Kingsdown’s story
1 listed building
Historic England lists them inside Kingsdown’s built-up area.
26% of its homes were built before 1919, against 15% in the typical UK town.
Explore the history →
KingsdownKent
A village of 1,687 in Kent, South East.
7 places within 12 milesMap →
Photo: Chris Whippet · CC BY-SA 2.0
Population
1,687
Census 2021 · Dover council
Median home
£379K
126 sales in 3 years
Median age
60.8
41% are 65+ · Kent 19%
Degree level
40%
of residents 16+ · England 34%
Walk, cycle, bus
14%
of commuters · England 27%
Is Kingsdown a good place to live?
Kingsdown has fewer than 2,500 residents, so it gets subject grades but no overall grade. Its strongest subject is health (A−): life expectancy 82.8 for men, 86 for women. Its weakest is schools (D): primary results beat 36% of towns in England; secondary results beat 0% of towns in England. The median home sold for £378,500 in the last three years, 7.2 times what households in the Dover council area earn in a year.
What makes Kingsdown stand out
The 3 things Kingsdown does most differently from other towns.
Residents 65 and over
Who lives here
41% are 65 or over
Against 18% across England’s towns
Own outright
Housing
65% own outright
of households own their home with no mortgage (England’s towns 32%)
Walk, cycle or public transport
Getting around
14% leave the car
of commuters walk, cycle or take public transport (England’s towns 27%)
How Kingsdown grades
Each subject compared with the 2,160 UK towns with an overall grade (schools within England), ordered by how far Kingsdown is from typical. American towns are graded separately.
SchoolsPrimary results beat 36% of towns in England; secondary results beat 0% of towns in EnglandDOpen →Cost of livingrent £1,021 a monthC−Open →HealthA−Open →SafetyB+Open →Hazard risk1.3% of homes at high or medium risk of flooding from rivers or the seaCOpen →WalkabilityB−Open →Jobs & incomeMean household income £59,234; 1.7% of 16 to 64s claim unemployment benefitsB−Open →
Character Graded, but not part of the overall grade.
History1 listed buildingC−Open →Outdoors67% live within 400 m of a park; 12% of land within 5 km is National Park or National LandscapeB+Open →Civic life4.1 local charities per 1,000 residents; 0% live within 1 km of a libraryBOpen →
How TownRatings grades towns →
Nearby attractions
All attractions →Walmer Castle and 12 more in and around Kingsdown
Museums, castles, gardens and days out in and near Kingsdown. Best known first.
Castle · English HeritageWalmer Castle400 m outside town, to the north
Castle · English HeritageDeal Castle2.5 km outside town, to the north
CastleSandown Castle4.6 km outside town, to the north
Fort · National TrustFan Bay Deep Shelter5 km outside town, to the southwest
MuseumTime Ball Tower2.8 km outside town, to the north
PierDeal Pier3 km outside town, to the northPlaces: © OpenStreetMap contributors · Wikidata
Photos: each place’s Wikidata image, from Wikimedia Commons under the licence below (our copy, resized).
Photo credits (6)
- Walmer Castle: Lieven Smits, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Deal Castle: JimRussell, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Sandown Castle: Nick Smith, CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Fan Bay Deep Shelter: Inklin235, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Time Ball Tower: Nick Smith, CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Deal Pier: Jim Osley, CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
The data
Data highlights are ordered by what stands out in Kingsdown.
Who lives here
An older town: 41% of people in Kingsdown are 65 or over, more than in Kent’s towns or England’s towns
For Kingsdown, that is above both Kent’s towns (19%) and England’s towns (18%). Children under 15 make up 11% of residents. The median resident of Kingsdown is 60.8 years old.
60.8median age
KingsdownKentEngland
Ages · share of residents
41%
Qualifications · residents 16 and older
No qualifications15%
Apprenticeship6%
A levels or similar14%
Degree level40%
Women and men · all residents
52% women, 48% men
About 93 men for every 100 women. Across England, 51% of residents are women. Women live longer than men, so towns with many older residents have more women.
| Kingsdown | Kent | England | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 15 | 11% | 18% | 18% |
| 15–24 | 4.9% | 11% | 12% |
| 25–44 | 12% | 25% | 27% |
| 45–64 | 30% | 26% | 25% |
| 65+ | 41% | 19% | 18% |
| No qualifications | 15% | 18% | 18% |
| Apprenticeship | 6.2% | 5.7% | 5.3% |
| A levels or similar | 14% | 18% | 17% |
| Degree level | 40% | 29% | 34% |
ONS Census 2021 · Kent and England: all residents of their built-up areas · OGL
SchoolsD
Results at Kingsdown’s schools trail 87% of towns in England
Kingsdown and Ringwould Church of England Primary School’s results beat 98% of schools in England like it. Its one school is below.
