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

Kent rankings · Safety

Safest towns in Kent

Cuxton records the least crime per resident of Kent’s 87 towns of 2,500+ with police.uk figures: 17.0 crimes per 1,000 residents a year (9.6 violent and sexual offences, 7.4 against homes and vehicles). 6 of the 87 grade A− or better on safety.

The Safety Grade: violent and sexual offences, burglary, vehicle crime and criminal damage recorded inside the town by police.uk, per 1,000 residents a year over three years, lowest first. The rank across England, Wales and Northern Ireland sits beside each letter. How grades work

Cuxton

3,039 people

17.0 crimes per 1,000 a year·9.6 violent and sexual, 7.4 homes and vehicles·#62 of 2,138 in England, Wales and Northern Ireland

#T2

Cliffe Woods

2,689 people

17.1 crimes per 1,000 a year·11.2 violent and sexual, 6.0 homes and vehicles·#66 of 2,138 in England, Wales and Northern Ireland

#T2

Istead Rise

3,398 people

17.3 crimes per 1,000 a year·9.7 violent and sexual, 7.6 homes and vehicles·#71 of 2,138 in England, Wales and Northern Ireland

All 87 towns, ranked

Crimes per 1,000 residents a year, lowest first; the sort uses the exact rate. Military garrison towns and university campuses keep their grades but aren’t ranked. Each rank across England, Wales and Northern Ireland links to the national list.

Every town in Kent →

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87 towns.

#TownGrade · UK rankCrime rate

1Cuxton3,039 peopleA#62 of 2,138 nationally17.0 crimes per 1,000 a year·9.6 violent and sexual, 7.4 homes and vehicles

T2Cliffe Woods2,689 peopleA#66 of 2,138 nationally17.1 crimes per 1,000 a year·11.2 violent and sexual, 6.0 homes and vehicles

T2Istead Rise3,398 peopleA#71 of 2,138 nationally17.3 crimes per 1,000 a year·9.7 violent and sexual, 7.6 homes and vehicles

4Hildenborough4,943 peopleA#110 of 2,138 nationally18.8 crimes per 1,000 a year·11.3 violent and sexual, 7.5 homes and vehicles

5Iwade4,533 peopleA⁻#169 of 2,138 nationally20.9 crimes per 1,000 a year·15.2 violent and sexual, 5.7 homes and vehicles

6Bearsted8,349 peopleA⁻#198 of 2,138 nationally21.9 crimes per 1,000 a year·14.8 violent and sexual, 7.1 homes and vehicles

T7Kings Hill9,963 peopleB⁺#288 of 2,138 nationally24.0 crimes per 1,000 a year·15.9 violent and sexual, 8.1 homes and vehicles

T7Joyden's Wood4,912 peopleB⁺#293 of 2,138 nationally24.2 crimes per 1,000 a year·12.5 violent and sexual, 11.7 homes and vehicles

9Otford and Kemsing7,332 peopleB⁺#313 of 2,138 nationally24.5 crimes per 1,000 a year·12.6 violent and sexual, 11.9 homes and vehicles

T10Littlestone-on-Sea5,271 peopleB#463 of 2,138 nationally27.5 crimes per 1,000 a year·21.4 violent and sexual, 6.1 homes and vehicles

T10Hadlow3,168 peopleB#467 of 2,138 nationally27.6 crimes per 1,000 a year·19.6 violent and sexual, 8.0 homes and vehicles

12West Kingsdown4,306 peopleB#536 of 2,138 nationally28.6 crimes per 1,000 a year·17.7 violent and sexual, 10.9 homes and vehicles

13Herne14,874 peopleB#570 of 2,138 nationally29.3 crimes per 1,000 a year·21.7 violent and sexual, 7.6 homes and vehicles

14Meopham4,349 peopleB#581 of 2,138 nationally29.4 crimes per 1,000 a year·17.1 violent and sexual, 12.3 homes and vehicles

T15Rusthall and Langton Green7,783 peopleB#602 of 2,138 nationally29.8 crimes per 1,000 a year·21.8 violent and sexual, 8.1 homes and vehicles

T15Halling2,926 peopleB#606 of 2,138 nationally29.9 crimes per 1,000 a year·18.8 violent and sexual, 11.1 homes and vehicles

T15Dunton Green3,241 peopleB#614 of 2,138 nationally30.0 crimes per 1,000 a year·18.2 violent and sexual, 11.8 homes and vehicles

