Martlesham’s story
6 listed buildings
Historic England lists them inside Martlesham’s built-up area, along with 1 scheduled monument.
5% of its homes were built before 1919, against 15% in the typical UK town.
Explore the history →
MartleshamSuffolk
A village of 1,976 in Suffolk, East of England.
7 places within 12 milesMap →
Photo: Adrian Cable · CC BY-SA 2.0
Population
1,976
Census 2021 · East Suffolk council
Median home
£425K
55 sales in 3 years
Median age
47.8
28% are 65+ · Suffolk 23%
Degree level
35%
of residents 16+ · England 34%
Walk, cycle, bus
12%
of commuters · England 27%
Is Martlesham a good place to live?
Martlesham has fewer than 2,500 residents, so it gets subject grades but no overall grade. Its strongest subject is jobs & income (A): mean household income £64,114; 1.4% of 16 to 64s claim unemployment benefits. Its weakest is hazard risk (C−): 2.9% of homes at high or medium risk of flooding from rivers or the sea. The median home sold for £425,000 in the last three years, 8.2 times what households in the East Suffolk council area earn in a year.
What makes Martlesham stand out
The 3 things Martlesham does most differently from other towns.
Walk, cycle or public transport
Getting around
12% leave the car
of commuters walk, cycle or take public transport (England’s towns 27%)
Own outright
Housing
53% own outright
of households own their home with no mortgage (England’s towns 32%)
Residents 65 and over
Who lives here
28% are 65 or over
Against 18% across England’s towns
How Martlesham grades
Each subject compared with the 2,160 UK towns with an overall grade (schools within England), ordered by how far Martlesham is from typical. American towns are graded separately.
Jobs & incomeAOpen →Hazard riskC−Open →HealthA−Open →SchoolsPrimary results beat 68% of towns in England; secondary results beat 51% of towns in EnglandBOpen →SafetyC+Open →WalkabilityC+Open →Cost of livingB−Open →
Character Graded, but not part of the overall grade.
HistoryC−Open →Outdoors69% live within 400 m of a park; 24% of land within 5 km is National Park or National LandscapeBOpen →Civic life3 local charities per 1,000 residents; 0% live within 1 km of a libraryB−Open →
How TownRatings grades towns →
The data
Data highlights are ordered by what stands out in Martlesham.
Who lives here
Martlesham skews older, with 28% of residents 65 or over, more than Suffolk’s towns or England’s towns
Residents of Martlesham have a median age of 47.8. 16% are under 15, close to Suffolk’s towns (16%) and below England’s towns (18%). Degrees are held by just over a third of adults.
47.8median age
MartleshamSuffolkEngland
Ages · share of residents
28%
Qualifications · residents 16 and older
No qualifications15%
Apprenticeship6%
A levels or similar18%
Degree level35%
Women and men · all residents
51% women, 49% men
About 96 men for every 100 women. Across England, 51% of residents are women.
| Martlesham | Suffolk | England | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 15 | 16% | 16% | 18% |
| 15–24 | 11% | 10% | 12% |
| 25–44 | 20% | 24% | 27% |
| 45–64 | 26% | 26% | 25% |
| 65+ | 28% | 23% | 18% |
| No qualifications | 15% | 20% | 18% |
| Apprenticeship | 6.5% | 6.5% | 5.3% |
| A levels or similar | 18% | 17% | 17% |
| Degree level | 35% | 27% | 34% |
ONS Census 2021 · Suffolk and England: all residents of their built-up areas · OGL
SchoolsB
Exam results at Martlesham’s schools top 62% of towns in England
Key Stage 2 results at the 8 primary schools within 3 km: nearly two thirds of pupils meet the expected standard in reading, writing and maths (three-year average). There is one school here; it is shown below. GCSE results at the 2 secondary schools within 3 km: 45% of pupils get a strong pass (grade 5+) in English and maths, and the Attainment 8 average is 46.1.
BSchool Grade
| School | Level | Pupils | Letter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Martlesham Primary AcademyLargest primary schoolPrimary | Primary | 125 | B |
Department for Education · GIAS, Key Stage 2 and GCSE resultsThe Schools page →
History
All 6 of Martlesham’s listed buildings are Grade II
The heritage lists give each building’s grade but not its age, so we don’t say which is oldest.
