Margate grades D− overall against UK towns: behind almost every UK town. Its strongest subject is walkability (A): 25% of commuters walk, cycle or take public transport. Its weakest is safety (D): 56.1 violent and sexual offences and 17.5 home and vehicle crimes per 1,000 residents a year, averaged Sep 2023 to Aug 2026. Among UK towns and cities of 50,000 or more, it has less crime per resident than 21%. The median home sold for £288,500 in the last three years, 6 times what households in the Thanet council area earn in a year.

StrongestAWalkabilityWeakestDSafety DSchools

What makes Margate stand out

The 3 things Margate does most differently from other towns.

Picked automatically from the data

Homes built before 1919

History

Against 15% in the typical UK town

Valuation Office Agency, homes by build period.

Claimant rate, against UK towns

Work

of 16 to 64s in 2026: more than in 98% of UK towns

DWP claimant count, January to August 2026.

Secondary results, towns in England

Schools

Secondary results trail 93%

of towns in England, on GCSE results (Attainment 8, English and maths)

Primary results beat 13%. Department for Education.

How Margate grades

Each subject compared with the 2,160 UK towns with an overall grade (schools within England), ordered by how far Margate is from typical. American towns are graded separately.

How grading works

SafetyDOpen →SchoolsPrimary results beat 13% of towns in England; secondary results beat 7% of towns in EnglandDOpen →Cost of livingrent £1,118 a monthDOpen →HealthLife expectancy 76.6 for men, 80.9 for womenDOpen →WalkabilityAOpen →Jobs & incomeDOpen →Hazard risk0.8% of homes at high or medium risk of flooding from rivers or the seaC⁺Open →

Character Graded, but not part of the overall grade.

HistoryAOpen →Outdoors88% live within 400 m of a park; 1.8 ha of public green space per 1,000 residentsBOpen →Civic life1.2 local charities per 1,000 residents; 65% live within 1 km of a libraryB⁻Open →

How TownRatings grades towns →

Marine Crescent, Margate 1828, 1828 · Photo: Unknown photographer · Public domain

Margate’s story

Margate in pictures

Historic England lists 303 buildings inside Margate’s built-up area, 2 of them Grade I, and 2 scheduled monuments.

35% of its homes were built before 1919, against 15% in the typical UK town.

The archive holds 8 old photos and postcards going back to 1828 and a map from c. 1927.

c. 1890Beach and ladies' bathing place, Margate, England
c. 1890The Gap, Margate, England
c. 1890The fort, Margate, England

Explore the history →

Nearby attractions

Dreamland Margate and 27 more in and around Margate

Museums, castles, gardens and days out in and near Margate. Best known first.

All attractions →

Theme parkDreamland Margatein town

AttractionThe Scenic Railwayin town

MuseumPowell-Cotton Museumin town

MuseumTudor Housein town

MuseumCervia4 km outside town, to the southeast

Historic houseQuex Park200 m outside town, to the southwest

Places: © OpenStreetMap contributors · Wikidata

Photos: each place’s Wikidata image, from Wikimedia Commons under the licence below (our copy, resized).

Photo credits (6)

Dreamland Margate: Ruth Johnston from United Kingdom, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
The Scenic Railway: Peet13, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
Powell-Cotton Museum: Acabashi, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
Tudor House: Geni, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
Cervia: stavros1, CC BY 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
Quex Park: Acabashi, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons

The data

Data highlights are ordered by what stands out in Margate.

Safety

Margate has more crime per resident than 94% of UK towns

Town centres with shops, stations and nightlife record more crime per resident: police.uk counts crimes where they happen, not where victims live.

Violence came to 56.1 per 1,000 residents a year, above both Kent’s towns (23.9) and England’s towns (22). Police recorded 6,240 crimes inside Margate’s built-up area in the 12 months to August 2026, plus 1,561 reports of anti-social behaviour. For its size, Margate records more crime per resident than 79% of the 207 UK towns and cities of 50,000 or more.

56.1violent and sexual offences per 1,000 a yearDSafety Grade

Compared with UK towns its sizeLess crime per resident than 21% of the 207 UK towns and cities of 50,000 or more: more crime than most for its size. Context only, not part of the grade.

More crimeLess crime

Reports by type · Sep 2025 to Aug 2026

Violence & sexual3,063

Damage & arson698

Shoplifting489

Other theft458

Public order364

Drugs356

Vehicle crime226

Other crime189

Anti-social1,561

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.

56.1

violent and sexual offences per 1,000 residents a year, averaged Sep 2023 to Aug 2026

17.5

burglary, vehicle crime and damage per 1,000 a year, averaged Sep 2023 to Aug 2026

21.6

anti-social behaviour reports per 1,000 (not graded)

6,240

crimes recorded in the 12 months to August 2026

Full pageMargate’s safety reportOpen the page

Safety Grade56.1 violent and sexual offences per 1,000 · Margate has more crime per resident than 94% of UK towns Crime by typeViolence & sexual leads Vs. the neighboursAhead of 1 of its 7 graded neighbours Questions“Is Margate safe?”

data.police.uk street-level crime · points inside the ONS built-up-area boundary · OGL

SchoolsD

Results at Margate’s schools trail 94% of towns in England

Two of its 16 schools are below, each with why it’s listed.

