Sheerness, #1 on this list · Photo: Chris Whippet · CC BY-SA 2.0

Kent rankings · Cost of living

Most affordable towns in Kent

Sheerness ranks first on cost of living among Kent’s 87 towns of 2,500+; none grades A− or better against UK towns; the best here is a B+.

The Cost of living Grade: the median sale price (Land Registry), a year’s private rent (ONS) and Band D council tax with the parish precept, each against the mean household income of the town’s council area. The rank across England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland sits beside each letter. How grades work

Sheerness

13,253 people

B⁺

Homes cost 3.8 years of area income·#923 of 2,515 in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland

Eastchurch

3,381 people

B⁺

Homes cost 3.8 years of area income·#981 of 2,515 in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland

South Darenth and Sutton at Hone

4,091 people

B⁺

Homes cost 4.3 years of area income·#1,039 of 2,515 in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland

All 87 towns, ranked

Cost of living grade, best first; ranks are the county ranks on each town’s page (T = tied). Military garrison towns and university campuses keep their grades but aren’t ranked. Each rank across England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland links to the national list.

Every town in Kent →

Find a town

87 towns.

#TownGrade · UK rankCompared with UK towns

1Sheerness13,253 peopleB⁺#923 of 2,515 nationallyhomes cost 3.8 years of area income

2Eastchurch3,381 peopleB⁺#981 of 2,515 nationallyhomes cost 3.8 years of area income

3South Darenth and Sutton at Hone4,091 peopleB⁺#1,039 of 2,515 nationallyhomes cost 4.3 years of area income

4Queenborough3,915 peopleB#1,091 of 2,515 nationallyhomes cost 4.2 years of area income

5Dover36,349 peopleB#1,107 of 2,515 nationallyhomes cost 4.2 years of area income

6Snodland11,820 peopleB#1,125 of 2,515 nationallyhomes cost 4.6 years of area income

7Ashford82,143 peopleB#1,257 of 2,515 nationallyhomes cost 5.1 years of area income

8Teynham3,128 peopleB#1,268 of 2,515 nationallyhomes cost 4.6 years of area income

9Halfway Houses4,396 peopleB⁻#1,412 of 2,515 nationallyhomes cost 5.3 years of area income

10Swanscombe15,462 peopleB⁻#1,474 of 2,515 nationallyhomes cost 5.1 years of area income

11Chatham76,956 peopleB⁻#1,489 of 2,515 nationallyhomes cost 5.0 years of area income

12Sittingbourne54,385 peopleB⁻#1,516 of 2,515 nationallyhomes cost 5.4 years of area income

13Aylesham5,788 peopleB⁻#1,533 of 2,515 nationallyhomes cost 5.2 years of area income

14Maidstone109,503 peopleC⁺#1,549 of 2,515 nationallyhomes cost 5.5 years of area income

15Dartford69,131 peopleC⁺#1,576 of 2,515 nationallyhomes cost 5.6 years of area income

16Hawkhurst3,683 peopleC⁺#1,608 of 2,515 nationallyhomes cost 5.7 years of area income

17Larkfield26,147 peopleC⁺#1,616 of 2,515 nationallyhomes cost 5.7 years of area income

18Stone6,438 peopleC⁺#1,620 of 2,515 nationallyhomes cost 5.4 years of area income

19Newington2,691 peopleC⁺#1,638 of 2,515 nationallyhomes cost 5.5 years of area income

20Royal Tunbridge Wells51,215 peopleC⁺#1,653 of 2,515 nationallyhomes cost 6.2 years of area income

21Cranbrook3,962 peopleC⁺#1,656 of 2,515 nationallyhomes cost 5.8 years of area income

T22Darenth2,588 peopleC⁺#1,659 of 2,515 nationallyhomes cost 5.6 years of area income

T22West Malling4,251 peopleC⁺#1,659 of 2,515 nationallyhomes cost 5.8 years of area income

24Minster (Swale)16,735 peopleC⁺#1,698 of 2,515 nationallyhomes cost 5.7 years of area income

25Deal28,992 peopleC⁺#1,707 of 2,515 nationallyhomes cost 5.6 years of area income

26Ebbsfleet Valley2,989 peopleC⁺#1,714 of 2,515 nationallyhomes cost 5.9 years of area income

27Tonbridge36,136 peopleC⁺#1,722 of 2,515 nationallyhomes cost 6.2 years of area income

28Rochester67,279 peopleC⁺#1,725 of 2,515 nationallyhomes cost 5.5 years of area income