Scaled to its population, that is 30 listed buildings for every 10,000 people in Martlesham. 5% of its homes were built before 1919, lower than both Suffolk’s towns (15%) and England’s towns (16%). The town has one scheduled monument.
6listed buildingsC−History Grade
Listed buildings by grade · Historic England
Grade I0
Grade II*0
Grade II6
1
scheduled monument
0
registered parks and gardens
5%
of homes built before 1919 · typical UK town 15%
30
listed buildings per 10,000 residents · typical UK town 24
Historic England list, October 2026 · Valuation Office Agency, homes by build period · OGL
Health
Bad health is less common in Martlesham than in Suffolk’s towns or across England’s towns: 4.1% of residents
Seeing a GP means leaving Martlesham: the nearest practice is 0.8 miles away. Asked at the census, 84% of residents of Martlesham said they were in good or very good health. Also worth knowing: life expectancy here is 84.6 for women and 81.9 for men (2019–23).
84%good or very good healthA−Health Grade
General health, self-reported
Good or very good 84%Fair 12%Bad or very bad 4%
| Census 2021 | Martlesham | Suffolk | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Good or very good health | 84% | 81% | 82% |
| Bad or very bad health | 4.1% | 5% | 5.2% |
| Disabled (Equality Act) | 18% | 18% | 17% |
81.9
life expectancy at birth, men (2019–23)
84.6
life expectancy at birth, women
ONS Census 2021, general health and disability · OHID Fingertips, life expectancy 2019–23 · OGL · Census health answers are raw, so younger towns score better on them; for the Health Grade we use age-adjusted figures like life expectancy and early deaths.
Safety
Burglary and damage in Martlesham run at 10.5 per 1,000 a year, against 6.7 in Suffolk’s towns and 9.4 in England’s towns
Violent crime runs at 26.8 per 1,000 residents a year. Reported offences in Martlesham came to 79 over twelve months to August 2026; nuisance and anti-social incidents added 9. Of all the crimes, 53% were violence and sexual offences.
26.8violent and sexual offences per 1,000 a yearC+Safety Grade
Compared with UK towns its sizeLess crime per resident than 21% of the 1,541 UK towns of 1,000 to 2,500 people: more crime than most for its size. Context only, not part of the grade.
Reports by type · Sep 2025 to Aug 2026
Violence & sexual42
Damage & arson14
Other crime8
Public order4
Drugs4
Weapons3
Other theft2
Burglary1
Anti-social9
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.
26.8
violent and sexual offences per 1,000 residents a year, averaged Sep 2023 to Aug 2026
10.5
burglary, vehicle crime and damage per 1,000 a year, averaged Sep 2023 to Aug 2026
3.4
anti-social behaviour reports per 1,000 (not graded)
79
crimes recorded in the 12 months to August 2026
data.police.uk street-level crime · points inside the ONS built-up-area boundary · OGL · The police category of violence and sexual offences includes harassment and stalking.
Work & commuteJobs & income grade A
Only 12% of commuters in Martlesham go to work without a car, fewer than in Suffolk’s towns and England’s towns
The Census was taken on 21 March 2021, in lockdown, so 38% of workers were mainly at home; shares here are of those who travelled.
Jobs per working resident: 1.3. The car took 85% of commuters, above Suffolk’s towns (79%) and England’s towns (70%) alike. 33% of commuters travelled under 5 km to work. About 4% of its commuters stay in Martlesham for work.
12%walk, cycle or ride
How commuters got to work · March 2021
Driving85%
On foot6%
Bicycle4%
Bus1%
Train1%
33%
of commuters travel under 5 km · England 45%
38%
worked mainly from home in March 2021
£64K
mean household income, before tax
1.4%
of 16 to 64s claim unemployment benefits (2026)
C+
Walkability: more walkable than 42% of UK towns
ONS Census 2021, method of travel and distance to work · ONS small-area income · DWP claimant count · OGL
HousingCost of living grade B−
Private renting is less common in Martlesham than in Suffolk’s towns or across England’s towns: 8%
Council and housing-body homes hold 7% of households. Owners make up 83% of households, above both Suffolk’s towns (64%) and England’s towns (61%). Private rents average £842 a month across the East Suffolk council area.
