 51 but individual postcodes tell the full story

See the exact score for any postcode, side by side with Read.
Or compare:
BB12 0AD BB12 6AA BB12 7AA BB12 8AA BB12 9AA BB12

Score breakdown

Safety & Environment

Safety
90
64.8 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 44 crimes
↓ 29% below national average
Anti-social behaviour 25 crimes
↓ 12% below national average
Other theft 16 crimes
↑ 39% above national average
Criminal damage and arson 10 crimes
↓ 21% below national average
Burglary 9 crimes
↑ 37% above national average
other 17 crimes
Highest-crime locations
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  1. 1 Trapp Lane 13 crimes
  2. 2 Petrol Station 12 crimes
  3. 3 Burnley Road 8 crimes

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

Environment
66
Air Quality NO₂ 6 · PM2.5 6 · PM10 9.1 µg/m³
76
Green Space 41
Parks Some 1
Sports Pitches Adequate 2
Allotments Some 1
Golf Courses None
Tennis Courts Some 1
Bowling Greens Some 1
Playgrounds Some 1

Services

Schools
41
2 schools in area · 13 within 4km
2Good
  • Read St John's CofE Primary SchoolPrimary · inspected 2023
    Good
  • Simonstone St Peter's Church of England Primary SchoolPrimary · inspected 2023
    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 departmentsBurnley General Hospital4.5 mi
Royal Preston Hospital14 mi
Fairfield Hospital14.4 mi
Hospital waitsLancashire & South Cumbria NHS Foundation Trust1.5 mi
Routine referral (median)6 wks
Treated within 18 weeks94.2%
Nearest GP surgeryPadiham Group Practice1.5 mi
GP capacity1,464 patients per GP
0dentists1pharmacy

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
78
Full fibre (FTTP)84.6%
available across Ribble Valley
Gigabit-capable · incl. cable
92.3%
Ultrafast (300+ Mbps)
92.3%
Superfast (30+ Mbps)
99.8%
Ofcom Connected Nations · 69 postcodes · full fibre at local-authority level

Economy & Bills

Economic Health
82
Employment rate58.4%
Above the Great Britain average of 57.3% of residents aged 16+
Economic activity (16+)
Employed58.4%Unemployed0.7%Retired31.4%Student3.7%Other inactive5.9%
Occupation mix
Professional & managerial50.3%Skilled & technical33.4%Routine & elementary16.3%
Highest qualification (16+)
No qualifications9.8%Level 1 (1–4 GCSEs)6.8%Level 2 (5+ GCSEs)14%Level 3 (A levels)17.6%Level 4+ (degree & above)44.1%Apprenticeship6%Other (incl. vocational)1.8%
Home ownership84.1%
Among the least-deprived 21% of areas in England
Census 2021/22 (Great Britain) · deprivation: IoD 2025 / SIMD
Bills
54
Council tax Ribble Valley · 2026-27
A £1,591
B £1,857
C £2,122
D £2,387
E £2,917
F £3,448
G £3,978
H £4,774
Energy North West England region
Typical bill regional £1,641/yr
Ofgem price cap, GB average · Apr–Jun 2026
Typical home efficiency local EPC band D
Water United Utilities
Average bill regional £456/yr
Combined water & sewerage · GB average £520

Transport

Transport
32
Hapton 2.3 mi
Huncoat 2.5 mi
Whalley 2.7 mi
J8 M65 2.1 mi
J8 M65 2.2 mi
J9 M65 2.5 mi

Lifestyle

Lifestyle
18
Pubs & Bars Adequate 3
Restaurants & Cafes None
Supermarkets & Convenience None
Retail Shopping Some 2
Takeaways Some 2
Fitness Some 1

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House Prices

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

Type Median price Sales
All dwellings £381,000 19
Detached £402,500 14
5-year monthly trend
All Detached
£249k £313k £380k £444k 2022 2023 2024 2025 2026

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

Nearby places

Simonstone 46 0.9 mi away ⇄
Altham 47 1.4 mi away ⇄
Sabden 48 1.7 mi away ⇄
Padiham 50 1.7 mi away ⇄
Higham (Pendle) 54 2.5 mi away ⇄
Huncoat 46 2.6 mi away ⇄
Great Harwood 54 2.6 mi away ⇄
Hapton 49 2.7 mi away ⇄
Clayton-le-Moors 55 2.7 mi away ⇄
Whalley 49 2.8 mi away ⇄
Barrow (Ribble Valley) 53 2.9 mi away ⇄
Billington (Ribble Valley) 52 2.9 mi away ⇄

Frequently asked questions

Is Read a nice place to live?

Read is a decent place to live for many people. Our liveability score for Read is 51/100, 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 Read?

Read is a relatively safe area to live. Our safety score is 90/100. There were 121 crimes recorded in the area over the past 12 months.

What are the best schools in Read?

Among the top-rated schools in Read are Read St John's CofE Primary School and Simonstone St Peter's Church of England Primary School, rated Good by Ofsted. There are 2 rated schools in Read in total.

What are house prices like in Read?

The current median house price in Read is £381,000, around 34% above the England and Wales average. By property type: detached £402,500. Over the past five years, prices have risen by around 22%.

Read in context

See the best places to live in Lancashire, ranked

Postcode districts in Read

BB12 54 ⇄

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