Hildenborough, #1 on this list · Photo: Stacey Harris · CC BY-SA 2.0

Kent · 2026

Best places to live in Kent

Q: What is the best place to live in Kent?

Hildenborough ranks first of 87 graded towns of 2,500+: schools (A+) and jobs & income (A+) are its strongest grades; hazard risk (D−) is its lowest. Joyden's Wood and Bearsted follow.

Hildenborough ranks first of 87 Kent towns of 2,500+ residents, and #80 of 2,138 UK towns. 11 of the 87 grade A− or better; scores run from 72.2 down to 16.3.

The overall score, sorted within Kent; the letter compares each town with every UK town, and its rank among UK towns sits beside it. How grades work

Hildenborough

Kent · 4,943 people

A⁺

Score 72.2·#80 of 2,138 UK towns

Strongest: schools A⁺, jobs & income A⁺·lowest: hazard risk D⁻

Joyden's Wood

Kent · 4,912 people

Score 69.7·#144 of 2,138 UK towns

Strongest: jobs & income A⁺, health A·lowest: cost of living C⁻

Bearsted

Kent · 8,349 people

Score 67.9·#184 of 2,138 UK towns

Strongest: jobs & income A⁺, health A·lowest: cost of living C⁻

All 87 towns, ranked

By overall score against UK towns; ranks are within Kent, and each UK rank links to the national list. The score (0–100) blends the seven livability grades and sets the order; the letter places that score among UK towns of 2,500+, and A+ is the top 5%, so neighbours on the list often share a letter.

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87 towns.

#TownScoreGrade · UK rankWhat drives it

1Hildenborough4,943 people72.2top 3.9%A⁺#80 of 2,138 nationallyStrongest: schools A⁺, jobs & income A⁺·lowest: hazard risk D⁻

2Joyden's Wood4,912 people69.7top 6.9%A#144 of 2,138 nationallyStrongest: jobs & income A⁺, health A·lowest: cost of living C⁻

3Bearsted8,349 people67.9top 8.9%A#184 of 2,138 nationallyStrongest: jobs & income A⁺, health A·lowest: cost of living C⁻

4Otford and Kemsing7,332 people64.6top 13.8%A#287 of 2,138 nationallyStrongest: health A⁺, jobs & income A⁺·lowest: cost of living D

5Rusthall and Langton Green7,783 people64.6top 13.9%A#289 of 2,138 nationallyStrongest: schools A⁺, hazard risk A·lowest: cost of living C

6Dunton Green3,241 people63.1top 15.9%A⁻#331 of 2,138 nationallyStrongest: jobs & income A, health A·lowest: hazard risk C⁻

7Kings Hill9,963 people63.0top 16.1%A⁻#335 of 2,138 nationallyStrongest: health A⁺, jobs & income A⁺·lowest: cost of living C⁻

8Sevenoaks26,474 people61.2top 20.3%A⁻#425 of 2,138 nationallyStrongest: jobs & income A⁺, walkability A⁺·lowest: cost of living D

9Royal Tunbridge Wells51,215 people60.8top 21.2%A⁻#442 of 2,138 nationallyStrongest: walkability A⁺, schools A·lowest: safety C

10Southborough9,632 people60.6top 21.6%A⁻#452 of 2,138 nationallyStrongest: schools A, walkability A·lowest: cost of living C

11South Darenth and Sutton at Hone4,091 people59.1top 24.1%A⁻#506 of 2,138 nationallyStrongest: schools A⁺, cost of living B⁺·lowest: hazard risk C⁻

12Cuxton3,039 people57.8top 26.9%B⁺#566 of 2,138 nationallyStrongest: safety A, jobs & income A⁻·lowest: cost of living C⁻

13Hextable4,100 people57.1top 28.0%B⁺#590 of 2,138 nationallyStrongest: schools A, hazard risk A·lowest: cost of living C

14Hawkhurst3,683 people55.4top 32.2%B⁺#679 of 2,138 nationallyStrongest: schools A, hazard risk B⁺·lowest: safety C

15Istead Rise3,398 people55.2top 32.6%B⁺#687 of 2,138 nationallyStrongest: jobs & income A, safety A·lowest: cost of living D

16Tonbridge36,136 people54.6top 33.9%B⁺#714 of 2,138 nationallyStrongest: walkability A, schools A·lowest: hazard risk D

17Meopham4,349 people53.1top 36.4%B#768 of 2,138 nationallyStrongest: jobs & income A, hazard risk A·lowest: cost of living D