18Longfield, New Ash Green and Hartley16,077 peopleB⁻#644 of 2,138 nationally30.5 crimes per 1,000 a year·17.1 violent and sexual, 13.4 homes and vehicles

19Hawkinge8,499 peopleB⁻#672 of 2,138 nationally31.1 crimes per 1,000 a year·24.1 violent and sexual, 7.0 homes and vehicles

20Higham2,642 peopleB⁻#707 of 2,138 nationally31.8 crimes per 1,000 a year·19.3 violent and sexual, 12.5 homes and vehicles

T21St Mary's Bay2,966 peopleB⁻#773 of 2,138 nationally32.9 crimes per 1,000 a year·23.8 violent and sexual, 9.1 homes and vehicles

T21Coxheath8,453 peopleB⁻#776 of 2,138 nationally33.0 crimes per 1,000 a year·24.2 violent and sexual, 8.8 homes and vehicles

23Cliffe2,531 peopleB⁻#786 of 2,138 nationally33.3 crimes per 1,000 a year·22.8 violent and sexual, 10.5 homes and vehicles

T24Borough Green4,712 peopleB⁻#804 of 2,138 nationally33.5 crimes per 1,000 a year·19.9 violent and sexual, 13.6 homes and vehicles

T24Hythe14,613 peopleB⁻#808 of 2,138 nationally33.6 crimes per 1,000 a year·24.6 violent and sexual, 8.9 homes and vehicles

T26Sevenoaks26,474 peopleB⁻#834 of 2,138 nationally33.9 crimes per 1,000 a year·19.1 violent and sexual, 14.8 homes and vehicles

T26Southborough9,632 peopleB⁻#849 of 2,138 nationally34.4 crimes per 1,000 a year·24.6 violent and sexual, 9.8 homes and vehicles

28Halfway Houses4,396 peopleC⁺#928 of 2,138 nationally36.2 crimes per 1,000 a year·25.7 violent and sexual, 10.5 homes and vehicles

29Hextable4,100 peopleC⁺#960 of 2,138 nationally36.8 crimes per 1,000 a year·22.4 violent and sexual, 14.3 homes and vehicles

30Staplehurst6,181 peopleC⁺#1,018 of 2,138 nationally37.9 crimes per 1,000 a year·25.6 violent and sexual, 12.3 homes and vehicles

31Lydd3,911 peopleC⁺#1,049 of 2,138 nationally38.6 crimes per 1,000 a year·28.4 violent and sexual, 10.2 homes and vehicles

32Larkfield26,147 peopleC⁺#1,066 of 2,138 nationally39.2 crimes per 1,000 a year·25.2 violent and sexual, 13.9 homes and vehicles

T33Whitstable32,185 peopleC#1,131 of 2,138 nationally40.4 crimes per 1,000 a year·27.1 violent and sexual, 13.3 homes and vehicles

T33Chartham3,569 peopleC#1,144 of 2,138 nationally40.6 crimes per 1,000 a year·28.9 violent and sexual, 11.8 homes and vehicles

T33South Darenth and Sutton at Hone4,091 peopleC#1,150 of 2,138 nationally40.7 crimes per 1,000 a year·22.2 violent and sexual, 18.5 homes and vehicles

T36Tenterden7,775 peopleC#1,163 of 2,138 nationally40.9 crimes per 1,000 a year·28.5 violent and sexual, 12.4 homes and vehicles

T36Marden3,489 peopleC#1,170 of 2,138 nationally41.2 crimes per 1,000 a year·24.3 violent and sexual, 16.9 homes and vehicles

T38Minster (Swale)16,735 peopleC#1,212 of 2,138 nationally42.0 crimes per 1,000 a year·29.0 violent and sexual, 13.0 homes and vehicles

T38Ash (Dover)2,529 peopleC#1,221 of 2,138 nationally42.2 crimes per 1,000 a year·30.0 violent and sexual, 12.1 homes and vehicles

T38Dymchurch3,097 peopleC#1,224 of 2,138 nationally42.4 crimes per 1,000 a year·33.5 violent and sexual, 8.9 homes and vehicles

T41Sturry4,857 peopleC#1,270 of 2,138 nationally43.7 crimes per 1,000 a year·31.3 violent and sexual, 12.4 homes and vehicles