DSchool Grade
| School | Level | Pupils | Letter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kingsdown and Ringwould Church of England Primary SchoolLargest primary schoolPrimary | Primary | 211 | A+ |
Department for Education · GIAS, Key Stage 2 and GCSE resultsThe Schools page →
HousingCost of living grade C−
Kingsdown is a town of owners: 87% of households own their home, above Kent’s towns and England’s towns
Kingsdown sits above both Kent’s towns (65%) and England’s towns (61%) on this measure. Social housing holds 3% of households.
£379Kmedian sale
Median sale price · Sep 2023 to Aug 2026
Kingsdown£379K
Typical UK town£277K
| By type | Median | Sales |
|---|---|---|
| Detached | £487,000 | 56 |
| Semi-detached | £340,000 | 60 |
| Flat or maisonette | £125,500 | 6 |
87%
of households own their home · England 61%
9%
rent privately · England 21%
£1,021
average private rent a month, Dover council area
£2,424
council tax, Band D, 2026–27
HM Land Registry Price Paid · ONS private rents · MHCLG / Welsh Government council tax · ONS Census 2021 tenure · OGL
Health
Disability is more common in Kingsdown than in Kent’s towns or across England’s towns: 22% of residents
That puts Kingsdown above both Kent’s towns (18%) and England’s towns (17%). Women here live to 86 on average and men to 82.8 (2019–23). These answers aren’t adjusted for age, so young towns look healthier; the Health Grade uses age-adjusted measures, including life expectancy and early deaths.
78%good or very good healthA−Health Grade
General health, self-reported
Good or very good 78%Fair 16%Bad or very bad 6%
| Census 2021 | Kingsdown | Kent | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Good or very good health | 78% | 82% | 82% |
| Bad or very bad health | 5.9% | 5.1% | 5.2% |
| Disabled (Equality Act) | 22% | 18% | 17% |
82.8
life expectancy at birth, men (2019–23)
86
life expectancy at birth, women
ONS Census 2021, general health and disability · OHID Fingertips, life expectancy 2019–23 · OGL
History
Much of Kingsdown is a conservation area: 100% of its land, more than Kent’s towns or England’s towns
The heritage lists give each building’s grade but not its age, so we don’t say which is oldest.
Of Kingsdown’s land, 100% lies in conservation areas, above both Kent’s towns (14%) and England’s towns (7%). 26% of homes were built before 1919. Kingsdown has 1 listed building on Historic England’s list: 0 Grade I, 0 Grade II*.
1listed buildingsC−History Grade
Listed buildings by grade · Historic England
Grade I0
Grade II*0
Grade II1
0
scheduled monuments
0
registered parks and gardens
26%
of homes built before 1919 · typical UK town 15%
6
listed buildings per 10,000 residents · typical UK town 24
Historic England list, October 2026 · Valuation Office Agency, homes by build period · OGL
Safety
Burglary and damage are rarer in Kingsdown than in Kent’s towns or across England’s towns: 5.1 per 1,000 residents a year
On this, Kingsdown is below both Kent’s towns (12.3) and England’s towns (9.4). Police recorded 38 crimes inside Kingsdown’s built-up area in the 12 months to August 2026, plus 4 reports of anti-social behaviour. Violent crime runs at 18.2 per 1,000 residents a year.
18.2violent and sexual offences per 1,000 a yearB+Safety Grade
Compared with UK towns its sizeLess crime per resident than 56% of the 1,541 UK towns of 1,000 to 2,500 people: about the middle for its size. Context only, not part of the grade.
Reports by type · Sep 2025 to Aug 2026
Violence & sexual24
Damage & arson5
Other theft5
Vehicle crime2
Burglary1
Bicycle theft1
Shoplifting0
Public order0
Anti-social4
Not gradedAnti-social behaviour, shoplifting and other theft are shown but left out of the Safety Grade, which counts violence and crimes against homes and vehicles per resident.
18.2
violent and sexual offences per 1,000 residents a year, averaged Sep 2023 to Aug 2026
5.1
burglary, vehicle crime and damage per 1,000 a year, averaged Sep 2023 to Aug 2026
2.4
anti-social behaviour reports per 1,000 (not graded)
38
crimes recorded in the 12 months to August 2026
data.police.uk street-level crime · points inside the ONS built-up-area boundary · OGL
Work & commuteJobs & income grade B−
Fewer commuters in Kingsdown work nearby than in Kent’s towns or England’s towns: 23% travel under 5 km
The Census was taken on 21 March 2021, in lockdown, so 39% of workers were mainly at home; shares here are of those who travelled.