18Cranbrook3,962 people52.8top 37.0%B#780 of 2,138 nationallyStrongest: schools A, hazard risk A·lowest: safety C⁻

19Westerham3,390 people52.3top 38.3%B#809 of 2,138 nationallyStrongest: health A, walkability A⁻·lowest: hazard risk D

20Marden3,489 people52.1top 38.7%B#817 of 2,138 nationallyStrongest: schools A, walkability A⁻·lowest: cost of living C⁻

21Dartford69,131 people51.1top 40.7%B#860 of 2,138 nationallyStrongest: walkability A⁺, schools A⁺·lowest: safety D

22West Malling4,251 people50.2top 42.5%B#900 of 2,138 nationallyStrongest: health A⁻, jobs & income B⁺·lowest: safety C

23Cliffe Woods2,689 people49.9top 43.2%B#914 of 2,138 nationallyStrongest: safety A, hazard risk A·lowest: cost of living D

24Longfield, New Ash Green and Hartley16,077 people49.9top 43.3%B#915 of 2,138 nationallyStrongest: hazard risk A, jobs & income B⁺·lowest: cost of living C⁻

25Ash (Dover)2,529 people49.1top 45.2%B⁻#956 of 2,138 nationallyStrongest: hazard risk A, schools A⁻·lowest: cost of living C⁻

26Ebbsfleet Valley2,989 people48.3top 46.9%B⁻#994 of 2,138 nationallyStrongest: walkability A, jobs & income A·lowest: safety D⁻

27Swanley17,209 people48.0top 47.8%B⁻#1,013 of 2,138 nationallyStrongest: walkability A, hazard risk A·lowest: safety C⁻

28Borough Green4,712 people47.3top 49.3%B⁻#1,045 of 2,138 nationallyStrongest: health A⁻, jobs & income A⁻·lowest: schools D

29Higham2,642 people46.4bottom 48.5%B⁻#1,093 of 2,138 nationallyStrongest: hazard risk A, health A⁻·lowest: cost of living D

30Cliffe2,531 people45.5bottom 46.9%B⁻#1,128 of 2,138 nationallyStrongest: hazard risk A, schools B⁺·lowest: walkability D

31West Kingsdown4,306 people45.4bottom 46.6%B⁻#1,134 of 2,138 nationallyStrongest: hazard risk A, safety B·lowest: cost of living C

32Pembury5,783 people45.1bottom 45.8%B⁻#1,151 of 2,138 nationallyStrongest: jobs & income A⁻, walkability B⁺·lowest: safety C⁻

33Stone6,438 people44.8bottom 44.7%C⁺#1,174 of 2,138 nationallyStrongest: walkability A, hazard risk A·lowest: safety D⁻

34Swanscombe15,462 people44.8bottom 44.7%C⁺#1,176 of 2,138 nationallyStrongest: walkability A, hazard risk A·lowest: safety D

35Maidstone109,503 people44.5bottom 43.9%C⁺#1,192 of 2,138 nationallyStrongest: walkability A⁻, schools A⁻·lowest: safety D

36Coxheath8,453 people44.4bottom 43.5%C⁺#1,200 of 2,138 nationallyStrongest: health B, jobs & income B·lowest: cost of living C

37Ashford82,143 people43.9bottom 42.6%C⁺#1,220 of 2,138 nationallyStrongest: walkability A⁻, schools B·lowest: safety C⁻

38Hawkinge8,499 people43.8bottom 42.3%C⁺#1,227 of 2,138 nationallyStrongest: hazard risk A, schools A⁻·lowest: cost of living D

39Hadlow3,168 people43.3bottom 40.9%C⁺#1,258 of 2,138 nationallyStrongest: safety B, walkability B·lowest: schools C⁻

40Halling2,926 people43.2bottom 40.7%C⁺#1,261 of 2,138 nationallyStrongest: jobs & income A⁻, hazard risk B⁺·lowest: schools C⁻

41Edenbridge7,903 people41.3bottom 36.7%C⁺#1,347 of 2,138 nationallyStrongest: walkability A⁻, schools B·lowest: hazard risk D

42Iwade4,533 people40.9bottom 35.7%C⁺#1,369 of 2,138 nationallyStrongest: safety A⁻, jobs & income B⁺·lowest: schools D⁻

43Faversham20,941 people40.8bottom 35.4%C⁺#1,375 of 2,138 nationallyStrongest: walkability A, schools B⁺·lowest: safety C⁻

