Town Pop. 11,801

Living in Rochford: Liveability Score 53/100

Last updated 7 August 2026

Our overall score for Rochford is 53/100, built from 9 categories. Measured against other towns, healthcare stands out most: 57/100 where the typical UK town scores 18/100. Furthest below the national norm is safety, at 62/100 against a town median of 88/100.

Among the 4 scored places sharing the SS4 postcode district, Rochford ranks 3rd. On the national picture that lands Rochford in the top quarter of all the places we score. For the surrounding area, see SS4 postcode district.

53
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.

Rochford scores 53 but individual postcodes tell the full story

See the exact score for any postcode, side by side with Rochford.
Or compare:
SS4 1AB SS4 2AA SS4 3AB SS4 9DT SS4 SS5

Score breakdown

Safety & Environment

Safety
62
112.5 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 671 crimes
↑ 71% above national average
Anti-social behaviour 126 crimes
↓ 30% below national average
Criminal damage and arson 102 crimes
↑ 26% above national average
Other theft 86 crimes
↑ 18% above national average
Public order 82 crimes
≈ similar to national average
other 261 crimes
Highest-crime locations
Loading map…
  1. 1 Station View 101 crimes
  2. 2 Parking Area 84 crimes
  3. 3 St Clare Meadow 58 crimes

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

Environment
52
Air Quality NO₂ 9.2 · PM2.5 7.3 · PM10 12.3 µg/m³
69
Green Space 14
Parks Ample 11
Sports Pitches Ample 6
Allotments None
Golf Courses Some 1
Tennis Courts Adequate 3
Bowling Greens Some 1
Playgrounds Adequate 4

Services

Schools
53
8 schools in area · 26 within 4km
7Good1Requires Improvement
  • Holt Farm Infant SchoolPrimary · inspected 2023
    Good
  • Holt Farm Junior SchoolPrimary · inspected 2024
    Good
  • Poplar Adolescent UnitAlternative provision · inspected 2025
    Good
  • Rochford Primary and Nursery SchoolPrimary · inspected 2022
    Good
  • St Teresa's Catholic Primary SchoolPrimary · inspected 2023
    Good
  • Stambridge Primary SchoolPrimary · inspected 2023
    Good
  • The King Edmund SchoolSecondary · inspected 2024
    Good
  • Waterman Primary SchoolPrimary · inspected 2023
    Requires Improvement

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

Healthcare
57
A&E departmentsSouthend University Hospital1.2 mi
Basildon University Hospital10.3 mi
Medway Maritime Hospital14.8 mi
Hospital waitsMid And South Essex NHS Foundation Trust0.1 mi
Routine referral (median)17 wks
Treated within 18 weeks50.6%
A&E seen within 4 hrs68%
2 GP surgeries in area 9 within 4km best 'Good'
GP capacity2,437 patients per GP
1dentist2pharmacies

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
58
Full fibre (FTTP)80.3%
available across Rochford
Gigabit-capable · incl. cable
96.1%
Ultrafast (300+ Mbps)
96.4%
Superfast (30+ Mbps)
98.7%
Ofcom Connected Nations · 251 postcodes · full fibre at local-authority level

Economy & Bills

Economic Health
51
Employment rate58.9%
Above the Great Britain average of 57.3% of residents aged 16+
Economic activity (16+)
Employed58.9%Unemployed3%Retired23.8%Student3%Other inactive11.2%
Occupation mix
Professional & managerial36.4%Skilled & technical38.8%Routine & elementary24.8%
Highest qualification (16+)
No qualifications20.6%Level 1 (1–4 GCSEs)13%Level 2 (5+ GCSEs)17.3%Level 3 (A levels)18.8%Level 4+ (degree & above)21.5%Apprenticeship6.3%Other (incl. vocational)2.5%
Home ownership70%
Around the England average for deprivation
Census 2021/22 (Great Britain) · deprivation: IoD 2025 / SIMD
Bills
55
Council tax Rochford · 2026-27
A £1,575
B £1,838
C £2,100
D £2,363
E £2,888
F £3,413
G £3,938
H £4,726
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
47
Rochford 0.3 mi
Southend Airport 1 mi
Hockley 2.4 mi
J1 M2 17.1 mi
J2 M2 17.1 mi
J1 M2 17.3 mi

Lifestyle

Lifestyle
35
Pubs & Bars Adequate 7
Restaurants & Cafes Adequate 11
Supermarkets & Convenience Adequate 3
Retail Shopping Adequate 14
Takeaways Adequate 7
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 £346,500 83
Detached £447,500 16
Semi-detached £360,000 41
Flat / Maisonette £170,000 19
5-year monthly trend
All Detached Semi Terraced Flat
£135k £268k £405k £538k 2022 2023 2024 2025 2026

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

Nearby places

Ashingdon 61 1.6 mi away ⇄
Hockley and Hawkwell 59 2.3 mi away ⇄
Southend-on-Sea 64 2.5 mi away ⇄
Canewdon 42 2.5 mi away ⇄
Stonebridge 58 3.2 mi away ⇄
Rayleigh 60 4.3 mi away ⇄
North Fambridge 43 4.4 mi away ⇄
Great Wakering 49 4.5 mi away ⇄
Creeksea 0 4.5 mi away ⇄
Hullbridge 52 4.6 mi away ⇄
Althorne 40 5.6 mi away ⇄
Thundersley and South Benfleet 62 5.7 mi away ⇄

Frequently asked questions

Is Rochford a nice place to live?

Rochford is a decent place to live for many people. Our liveability score for Rochford is 53/100, 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 Rochford?

Rochford has crime levels below the national average. Our safety score is 62/100. There were 1,328 crimes recorded in the area over the past 12 months.

What are the best schools in Rochford?

Among the top-rated schools in Rochford are Holt Farm Infant School, Holt Farm Junior School and Poplar Adolescent Unit, rated Good by Ofsted. There are 8 rated schools in Rochford in total.

What are house prices like in Rochford?

The current median house price in Rochford is £346,500, around 22% above the England and Wales average. By property type: detached £447,500, semi-detached £360,000, flat £170,000. Over the past five years, prices have risen by around 6%. There were 83 sales recorded in the past 12 months.

Rochford in context

See the best places to live in Essex, ranked

Postcode districts in Rochford

SS4 57 ⇄
SS5 57 ⇄

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