Town Pop. 21,604

Living in Stowmarket: Liveability Score 56/100

Last updated 7 August 2026

Stowmarket scores 56/100 overall, across 9 scored categories. Its biggest lead over the typical UK town is lifestyle: 57/100 against a national town median of 21/100. That is the highest score of the 13 places in the IP14 postcode district.

It scores 7 points above the IP14 postcode district as a whole, which averages 49/100. Its lifestyle score runs 13 points above the IP14 district's 44/100. On the national picture that lands Stowmarket in the top quarter of all the places we score. Wider context for the surrounding area: IP14 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.

Stowmarket scores 56 but individual postcodes tell the full story

See the exact score for any postcode, side by side with Stowmarket.
Or compare:
IP14 1AA IP14 2AA IP14 3AA IP14 4AA IP14 5AA IP14 6AA IP14 9AR IP14 IP6

Score breakdown

Safety & Environment

Safety
76
82 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 862 crimes
↑ 20% above national average
Criminal damage and arson 148 crimes
≈ similar to national average
Shoplifting 148 crimes
↓ 12% below national average
Anti-social behaviour 140 crimes
↓ 57% below national average
Public order 116 crimes
↓ 17% below national average
other 357 crimes
Highest-crime locations
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  1. 1 Police Station 59 crimes
  2. 2 Crowe Street 50 crimes
  3. 3 Supermarket 50 crimes

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

Environment
71
Air Quality NO₂ 7.3 · PM2.5 7.3 · PM10 13.1 µg/m³
70
Green Space 74
Parks Ample 18
Sports Pitches Ample 26
Allotments Adequate 2
Golf Courses Some 1
Tennis Courts Adequate 4
Bowling Greens Adequate 3
Playgrounds Ample 18

Services

Schools
35
Top 10 by Ofsted rating · 11 in area · 12 within 4km
6Good1Requires Improvement4Ungraded
  • Abbot's Hall Community Primary SchoolPrimary · inspected 2024
    Good
  • Cedars Park Community Primary SchoolPrimary · inspected 2023
    Good
  • Chilton Community Primary SchoolPrimary · inspected 2025
    Good
  • OA - SuffolkAlternative provision · inspected 2023
    Good
  • Trinity Church of England Voluntary Aided Primary SchoolPrimary · inspected 2024
    Good
  • Wood Ley Community Primary SchoolPrimary · inspected 2021
    Good
  • Stowupland High SchoolSecondary · inspected 2023
    Requires Improvement
  • Combs Ford Primary SchoolPrimary · inspected 2025
    Ungraded
  • Freeman Community Primary SchoolPrimary · inspected 2024
    Ungraded
  • Grace Cook Primary SchoolPrimary · inspected 2025
    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
36
A&E departmentsIpswich Hospital10.8 mi
Colchester General Hospital18.7 mi
RAF Lakenheath Medical Hospital22.5 mi
Hospital waitsEast Suffolk And North Essex NHS Foundation Trust0.3 mi
Routine referral (median)12 wks
Treated within 18 weeks60.2%
A&E seen within 4 hrs76.7%
2 GP surgeries in area best 'Good'
GP capacity2,488 patients per GP
6dentists5pharmacies

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
68
Full fibre (FTTP)58.2%
available across Mid Suffolk
Gigabit-capable · incl. cable
83.6%
Ultrafast (300+ Mbps)
83.6%
Superfast (30+ Mbps)
99.7%
Ofcom Connected Nations · 506 postcodes · full fibre at local-authority level

Economy & Bills

Economic Health
59
Employment rate61.2%
Above the Great Britain average of 57.3% of residents aged 16+
Economic activity (16+)
Employed61.2%Unemployed2.4%Retired24.2%Student3%Other inactive9.2%
Occupation mix
Professional & managerial36.8%Skilled & technical33.6%Routine & elementary29.6%
Highest qualification (16+)
No qualifications18.1%Level 1 (1–4 GCSEs)11.9%Level 2 (5+ GCSEs)15.2%Level 3 (A levels)19.3%Level 4+ (degree & above)26.6%Apprenticeship6.2%Other (incl. vocational)2.7%
Home ownership69%
Among the least-deprived 39% 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
48
Stowmarket 0.3 mi
Needham Market 3.5 mi
Elmswell 5 mi
No motorway junctions within 30 mi

Lifestyle

Lifestyle
57
Pubs & Bars Ample 13
Restaurants & Cafes Ample 25
Supermarkets & Convenience Ample 12
Retail Shopping Ample 117
Takeaways Ample 18
Fitness Ample 11

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House Prices

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

Type Median price Sales
All dwellings £247,500 199
Detached £330,000 67
Semi-detached £247,500 53
Terraced £197,500 59
Flat / Maisonette £146,000 20
5-year monthly trend
All Detached Semi Terraced Flat
£125k £207k £292k £375k 2022 2023 2024 2025 2026

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

Nearby places

Stowupland 49 1.5 mi away ⇄
Great Finborough 47 2.2 mi away ⇄
Old Newton 40 2.5 mi away ⇄
Haughley 41 2.5 mi away ⇄
Battisford Tye 29 3.2 mi away ⇄
Needham Market 46 3.4 mi away ⇄
Wetherden 44 3.7 mi away ⇄
Barking 35 3.9 mi away ⇄
Woolpit Heath 45 4.4 mi away ⇄
Rattlesden 28 4.4 mi away ⇄
Great Bricett 29 4.7 mi away ⇄
Elmswell 47 4.9 mi away ⇄

Frequently asked questions

Is Stowmarket a nice place to live?

Stowmarket is a decent place to live for many people. Our liveability score for Stowmarket 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 Stowmarket?

Stowmarket is a relatively safe area to live. Our safety score is 76/100. There were 1,771 crimes recorded in the area over the past 12 months.

What are the best schools in Stowmarket?

Among the top-rated schools in Stowmarket are Abbot's Hall Community Primary School, Cedars Park Community Primary School and Chilton Community Primary School, rated Good by Ofsted. There are 11 rated schools in Stowmarket in total.

What are house prices like in Stowmarket?

The current median house price in Stowmarket is £247,500, around 13% below the England and Wales average. By property type: detached £330,000, semi-detached £247,500, terraced £197,500, flat £146,000. Over the past five years, prices have fallen by around 2%. There were 199 sales recorded in the past 12 months.

Stowmarket in context

See where Stowmarket ranks among the best places to live in Suffolk

Postcode districts in Stowmarket

IP14 49 ⇄
IP6 45 ⇄

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