44Larkfield26,147 people40.6bottom 35.2%C⁺#1,381 of 2,138 nationallyStrongest: jobs & income B⁺, walkability B⁻·lowest: hazard risk D

45Darenth2,588 people40.3bottom 34.5%C#1,396 of 2,138 nationallyStrongest: hazard risk A, schools B·lowest: health C⁻

46Herne14,874 people40.1bottom 34.1%C#1,404 of 2,138 nationallyStrongest: safety B, schools B⁻·lowest: cost of living C⁻

47Hythe14,613 people40.1bottom 33.9%C#1,407 of 2,138 nationallyStrongest: walkability A⁻, schools B⁺·lowest: hazard risk D

48Paddock Wood7,616 people39.3bottom 32.1%C#1,444 of 2,138 nationallyStrongest: walkability A⁻, health B·lowest: hazard risk D⁻

49Teynham3,128 people38.5bottom 30.4%C#1,481 of 2,138 nationallyStrongest: walkability B, cost of living B·lowest: safety C⁻

50Halfway Houses4,396 people38.4bottom 30.2%C#1,485 of 2,138 nationallyStrongest: hazard risk B⁺, cost of living B⁻·lowest: jobs & income C

51Rochester67,279 people38.4bottom 30.2%C#1,486 of 2,138 nationallyStrongest: walkability A⁻, schools B⁺·lowest: safety D

52Newington2,691 people38.4bottom 29.9%C#1,493 of 2,138 nationallyStrongest: hazard risk A, jobs & income B⁺·lowest: safety C⁻

53Sittingbourne54,385 people37.4bottom 27.4%C#1,546 of 2,138 nationallyStrongest: walkability A⁻, hazard risk B·lowest: safety D

54Broadstairs25,780 people37.3bottom 27.2%C#1,550 of 2,138 nationallyStrongest: walkability A⁻, schools B·lowest: cost of living D⁻

55Northfleet29,892 people36.8bottom 25.7%C#1,583 of 2,138 nationallyStrongest: walkability A, hazard risk A·lowest: safety D

56Staplehurst6,181 people36.7bottom 25.5%C#1,588 of 2,138 nationallyStrongest: walkability B⁺, jobs & income B⁻·lowest: schools D

57Whitfield6,509 people36.7bottom 25.3%C#1,592 of 2,138 nationallyStrongest: hazard risk A, walkability C⁺·lowest: safety C⁻

58Tenterden7,775 people36.7bottom 25.2%C#1,594 of 2,138 nationallyStrongest: hazard risk B⁺, health B⁺·lowest: schools D⁻

59Snodland11,820 people35.7bottom 22.8%C⁻#1,646 of 2,138 nationallyStrongest: cost of living B, walkability B·lowest: schools D

60Chartham3,569 people35.2bottom 21.3%C⁻#1,679 of 2,138 nationallyStrongest: health B⁺, jobs & income B⁻·lowest: hazard risk D⁻

61Headcorn3,293 people35.0bottom 20.8%C⁻#1,688 of 2,138 nationallyStrongest: walkability B⁺, health B·lowest: safety D

62Canterbury55,107 people35.0bottom 20.7%C⁻#1,691 of 2,138 nationallyStrongest: walkability A⁺, schools B⁻·lowest: safety D⁻

63Whitstable32,185 people34.7bottom 20.0%C⁻#1,707 of 2,138 nationallyStrongest: walkability A⁻, health B⁻·lowest: cost of living D

64Lenham and Harrietsham4,763 people34.6bottom 19.5%C⁻#1,716 of 2,138 nationallyStrongest: health B⁺, walkability B·lowest: schools D

65Dover36,349 people34.0bottom 18.5%C⁻#1,739 of 2,138 nationallyStrongest: walkability A, cost of living B·lowest: safety D⁻

66Gillingham108,485 people33.3bottom 16.6%C⁻#1,780 of 2,138 nationallyStrongest: walkability A⁻, jobs & income C⁺·lowest: safety D

67Sandwich4,258 people33.1bottom 16.4%C⁻#1,785 of 2,138 nationallyStrongest: walkability A⁻, schools C⁺·lowest: safety D

68Folkestone51,987 people32.9bottom 16.0%C⁻#1,793 of 2,138 nationallyStrongest: walkability A, schools B⁺·lowest: safety D

69Aylesham5,788 people32.8bottom 15.7%C⁻#1,800 of 2,138 nationallyStrongest: hazard risk A, walkability B·lowest: schools D