In the comparison, Kingsdown comes below both Kent’s towns (42%) and England’s towns (45%). 14% of commuters went to work on foot, by bike or by public transport at the census.
14%walk, cycle or ride
How commuters got to work · March 2021
Driving83%
On foot6%
Train4%
Bicycle2%
Bus2%
Underground, tram1%
23%
of commuters travel under 5 km · England 45%
39%
worked mainly from home in March 2021
£59K
mean household income, before tax
1.7%
of 16 to 64s claim unemployment benefits (2026)
B−
Walkability: more walkable than 53% of UK towns
ONS Census 2021, method of travel and distance to work · ONS small-area income · DWP claimant count · OGL
Keep exploring
Everything we know about Kingsdown
14pages on Kingsdown
The big questions
SafetyB+18.2 violent and sexual offences per 1,000 residents a year, averaged Sep 2023 to Aug 2026Cost of livingC−Median home £379K · rent £1,021 a monthHousing24 sold in 12 months · busiest street Sea View AvenueSchoolsD1 state schoolHealthA−Life expectancy 82.8 (men), 86 (women)Work & commuteB−56% of working residents work in the townFlood & hazardsC1.3% of homes at high or medium flood risk
Out and about
Kingsdown’s neighbours
The nearest built-up areas, from ONS’s 2022 boundaries. See them on the map →
DealSt Margaret's at CliffeGustonWhitfieldEythorneDoverEastryKingsdown
How the neighbours grade
| Town | People | Miles | Overall | Cost | Safety | Health |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kingsdown | 1,687 | — | — | C− | B+ | A− |
| Deal | 28,992 | 2.2 | D | C+ | C | C |
| St Margaret's at Cliffe | 2,399 | 2.4 | — | D | B | A− |
| Guston | 1,684 | 4.5 | — | C+ | A+ | C− |
| Whitfield | 6,509 | 4.8 | C | C | C− | C+ |
| Eythorne | 1,487 | 5.7 | — | C | B | C+ |
| Dover | 36,349 | 5.7 | C− | B | D− | D |
| Eastry | 2,388 | 5.9 | — | C | B+ | C+ |
St Margaret's at Cliffe, Guston, Eythorne and Eastry have fewer than 2,500 residents, so they get subject grades but no overall grade. People: Census 2021. Miles: centre to centre.
Questions about Kingsdown
Are schools in Kingsdown good?
GCSE results trail almost all towns in England, and primary results trail 64% (Department for Education, Attainment 8 and Key Stage 2). One state school is inside the town; places are handled by Kent council.
Does Kingsdown flood?
Surface water isn’t included. Check a specific address on GOV.UK’s flood risk service.
Is Kingsdown expensive to live in?
Homes cost more than in most UK towns: the median sale over three years was £378,500, against £277,000 in the typical UK town. By type: flats £125,500, semi-detached houses £340,000 and detached houses £487,000.
About Kingsdown
Village in Kent, England
Kingsdown is a built-up area of 1,687 people, in the Dover council area. TownRatings uses ONS’s 2022 built-up areas as towns: the physical town, as people mean the word, rather than a council district, so its figures cover the town itself.
Built from ONS geography and Census 2021
- Population
- 1,687 (Census 2021)
- Council
- Dover
- County
- Kent
- Region
- South East
- Area
- 0.3 sq mi (0.9 km²)
- ONS code
- E63005622
Sources: ONS Census 2021, output areas summed to the ONS 2022 built-up area · HM Land Registry Price Paid (standard sales, September 2023 to August 2026) · ONS Price Index of Private Rents (August 2026, by council) · MHCLG and Welsh Government council tax, Band D 2026–27 (with parish precepts in England) · data.police.uk street-level crime, 36 months to August 2026, points inside the built-up-area boundary · ONS small-area life expectancy and healthy life expectancy, 2019 to 2023 (England and Wales), OHID Fingertips small-area indicators (England) and Census 2021 health, adjusted for age · ONS small-area income estimates (financial year ending 2023) · DWP claimant count via Nomis (January to August 2026) · Historic England, National Heritage List for England (listed buildings, scheduled monuments, registered parks and gardens, battlefields, World Heritage Sites), October 2026, inside the ONS 2022 built-up-area boundary · Valuation Office Agency, Council Tax: stock of properties by build period (31 March 2025) · 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.