T41Royal Tunbridge Wells51,215 peopleC#1,273 of 2,138 nationally43.8 crimes per 1,000 a year·30.7 violent and sexual, 13.0 homes and vehicles

T41Tonbridge36,136 peopleC#1,276 of 2,138 nationally43.8 crimes per 1,000 a year·30.1 violent and sexual, 13.8 homes and vehicles

T41Aylesham5,788 peopleC#1,278 of 2,138 nationally43.9 crimes per 1,000 a year·31.8 violent and sexual, 12.1 homes and vehicles

45West Malling4,251 peopleC#1,298 of 2,138 nationally44.4 crimes per 1,000 a year·28.5 violent and sexual, 15.8 homes and vehicles

T46Broadstairs25,780 peopleC#1,321 of 2,138 nationally45.1 crimes per 1,000 a year·31.6 violent and sexual, 13.5 homes and vehicles

T46Hawkhurst3,683 peopleC#1,326 of 2,138 nationally45.3 crimes per 1,000 a year·30.0 violent and sexual, 15.3 homes and vehicles

48Deal28,992 peopleC#1,379 of 2,138 nationally46.7 crimes per 1,000 a year·34.0 violent and sexual, 12.8 homes and vehicles

T49Whitfield6,509 peopleC⁻#1,420 of 2,138 nationally47.9 crimes per 1,000 a year·33.2 violent and sexual, 14.6 homes and vehicles

T49Darenth2,588 peopleC⁻#1,421 of 2,138 nationally47.9 crimes per 1,000 a year·28.6 violent and sexual, 19.3 homes and vehicles

T49Pembury5,783 peopleC⁻#1,429 of 2,138 nationally48.2 crimes per 1,000 a year·36.8 violent and sexual, 11.5 homes and vehicles

T52Hoo St Werburgh8,758 peopleC⁻#1,432 of 2,138 nationally48.3 crimes per 1,000 a year·37.4 violent and sexual, 10.9 homes and vehicles

T52New Romney3,870 peopleC⁻#1,440 of 2,138 nationally48.5 crimes per 1,000 a year·35.4 violent and sexual, 13.1 homes and vehicles

T52Westerham3,390 peopleC⁻#1,456 of 2,138 nationally49.0 crimes per 1,000 a year·28.9 violent and sexual, 20.1 homes and vehicles

55Lenham and Harrietsham4,763 peopleC⁻#1,542 of 2,138 nationally51.8 crimes per 1,000 a year·35.5 violent and sexual, 16.3 homes and vehicles

T56Paddock Wood7,616 peopleC⁻#1,548 of 2,138 nationally51.9 crimes per 1,000 a year·33.2 violent and sexual, 18.7 homes and vehicles

T56Cranbrook3,962 peopleC⁻#1,564 of 2,138 nationally52.2 crimes per 1,000 a year·31.8 violent and sexual, 20.4 homes and vehicles

T56Swanley17,209 peopleC⁻#1,573 of 2,138 nationally52.5 crimes per 1,000 a year·35.7 violent and sexual, 16.8 homes and vehicles

T59Edenbridge7,903 peopleC⁻#1,607 of 2,138 nationally53.4 crimes per 1,000 a year·37.0 violent and sexual, 16.4 homes and vehicles

T59Faversham20,941 peopleC⁻#1,614 of 2,138 nationally53.6 crimes per 1,000 a year·36.0 violent and sexual, 17.6 homes and vehicles

T59Snodland11,820 peopleC⁻#1,623 of 2,138 nationally54.0 crimes per 1,000 a year·32.7 violent and sexual, 21.2 homes and vehicles

T62Ashford82,143 peopleC⁻#1,642 of 2,138 nationally55.0 crimes per 1,000 a year·40.4 violent and sexual, 14.6 homes and vehicles

T62Herne Bay24,873 peopleC⁻#1,643 of 2,138 nationally55.1 crimes per 1,000 a year·40.1 violent and sexual, 15.0 homes and vehicles

T62Newington2,691 peopleC⁻#1,651 of 2,138 nationally55.3 crimes per 1,000 a year·40.4 violent and sexual, 14.9 homes and vehicles

T62Teynham3,128 peopleC⁻#1,663 of 2,138 nationally55.8 crimes per 1,000 a year·38.7 violent and sexual, 17.1 homes and vehicles

66Swanscombe15,462 peopleD#1,728 of 2,138 nationally58.1 crimes per 1,000 a year·36.8 violent and sexual, 21.3 homes and vehicles