70Sturry4,857 people32.3bottom 14.3%D#1,829 of 2,138 nationallyStrongest: walkability B⁺, jobs & income C⁺·lowest: hazard risk D

71Chatham76,956 people32.2bottom 14.2%D#1,832 of 2,138 nationallyStrongest: walkability B⁺, hazard risk B·lowest: safety D

72Gravesend58,105 people32.1bottom 13.9%D#1,837 of 2,138 nationallyStrongest: walkability A, schools B⁻·lowest: safety D

73Queenborough3,915 people32.0bottom 13.7%D#1,842 of 2,138 nationallyStrongest: walkability A⁻, hazard risk B⁺·lowest: safety D

74Deal28,992 people30.1bottom 10.8%D#1,905 of 2,138 nationallyStrongest: walkability A⁻, cost of living C⁺·lowest: schools D

75Dymchurch3,097 people29.4bottom 9.8%D#1,926 of 2,138 nationallyStrongest: schools B, walkability B⁻·lowest: hazard risk D⁻

76Minster (Swale)16,735 people28.7bottom 8.4%D#1,957 of 2,138 nationallyStrongest: schools C⁺, cost of living C⁺·lowest: jobs & income D

77Ramsgate42,031 people27.4bottom 6.5%D#1,998 of 2,138 nationallyStrongest: walkability A, schools B·lowest: safety D⁻

78Sheerness13,253 people27.2bottom 6.2%D#2,005 of 2,138 nationallyStrongest: walkability A, cost of living B⁺·lowest: safety D⁻

79Hoo St Werburgh8,758 people26.4bottom 5.3%D#2,023 of 2,138 nationallyStrongest: walkability C⁺, jobs & income C·lowest: hazard risk D

80Lydd3,911 people26.2bottom 5.0%D#2,030 of 2,138 nationallyStrongest: hazard risk A, walkability B·lowest: jobs & income D⁻

81Eastchurch3,381 people25.4bottom 4.4%D⁻#2,044 of 2,138 nationallyStrongest: hazard risk A, walkability A⁻·lowest: safety D⁻

82Littlestone-on-Sea5,271 people23.4bottom 2.8%D⁻#2,078 of 2,138 nationallyStrongest: safety B, walkability C·lowest: schools D⁻

83St Mary's Bay2,966 people23.2bottom 2.6%D⁻#2,081 of 2,138 nationallyStrongest: walkability B⁻, safety B⁻·lowest: jobs & income D

84Minster (Thanet)4,739 people23.0bottom 2.5%D⁻#2,083 of 2,138 nationallyStrongest: hazard risk A, walkability C⁺·lowest: cost of living D⁻

85Herne Bay24,873 people21.6bottom 1.4%D⁻#2,107 of 2,138 nationallyStrongest: walkability A⁻, cost of living C⁻·lowest: schools D⁻

86New Romney3,870 people21.4bottom 1.4%D⁻#2,108 of 2,138 nationallyStrongest: hazard risk A, walkability B⁺·lowest: schools D⁻

87Margate63,315 people16.3bottom 0.1%D⁻#2,135 of 2,138 nationallyStrongest: walkability A, hazard risk C⁺·lowest: safety D

Quick answers

Questions people ask

What is the best place to live in Kent?

Hildenborough ranks first of 87 graded towns of 2,500+: schools (A+) and jobs & income (A+) are its strongest grades; hazard risk (D−) is its lowest. Joyden's Wood and Bearsted follow.

How are these towns ranked?

By the overall grade, which blends seven livability grades (cost of living, safety, schools, health, jobs & income, walkability, hazard risk) from public data, each comparing a town with every UK town. The rank is within Kent. How grades work.

Why isn’t my town on this list?

The list covers places of 2,500+ residents with an overall grade. Smaller places, and towns missing figures the overall grade needs, show their subject grades on their own pages; every town in Kent is listed on the county page.

Sources: TownRatings grades: our own summary of the data, ranked against UK towns only. All under the Open Government Licence v3.0.

Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Contains HM Land Registry data © Crown copyright and database right 2026. Contains OS data © Crown copyright and database right 2026 (ONS boundaries). Northern Ireland: Source: NISRA; contains Land & Property Services data and Ordnance Survey of Northern Ireland information, © Crown copyright, licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Scotland: contains National Records of Scotland data, Registers of Scotland data and SEPA data, © Crown copyright / © SEPA 2025, licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.