DSchool Grade

School	Level	Pupils	Letter
Cliftonville Primary SchoolLargest primary schoolPrimary	Primary	845	C⁻
Ursuline CollegeLargest secondary schoolSecondary	Secondary	949	C⁻

Department for Education · GIAS, Key Stage 2 and GCSE resultsSee all 16 schools →

HousingCost of living grade D

Private renting is more common in Margate than in Kent’s towns or England’s towns: 30% of households

For Margate, that is above both Kent’s towns (19%) and England’s towns (21%). Social housing holds 12% of households.

£289Kmedian sale

Median sale price · Sep 2023 to Aug 2026

Margate£289K

Typical UK town£277K

By type	Median	Sales
Detached	£435,000	452
Semi-detached	£320,000	582
Terraced	£280,000	652
Flat or maisonette	£165,000	737

58%

of households own their home · England 61%

30%

rent privately · England 21%

£1,118

average private rent a month, Thanet council area

£2,452

council tax, Band D, 2026–27

Full pageMargate’s housing & cost pageOpen the page

House pricesMedian sale £288,500 Renting£1,118 a month · Average private rent Council tax£2,452 Band D · Council tax, 2026–27 Owners and renters58% own their home

HM Land Registry Price Paid · ONS private rents · MHCLG / Welsh Government council tax · ONS Census 2021 tenure · OGL

Health

Disability is more common in Margate than in Kent’s towns or across England’s towns: 24% of residents

Margate sits above both Kent’s towns (18%) and England’s towns (17%) on this measure. Women here live to 80.9 on average and men to 76.6 (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.

76%good or very good healthDHealth Grade

General health, self-reported

Good or very good 76%Fair 16%Bad or very bad 8%

Census 2021	Margate	Kent	England
Good or very good health	76%	82%	82%
Bad or very bad health	7.8%	5.1%	5.2%
Disabled (Equality Act)	24%	18%	17%

76.6

life expectancy at birth, men (2019–23)

80.9

life expectancy at birth, women

Full pageMargate’s health pageOpen the page

Health GradeLife expectancy: women 80.9, men 76.6 Getting care1 miles to A&E · Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother Hospital GP practices75% rate their practice good Census health76% in good health

ONS Census 2021, general health and disability · OHID Fingertips, life expectancy 2019–23 · OGL

History

303 listed buildings, 2 of them Grade I

The heritage lists give each building’s grade but not its age, so we don’t say which is oldest.

Margate has 303 listed buildings on Historic England’s list: 2 Grade I, 9 Grade II*. Margate’s listed buildings include Parish Church of St John the Baptist, Grade I. Homes from before 1919 make up 35% of the total, above both Kent’s towns (18%) and England’s towns (16%).

303listed buildingsAHistory Grade

Listed buildings by grade · Historic England

Grade I2

Grade II*9

Grade II292

Among them · Grade I

Parish Church of St John the Baptist Grade I
The Grotto Grade I

scheduled monuments

registered parks and gardens

35%

of homes built before 1919 · typical UK town 15%

listed buildings per 10,000 residents · typical UK town 24

Full pageMargate’s history pageOpen the page

Listed buildings303 listed buildings Homes by age35% built before 1919 · Older homes Vs. the neighboursAhead of 4 of its 7 graded neighbours Questions“How many listed buildings are there in Margate?”

Historic England list, October 2026 · Valuation Office Agency, homes by build period · OGL

Work & commuteJobs & income grade D

More people aged 16 to 64 in Margate claim unemployment benefits than in Kent’s towns or England’s towns: 5.8%

The Census was taken on 21 March 2021, in lockdown, so 24% of workers were mainly at home; shares here are of those who travelled.

That puts Margate above both Kent’s towns (2.7%) and England’s towns (2.3%). Household income averages £46K a year before tax.

25%walk, cycle or ride

How commuters got to work · March 2021

Driving71%

On foot13%

Bus5%

Train3%

Bicycle3%

53%

of commuters travel under 5 km · England 45%

24%

worked mainly from home in March 2021

£46K

mean household income, before tax

5.8%

of 16 to 64s claim unemployment benefits (2026)

Walkability: more walkable than 89% of UK towns

Full pageMargate’s work & commute pageOpen the page

Jobs based here16,250 jobs based here · Health and social care is the biggest, 35%Commute map25% walk, cycle or ride Household income£46K a year · Mean household income Getting to work53% go under 5 km · Short trips to work

ONS Census 2021, method of travel and distance to work · ONS small-area income · DWP claimant count · OGL

Who lives here

Margate skews older, with 23% of residents 65 or over, more than Kent’s towns or England’s towns

On this, Margate is above both Kent’s towns (19%) and England’s towns (18%). People aged 15 to 24 make up 9.5% of the town. The median resident of Margate is 44.1 years old.