T67Sandwich4,258 peopleD#1,741 of 2,138 nationally58.6 crimes per 1,000 a year·42.7 violent and sexual, 15.9 homes and vehicles

T67Sittingbourne54,385 peopleD#1,744 of 2,138 nationally58.7 crimes per 1,000 a year·41.3 violent and sexual, 17.5 homes and vehicles

T69Gillingham108,485 peopleD#1,759 of 2,138 nationally59.4 crimes per 1,000 a year·42.7 violent and sexual, 16.7 homes and vehicles

T69Minster (Thanet)4,739 peopleD#1,759 of 2,138 nationally59.4 crimes per 1,000 a year·46.2 violent and sexual, 13.3 homes and vehicles

T69Headcorn3,293 peopleD#1,781 of 2,138 nationally60.9 crimes per 1,000 a year·40.6 violent and sexual, 20.3 homes and vehicles

72Rochester67,279 peopleD#1,796 of 2,138 nationally61.5 crimes per 1,000 a year·44.7 violent and sexual, 16.8 homes and vehicles

73Maidstone109,503 peopleD#1,838 of 2,138 nationally63.4 crimes per 1,000 a year·46.4 violent and sexual, 17.0 homes and vehicles

T74Dartford69,131 peopleD#1,852 of 2,138 nationally64.3 crimes per 1,000 a year·43.5 violent and sexual, 20.8 homes and vehicles

T74Northfleet29,892 peopleD#1,864 of 2,138 nationally65.5 crimes per 1,000 a year·45.0 violent and sexual, 20.6 homes and vehicles

T76Folkestone51,987 peopleD#1,883 of 2,138 nationally66.9 crimes per 1,000 a year·49.7 violent and sexual, 17.2 homes and vehicles

T76Gravesend58,105 peopleD#1,905 of 2,138 nationally68.2 crimes per 1,000 a year·45.1 violent and sexual, 23.0 homes and vehicles

T78Queenborough3,915 peopleD#1,963 of 2,138 nationally73.0 crimes per 1,000 a year·49.7 violent and sexual, 23.4 homes and vehicles

T78Margate63,315 peopleD#1,973 of 2,138 nationally73.6 crimes per 1,000 a year·56.1 violent and sexual, 17.5 homes and vehicles

80Chatham76,956 peopleD#1,984 of 2,138 nationally74.6 crimes per 1,000 a year·54.0 violent and sexual, 20.6 homes and vehicles

81Ebbsfleet Valley2,989 peopleD⁻#2,014 of 2,138 nationally77.8 crimes per 1,000 a year·50.5 violent and sexual, 27.3 homes and vehicles

T82Ramsgate42,031 peopleD⁻#2,041 of 2,138 nationally81.9 crimes per 1,000 a year·61.3 violent and sexual, 20.6 homes and vehicles

T82Stone6,438 peopleD⁻#2,048 of 2,138 nationally82.8 crimes per 1,000 a year·54.6 violent and sexual, 28.2 homes and vehicles

T82Canterbury55,107 peopleD⁻#2,054 of 2,138 nationally85.0 crimes per 1,000 a year·61.9 violent and sexual, 23.2 homes and vehicles

85Dover36,349 peopleD⁻#2,073 of 2,138 nationally87.9 crimes per 1,000 a year·65.9 violent and sexual, 21.9 homes and vehicles

T86Sheerness13,253 peopleD⁻#2,130 of 2,138 nationally120.0 crimes per 1,000 a year·87.2 violent and sexual, 32.8 homes and vehicles

T86Eastchurch3,381 peopleD⁻#2,137 of 2,138 nationally145.9 crimes per 1,000 a year·132.0 violent and sexual, 13.9 homes and vehicles

Quick answers

Questions people ask

What is the safest town in Kent?

Cuxton ranks first on safety among 87 towns, with an A: 17.0 crimes per 1,000 residents a year (9.6 violent and sexual offences, 7.4 against homes and vehicles). Cliffe Woods and Istead Rise follow.

How are these towns ranked?

The Safety Grade: violent and sexual offences, burglary, vehicle crime and criminal damage recorded inside the town by police.uk, per 1,000 residents a year over three years, lowest first. 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 Most affordable towns87 towns · #1 Sheerness 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: data.police.uk street-level crime, 36 months to August 2026, points inside the built-up-area boundary · 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.