Town Pop. 7,296

Living in Sawston: Liveability Score 56/100

Last updated 7 August 2026

Sawston scores 56/100 overall, across 9 scored categories. Measured against other towns, healthcare stands out most: 50/100 where the typical UK town scores 18/100. Among the 13 scored places sharing the CB22 postcode district, Sawston ranks 3rd.

Its healthcare score runs 10 points above the CB22 district's 40/100. Safety (83) sits at 80/100 or above. On the national picture that lands Sawston in the top quarter of all the places we score. Wider context for the surrounding area: CB22 postcode district.

56
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.

Sawston scores 56 but individual postcodes tell the full story

See the exact score for any postcode, side by side with Sawston.
Or compare:
CB22 3AA CB22 4AB CB22 5AA CB22 6AA CB22 7AA CB22

Score breakdown

Safety & Environment

Safety
83
64 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 185 crimes
↓ 24% below national average
Anti-social behaviour 92 crimes
↓ 17% below national average
Criminal damage and arson 36 crimes
↓ 28% below national average
Burglary 30 crimes
↑ 17% above national average
Vehicle crime 26 crimes
↓ 25% below national average
other 98 crimes
Highest-crime locations
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  1. 1 Glebe Crescent 33 crimes
  2. 2 Sports/Recreation Area 22 crimes
  3. 3 Stanley Webb Close 18 crimes

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

Environment
66
Air Quality NO₂ 5.9 · PM2.5 7 · PM10 11.8 µg/m³
72
Green Space 53
Parks Ample 38
Sports Pitches Ample 16
Allotments Some 1
Golf Courses None
Tennis Courts Adequate 4
Bowling Greens Some 1
Playgrounds Adequate 5

Services

Schools
37
4 schools in area · 8 within 4km
3Good1Ungraded
  • Sawston Village CollegeSecondary · inspected 2023
    Good
  • The Bellbird Primary SchoolPrimary · inspected 2024
    Good
  • The Icknield Primary SchoolPrimary · inspected 2025
    Good
  • William Westley Church of England VC Primary SchoolPrimary · inspected 2024
    Ungraded

Ungraded: inspected, but Ofsted no longer issues a single overall grade (since Sept 2024).

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

Healthcare
50
A&E departmentsCambridge Biomedical Campus3.2 mi
Urgent Care Cambridge6.1 mi
Lister Hospital20.7 mi
Hospital waitsCambridgeshire And Peterborough NHS Foundation Trust0.3 mi
Routine referral (median)22 wks
Treated within 18 weeks37.2%
1 GP surgery in area best 'Outstanding'
GP capacity1,527 patients per GP
2dentists2pharmacies

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
65
Full fibre (FTTP)58.3%
available across South Cambridgeshire
Gigabit-capable · incl. cable
85.8%
Ultrafast (300+ Mbps)
85.8%
Superfast (30+ Mbps)
99.4%
Ofcom Connected Nations · 121 postcodes · full fibre at local-authority level

Economy & Bills

Economic Health
68
Employment rate59.9%
Above the Great Britain average of 57.3% of residents aged 16+
Economic activity (16+)
Employed59.9%Unemployed2.3%Retired25.5%Student3.3%Other inactive9%
Occupation mix
Professional & managerial46.5%Skilled & technical30.1%Routine & elementary23.4%
Highest qualification (16+)
No qualifications15.8%Level 1 (1–4 GCSEs)9.1%Level 2 (5+ GCSEs)12%Level 3 (A levels)13.8%Level 4+ (degree & above)41.2%Apprenticeship5.3%Other (incl. vocational)2.8%
Home ownership66%
Among the least-deprived 24% of areas in England
Census 2021/22 (Great Britain) · deprivation: IoD 2025 / SIMD
Bills
38
Council tax South Cambridgeshire · 2026-27
A £1,691
B £1,972
C £2,254
D £2,536
E £3,100
F £3,663
G £4,227
H £5,072
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
34
Whittlesford Parkway 1.4 mi
Shelford 2.2 mi
Great Chesterford 4.5 mi
J10 M11 2.1 mi
J10 M11 2.3 mi
J9A M11 3.2 mi

Lifestyle

Lifestyle
51
Pubs & Bars Adequate 3
Restaurants & Cafes Adequate 8
Supermarkets & Convenience Adequate 3
Retail Shopping Ample 31
Takeaways Adequate 7
Fitness Adequate 3

Places like Sawston Pro

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House Prices

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

Type Median price Sales
All dwellings £385,000 35
Detached £630,000 11
Semi-detached £385,000 17
5-year monthly trend
All Detached Semi Terraced
£302k £396k £492k £586k 2022 2023 2024 2025 2026

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

Nearby places

Whittlesford 44 1.2 mi away ⇄
Babraham 35 1.6 mi away ⇄
Duxford 47 2.3 mi away ⇄
Great Shelford and Stapleford 61 2.3 mi away ⇄
Little Shelford 51 2.5 mi away ⇄
Great Abington 37 2.6 mi away ⇄
Little Abington 42 2.7 mi away ⇄
Heathfield (South Cambridgeshire) 43 2.7 mi away ⇄
Hinxton 45 2.8 mi away ⇄
Newton (South Cambridgeshire) 45 3.1 mi away ⇄
Hauxton 51 3.5 mi away ⇄
Ickleton 47 3.6 mi away ⇄

Frequently asked questions

Is Sawston a nice place to live?

Sawston is a decent place to live for many people. Our liveability score for Sawston is 56/100, 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 Sawston?

Sawston is a relatively safe area to live. Our safety score is 83/100. There were 467 crimes recorded in the area over the past 12 months.

What are the best schools in Sawston?

Among the top-rated schools in Sawston are Sawston Village College, The Bellbird Primary School and The Icknield Primary School, rated Good by Ofsted. There are 4 rated schools in Sawston in total.

What are house prices like in Sawston?

The current median house price in Sawston is £385,000, around 35% above the England and Wales average. By property type: detached £630,000, semi-detached £385,000. There were 35 sales recorded in the past 12 months.

Sawston in context

See where Sawston ranks among the best places to live in Cambridgeshire

Postcode districts in Sawston

CB22 56 ⇄

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