44.1median age

MargateKentEngland

KentEngland

Ages · share of residents

23%

Qualifications · residents 16 and older

No qualifications23%

Apprenticeship6%

A levels or similar16%

Degree level26%

Women and men · all residents

52% women, 48% men

About 92 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.

Ages and qualifications in Margate
	Margate	Kent	England
Under 15	17%	18%	18%
15–24	9.5%	11%	12%
25–44	24%	25%	27%
45–64	26%	26%	25%
65+	23%	19%	18%
No qualifications	23%	18%	18%
Apprenticeship	6.3%	5.7%	5.3%
A levels or similar	16%	18%	17%
Degree level	26%	29%	34%

Full pageMargate’s Who lives here pageOpen the page

Ages44.1 median age · 23% are 65 or over Households28,154 households · 58% own their home Where people were born11% born outside the UK Questions“What is the population of Margate?”

ONS Census 2021 · Kent and England: all residents of their built-up areas · OGL

Keep exploring

Everything we know about Margate

15pages on Margate

The big questions

SafetyD56.1 violent and sexual offences per 1,000 residents a year, averaged Sep 2023 to Aug 2026 Cost of livingDMedian home £289K · rent £1,118 a month Housing731 sold in 12 months · busiest street Sea Road SchoolsD16 state schools HealthDLife expectancy 76.6 (men), 80.9 (women)Work & commuteD64% of working residents work in the town Flood & hazardsC⁺0.8% of homes at high or medium flood risk

Out and about

OutdoorsB88% live within 400 m of a park AttractionsClimateJuly highs of 23°C (73°F), 596 mm of rain a year Weather

The story

Who lives hereMedian age 44.1 · 63,315 people HistoryA303 listed buildings, 2 Grade I Town Hall & politicsCouncil area: Thanet Famous people51 born here, among them Trevor Howard

Landmarks

303 listed buildings in Margate, 2 of them Grade I.

All landmarks →

The GrottoGrade I listed

Parish Church of St John the BaptistGrade I listed

The Scenic Railway at DreamlandGrade II* listed

Water Tower at Margate StationGrade II listed

Photo credits

The Grotto: Photo: Gernot Keller · CC BY-SA 2.5 · Parish Church of St John the Baptist: Photo: David Anstiss · CC BY-SA 2.0 · The Scenic Railway at Dreamland: Photo: Peet13 · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Water Tower at Margate Station: Photo: Geof Sheppard · CC BY-SA 4.0

Famous people from Margate

51 notable people were born in Margate.

See all 51 →

Trevor HowardEnglish film, stage and television actor (1913–1988)

Ana Lily AmirpourBritish-born American filmmaker · born 1980

BryherEnglish novelist, poet, memoirist, and magazine editor (189…

Daniel RitchieBritish rower · born 1987

Ollie RobinsonBritish cricketer (born 1993)

John Neale DaltonBritish priest (1839–1931)

Photo credits

Trevor Howard: Allan warren, CC BY-SA 3.0 · Ana Lily Amirpour: Moritz Barcelona from Barcelona, Catalunya, CC BY 2.0 · Bryher: Man Ray, Public domain · Daniel Ritchie: Joanne from London, UK, CC BY-SA 2.0 · Ollie Robinson: Dave Morton, Public domain

Margate’s neighbours

The nearest built-up areas, from ONS’s 2022 boundaries. See them on the map →

All towns in Kent →

BroadstairsRamsgateMinster (Thanet)Cliffs EndSandwichAsh (Dover)EastryMargate

How the neighbours grade

Town	People	Miles	Overall	Cost	Safety	Health
Margate	63,315	—	D⁻	D	D	D
Broadstairs	25,780	2.8	C	D⁻	C	C⁺
Ramsgate	42,031	3.5	D	D	D⁻	D
Minster (Thanet)	4,739	3.6	D⁻	D⁻	D	C⁺
Cliffs End	1,284	3.7	—	D⁻	C⁻	B⁻
Sandwich	4,258	7.8	C⁻	C⁻	D	C⁺
Ash (Dover)	2,529	8.1	B⁻	C⁻	C	B⁺
Eastry	2,388	9.7	—	C	B⁺	C⁺

Cliffs End 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 Margate

How many listed buildings are there in Margate?

That is 2 times the typical UK town for its size. Its Grade I buildings include Parish Church of St John the Baptist. It also has 2 scheduled monuments. 35% of Margate’s homes were built before 1919, against 15% in the typical UK town.

Is Margate safe?

Police recorded 6,240 crimes inside Margate’s built-up area in the 12 months to August 2026, 49% of them violence and sexual offences, a police category that includes harassment and stalking.

About Margate

Large town in Kent, England

Margate is a built-up area of 63,315 people, in the Thanet 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: 63,315 (Census 2021)
Council: Thanet
County: Kent
Region: South East
Area: 5.2 sq mi (13.4 km²)
ONS code: E63005125

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.