Town Pop. 596

Living in Smarden: Liveability Score 37/100

Last updated 7 August 2026

Smarden scores 37/100 overall, across 9 scored categories. Furthest below the national norm is broadband, at 10/100 against a town median of 60/100. Among the 8 scored places sharing the TN27 postcode district, Smarden ranks 7th.

That sits 13 points below the UK-wide average of 50, putting it in the bottom quarter of the towns and villages we score. Safety (91) sits at 80/100 or above. Below 30/100: healthcare (3), transport (11), lifestyle (15) and schools (19). For the surrounding area, see TN27 postcode district.

37
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.

Smarden scores 37 but individual postcodes tell the full story

See the exact score for any postcode, side by side with Smarden.
Or compare:
TN27 0AA TN27 8AD TN27 9AA TN27

Score breakdown

Safety & Environment

Safety
91
107.4 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 28 crimes
↑ 41% above national average
Anti-social behaviour 10 crimes
↑ 11% above national average
Burglary 7 crimes
↑ 234% above national average
Criminal damage and arson 6 crimes
↑ 49% above national average
Vehicle crime 4 crimes
↑ 40% above national average
other 9 crimes
Highest-crime locations
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  1. 1 Long Meadow Drive 10 crimes
  2. 2 Bell Lane 9 crimes
  3. 3 Bethersden Road 6 crimes

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

Environment
69
Air Quality NO₂ 5.8 · PM2.5 6.7 · PM10 11.8 µg/m³
73
Green Space 60
Parks Some 1
Sports Pitches Adequate 3
Allotments None
Golf Courses None
Tennis Courts Some 2
Bowling Greens None
Playgrounds Some 2

Services

Schools
19
1 school in area
1Good
  • Smarden Primary SchoolPrimary · inspected 2023
    Good
Healthcare
3
A&E departmentsWilliam Harvey Hospital9.3 mi
WIlliam Harvey Hospital9.4 mi
Maidstone Hospital12 mi
Hospital waitsKent Community Health NHS Foundation Trust2.8 mi
Routine referral (median)5 wks
Treated within 18 weeks99.9%
A&E seen within 4 hrs99.1%
Nearest GP surgeryThe Ivy Court Surgery5.6 mi
GP capacity2,034 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
10
Full fibre (FTTP)68.5%
available across Ashford
Gigabit-capable · incl. cable
8%
Ultrafast (300+ Mbps)
8%
Superfast (30+ Mbps)
99.4%
Ofcom Connected Nations · 26 postcodes · full fibre at local-authority level

Economy & Bills

Economic Health
62
Employment rate56.7%
Below the Great Britain average of 57.3% of residents aged 16+
Economic activity (16+)
Employed56.7%Unemployed1.5%Retired25.1%Student5%Other inactive11.7%
Occupation mix
Professional & managerial45.8%Skilled & technical39.4%Routine & elementary14.8%
Highest qualification (16+)
No qualifications14.2%Level 1 (1–4 GCSEs)9.4%Level 2 (5+ GCSEs)16.8%Level 3 (A levels)16.6%Level 4+ (degree & above)34.2%Apprenticeship5.7%Other (incl. vocational)3%
Home ownership75.8%
Around the England average for deprivation
Census 2021/22 (Great Britain) · deprivation: IoD 2025 / SIMD
Bills
45
Council tax Ashford · 2026-27
A £1,607
B £1,874
C £2,142
D £2,410
E £2,946
F £3,481
G £4,017
H £4,820
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
11
Pluckley 2.5 mi
Headcorn 2.9 mi
Lenham 6 mi
J9 M20 7.6 mi
J9 M20 8 mi
J8 M20 8.3 mi

Lifestyle

Lifestyle
15
Pubs & Bars Some 2
Restaurants & Cafes None
Supermarkets & Convenience Some 1
Retail Shopping None
Takeaways None
Fitness Ample 7

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House Prices

Not enough recent sales

Fewer than 10 sales were recorded in Smarden 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

Pluckley Thorne 40 2.9 mi away ⇄
Headcorn 41 3.1 mi away ⇄
Biddenden 40 3.1 mi away ⇄
Bethersden 38 3.2 mi away ⇄
High Halden 33 3.2 mi away ⇄
Pluckley 42 3.3 mi away ⇄
Woolpack Corner 34 3.4 mi away ⇄
London Beach 34 3.5 mi away ⇄
Egerton 42 3.5 mi away ⇄
Frittenden 40 4.1 mi away ⇄
Ulcombe 31 4.8 mi away ⇄
Tenterden 43 5.2 mi away ⇄

Frequently asked questions

Is Smarden a nice place to live?

Smarden has some challenges compared to many UK areas. Our liveability score for Smarden is 37/100, 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 Smarden?

Smarden is a relatively safe area to live. Our safety score is 91/100. There were 64 crimes recorded in the area over the past 12 months.

What are the best schools in Smarden?

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

Smarden in context

See the best places to live in Kent, ranked

Postcode districts in Smarden

TN27 34 ⇄

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