29Gillingham108,485 peopleC⁺#1,733 of 2,515 nationallyhomes cost 5.6 years of area income

30Swanley17,209 peopleC⁺#1,751 of 2,515 nationallyhomes cost 5.7 years of area income

31Hadlow3,168 peopleC⁺#1,753 of 2,515 nationallyhomes cost 6.0 years of area income

32Whitfield6,509 peopleC#1,796 of 2,515 nationallyhomes cost 5.9 years of area income

33Canterbury55,107 peopleC#1,814 of 2,515 nationallyhomes cost 5.4 years of area income

T34Dunton Green3,241 peopleC#1,819 of 2,515 nationallyhomes cost 6.0 years of area income

T34Edenbridge7,903 peopleC#1,819 of 2,515 nationallyhomes cost 5.7 years of area income

36Southborough9,632 peopleC#1,830 of 2,515 nationallyhomes cost 6.2 years of area income

37Iwade4,533 peopleC#1,853 of 2,515 nationallyhomes cost 6.1 years of area income

38Coxheath8,453 peopleC#1,863 of 2,515 nationallyhomes cost 6.2 years of area income

39Staplehurst6,181 peopleC#1,873 of 2,515 nationallyhomes cost 6.1 years of area income

40Borough Green4,712 peopleC#1,892 of 2,515 nationallyhomes cost 6.4 years of area income

41Lydd3,911 peopleC#1,906 of 2,515 nationallyhomes cost 4.9 years of area income

42Lenham and Harrietsham4,763 peopleC#1,913 of 2,515 nationallyhomes cost 6.1 years of area income

43Cliffe2,531 peopleC#1,925 of 2,515 nationallyhomes cost 6.0 years of area income

44Sturry4,857 peopleC#1,931 of 2,515 nationallyhomes cost 5.5 years of area income

T45Faversham20,941 peopleC#1,936 of 2,515 nationallyhomes cost 6.1 years of area income

T45Rusthall and Langton Green7,783 peopleC#1,936 of 2,515 nationallyhomes cost 6.9 years of area income

47Paddock Wood7,616 peopleC#1,948 of 2,515 nationallyhomes cost 6.4 years of area income

48Pembury5,783 peopleC#1,954 of 2,515 nationallyhomes cost 6.8 years of area income

49Hextable4,100 peopleC#1,969 of 2,515 nationallyhomes cost 6.4 years of area income

50West Kingsdown4,306 peopleC#1,972 of 2,515 nationallyhomes cost 6.7 years of area income

51Northfleet29,892 peopleC#1,985 of 2,515 nationallyhomes cost 5.8 years of area income

T52Longfield, New Ash Green and Hartley16,077 peopleC⁻#1,992 of 2,515 nationallyhomes cost 6.7 years of area income

T52Westerham3,390 peopleC⁻#1,992 of 2,515 nationallyhomes cost 6.3 years of area income

54Hoo St Werburgh8,758 peopleC⁻#2,002 of 2,515 nationallyhomes cost 6.2 years of area income

55Herne Bay24,873 peopleC⁻#2,014 of 2,515 nationallyhomes cost 5.9 years of area income

56Folkestone51,987 peopleC⁻#2,027 of 2,515 nationallyhomes cost 5.3 years of area income

57Chartham3,569 peopleC⁻#2,035 of 2,515 nationallyhomes cost 5.6 years of area income

58Halling2,926 peopleC⁻#2,037 of 2,515 nationallyhomes cost 6.3 years of area income

59Gravesend58,105 peopleC⁻#2,040 of 2,515 nationallyhomes cost 6.0 years of area income

60Sandwich4,258 peopleC⁻#2,046 of 2,515 nationallyhomes cost 6.5 years of area income

61Headcorn3,293 peopleC⁻#2,049 of 2,515 nationallyhomes cost 6.4 years of area income

62Marden3,489 peopleC⁻#2,051 of 2,515 nationallyhomes cost 6.7 years of area income

63Ash (Dover)2,529 peopleC⁻#2,064 of 2,515 nationallyhomes cost 6.8 years of area income

64Bearsted8,349 peopleC⁻#2,097 of 2,515 nationallyhomes cost 7.4 years of area income

65Tenterden7,775 peopleC⁻#2,105 of 2,515 nationallyhomes cost 7.1 years of area income

66Kings Hill9,963 peopleC⁻#2,116 of 2,515 nationallyhomes cost 7.8 years of area income

67Herne14,874 peopleC⁻#2,125 of 2,515 nationallyhomes cost 6.0 years of area income