£425Kmedian sale
Median sale price · Sep 2023 to Aug 2026
Martlesham£425K
Typical UK town£277K
| By type | Median | Sales |
|---|---|---|
| Detached | £497,500 | 38 |
| Semi-detached | £345,000 | 10 |
83%
of households own their home · England 61%
8%
rent privately · England 21%
£842
average private rent a month, East Suffolk council area
£2,342
council tax, Band D, 2026–27
HM Land Registry Price Paid · ONS private rents · MHCLG / Welsh Government council tax · ONS Census 2021 tenure · OGL
Nearby attractions
All attractions →Woodbridge Tide Mill and 4 more in and around Martlesham
Museums, castles, gardens and days out in and near Martlesham. Best known first.
MuseumWoodbridge Tide Mill2.6 km outside town, to the northeastHistoric siteHistoric site · National TrustSutton Hoo Archeological Site3.6 km outside town, to the northeastMuseumMuseumMartlesham Heath Control Tower Museum600 m outside town, to the southwestMuseumMuseumSuffolk Aviation Heritage Museum2.6 km outside town, to the southwestMuseumMuseumWoodbridge Museum2.6 km outside town, to the northeastPlaces: © OpenStreetMap contributors · Wikidata
Photos: each place’s Wikidata image, from Wikimedia Commons under the licence below (our copy, resized).
Photo credits (1)
- Woodbridge Tide Mill: Circuitsight at English Wikipedia, Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
Keep exploring
Everything we know about Martlesham
14pages on Martlesham
The big questions
SafetyC+26.8 violent and sexual offences per 1,000 residents a year, averaged Sep 2023 to Aug 2026Cost of livingB−Median home £425K · rent £842 a monthHousing13 sold in 12 months · busiest street Main RoadSchoolsB1 state schoolHealthA−Life expectancy 81.9 (men), 84.6 (women)Work & commuteA51% of working residents work in the townFlood & hazardsC−2.9% of homes at high or medium flood risk
Out and about
Martlesham’s neighbours
The nearest built-up areas, from ONS’s 2022 boundaries. See them on the map →
Martlesham HeathKesgraveWoodbridgeGrundisburghMeltonSutton CommonKirtonMartlesham
How the neighbours grade
| Town | People | Miles | Overall | Cost | Safety | Health |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Martlesham | 1,976 | — | — | B− | C+ | A− |
| Martlesham Heath | 2,730 | 0.7 | B+ | B | D | A− |
| Kesgrave | 14,947 | 1.7 | A+ | B+ | A | A− |
| Woodbridge | 10,146 | 2.1 | A− | B− | B | A− |
| Grundisburgh | 1,424 | 3 | — | B− | A | A |
| Melton | 1,608 | 3.3 | — | B+ | B− | A |
| Sutton Common | 1,262 | 4.6 | — | A | A+ | B+ |
| Kirton | 1,245 | 4.8 | — | B | A+ | B |
Grundisburgh, Melton, Sutton Common and Kirton have fewer than 2,500 residents, so they get subject grades but no overall grade. People: Census 2021. Miles: centre to centre.
Questions about Martlesham
Does Martlesham flood?
Surface water isn’t included. Check a specific address on GOV.UK’s flood risk service.
Is Martlesham safe?
Burglary was rare, with 1 report in the year.
Is Martlesham expensive to live in?
Homes cost more than in most UK towns: the median sale over three years was £425,000, against £277,000 in the typical UK town. By type: semi-detached houses £345,000 and detached houses £497,500. Household incomes are higher than in 78% of UK towns, so cost of living still grades B−.
About Martlesham
Village in Suffolk, England
Martlesham is a built-up area of 1,976 people, in the East Suffolk 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
- 1,976 (Census 2021)
- Council
- East Suffolk
- County
- Suffolk
- Region
- East of England
- Area
- 0.3 sq mi (0.8 km²)
- ONS code
- E63003673
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.