68St Mary's Bay2,966 peopleC⁻#2,133 of 2,515 nationallyhomes cost 5.7 years of area income

69Hildenborough4,943 peopleC⁻#2,163 of 2,515 nationallyhomes cost 9.0 years of area income

70Joyden's Wood4,912 peopleC⁻#2,184 of 2,515 nationallyhomes cost 8.3 years of area income

71Cuxton3,039 peopleC⁻#2,198 of 2,515 nationallyhomes cost 7.0 years of area income

72Otford and Kemsing7,332 peopleD#2,268 of 2,515 nationallyhomes cost 8.9 years of area income

73Dymchurch3,097 peopleD#2,280 of 2,515 nationallyhomes cost 6.1 years of area income

74Whitstable32,185 peopleD#2,294 of 2,515 nationallyhomes cost 7.2 years of area income

75Sevenoaks26,474 peopleD#2,311 of 2,515 nationallyhomes cost 9.7 years of area income

76Cliffe Woods2,689 peopleD#2,316 of 2,515 nationallyhomes cost 8.6 years of area income

77Ramsgate42,031 peopleD#2,319 of 2,515 nationallyhomes cost 5.4 years of area income

78Higham2,642 peopleD#2,346 of 2,515 nationallyhomes cost 7.1 years of area income

T79Hythe14,613 peopleD#2,360 of 2,515 nationallyhomes cost 6.6 years of area income

T79Istead Rise3,398 peopleD#2,360 of 2,515 nationallyhomes cost 8.2 years of area income

81Littlestone-on-Sea5,271 peopleD#2,374 of 2,515 nationallyhomes cost 6.3 years of area income

82Hawkinge8,499 peopleD#2,382 of 2,515 nationallyhomes cost 6.6 years of area income

83New Romney3,870 peopleD#2,385 of 2,515 nationallyhomes cost 6.3 years of area income

84Margate63,315 peopleD#2,387 of 2,515 nationallyhomes cost 6.0 years of area income

85Meopham4,349 peopleD#2,419 of 2,515 nationallyhomes cost 9.3 years of area income

86Minster (Thanet)4,739 peopleD⁻#2,472 of 2,515 nationallyhomes cost 6.8 years of area income

87Broadstairs25,780 peopleD⁻#2,484 of 2,515 nationallyhomes cost 7.2 years of area income

Quick answers

Questions people ask

What is the most affordable town in Kent?

Sheerness ranks first on cost of living among 87 towns, with a B+: homes cost 3.8 years of area income. Eastchurch and South Darenth and Sutton at Hone follow.

How are these towns ranked?

The Cost of living Grade: the median sale price (Land Registry), a year’s private rent (ONS) and Band D council tax with the parish precept, each against the mean household income of the town’s council area. The letter and rank are the same as on each town’s page. How grades work.

Why isn’t my town on this list?

Garrison towns and university campuses aren’t ranked, and towns without the figures this grade needs are counted above. The list covers Kent’s towns of 2,500+ with the figure. Smaller places show it on their own pages; every town in Kent is on the county page.

Go deeper

More Kent lists

Every list ranks the same 2,500+ towns, so a town’s rank means the same thing on each.

All Kent rankings →

Best places to live87 towns · #1 Hildenborough Best small towns56 towns · #1 Hildenborough Safest towns87 towns · #1 Cuxton Towns with the best schools87 towns · #1 Hildenborough Healthiest towns87 towns · #1 Otford and Kemsing Best towns for jobs & income87 towns · #1 Sevenoaks Most walkable towns87 towns · #1 Canterbury Towns with the lowest flood risk87 towns · #1 Ash (Dover) and 27 more Best towns for the outdoors87 towns · #1 Folkestone Most historic towns87 towns · #1 Sandwich Towns with the most civic life87 towns · #1 Ash (Dover)Towns with the highest household incomes87 towns · #1 Kings HillDescribed, no letters Towns with the lowest council tax87 towns · #1 GillinghamDescribed, no letters Towns with the mildest winters87 towns · #1 SheernessDescribed, no letters Towns with the warmest summers87 towns · #1 DartfordDescribed, no letters Towns with the coolest summers87 towns · #1 HawkingeDescribed, no letters Towns with the fewest frosts87 towns · #1 RamsgateDescribed, no letters Driest towns87 towns · #1 QueenboroughDescribed, no letters Wettest towns87 towns · #1 HawkingeDescribed, no letters

Sources: 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) · ONS small-area income estimates (financial year ending 2023) · 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.