Martlesham Heath’s story
No listed buildings inside Martlesham Heath’s built-up area
1% of its homes were built before 1919, against 15% in the typical UK town.
Explore the history →
Martlesham HeathSuffolk
Mortgage-free owners make up 54% of households. 2,730 people call this town in Suffolk, East of England home.
7 places within 12 milesMap →
Photo: Bluewave at English Wikipedia · CC BY-SA 3.0
Population
2,730
Census 2021 · East Suffolk council
Median home
£348K
128 sales in 3 years
Median age
54.5
34% are 65+ · Suffolk 23%
Degree level
36%
of residents 16+ · England 34%
Walk, cycle, bus
16%
of commuters · England 27%
TownGrade
B+
#12 of 34 in Suffolk
Is Martlesham Heath a good place to live?
A strong record with one exception. At B+ overall, Martlesham Heath ranks #12 of 34 in Suffolk. Set against the rest, it does better than three quarters of UK towns. Work and incomes are strong: mean household income £64,114; 1.4% of 16 to 64s claim unemployment benefits. Safety lags: police record 61.5 violent and sexual offences per 1,000 residents a year, and 13.9 home and vehicle crimes. Set beside UK towns of 2,500 to 10,000 people, its crime per resident is higher than in 96%. Homes sell for a median £348,375, about 6.7 years of what households in the East Suffolk council area earn. Elsewhere it is close to typical: B for schools and B for walkability.
Figures: income, ONS · claimants, DWP · crime, police.uk, averaged Sep 2023 to Aug 2026 · prices, HM Land Registry, the last three years · commuting, Census 2021.
What makes Martlesham Heath stand out
The 3 things Martlesham Heath does most differently from other towns.
Residents 65 and over
Who lives here
34% are 65 or over
Against 18% across England’s towns
Walk, cycle or public transport
Getting around
16% leave the car
of commuters walk, cycle or take public transport (England’s towns 27%)
Own outright
Housing
54% own outright
of households own their home with no mortgage (England’s towns 32%)
How Martlesham Heath grades
Each subject compared with the 2,160 UK towns with an overall grade (schools within England), ordered by how far Martlesham Heath is from typical. American towns are graded separately.
SafetyBased on crimes reported per residentDOpen →Jobs & incomeIncomes and work are among the strongest comparedAOpen →Hazard risk0% of homes at high or medium risk of flooding from rivers or the seaAOpen →HealthAmong the best of the towns comparedA−Open →SchoolsPrimary results beat 60% of towns in England; secondary results beat 59% of towns in EnglandBOpen →WalkabilityBased on walking, cycling and transit to everyday placesBOpen →Cost of livingHomes are easier to afford than in most townsBOpen →
Character Graded, but not part of the overall grade.
History0 listed buildingsDOpen →Outdoors68% live within 400 m of a park; 25% of land within 5 km is National Park or National LandscapeA−Open →Civic life7 local charities per 1,000 residents; 0% live within 1 km of a libraryA−Open →
How TownRatings grades towns →
The data
Data highlights are ordered by what stands out in Martlesham Heath.
Who lives here
An older town: 34% of people in Martlesham Heath are 65 or over, more than in both Suffolk’s towns and England’s towns
Children under 15 make up 13%, below both Suffolk’s towns (16%) and England’s towns (18%). Aged 15 to 24: 6.7% of residents. Half of Martlesham Heath is older than 54.5, half younger. Degrees are held by 36% of adults.
54.5median age
Martlesham HeathSuffolkEngland
Ages · share of residents
34%
Qualifications · residents 16 and older
No qualifications17%
Apprenticeship6%
A levels or similar15%
Degree level36%
Women and men · all residents
51% women, 49% men
About 95 men for every 100 women. Across England, 51% of residents are women.
| Martlesham Heath | Suffolk | England | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 15 | 13% | 16% | 18% |
| 15–24 | 6.7% | 10% | 12% |
| 25–44 | 20% | 24% | 27% |
| 45–64 | 27% | 26% | 25% |
| 65+ | 34% | 23% | 18% |
| No qualifications | 17% | 20% | 18% |
| Apprenticeship | 6.1% | 6.5% | 5.3% |
| A levels or similar | 15% | 17% | 17% |
| Degree level | 36% | 27% | 34% |
ONS Census 2021 · Suffolk and England: all residents of their built-up areas · OGL
SchoolsB
Exam results at Martlesham Heath’s schools top 63% of towns in England
Its one school is below. GCSE results at the one secondary school within 3 km: 48% of pupils get a strong pass (grade 5+) in English and maths, and the Attainment 8 average is 47.
BSchool Grade
| School | Level | Pupils | Letter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Birchwood Primary SchoolLargest primary schoolPrimary | Primary | 209 | C+ |
Department for Education · GIAS, Key Stage 2 and GCSE resultsThe Schools page →
Safety
Martlesham Heath records more crime per resident than 95% of UK towns
Over the year to August 2026, 449 offences were reported in Martlesham Heath, along with 18 incidents of anti-social behaviour. Violence and sexual offences made up 32% of the total. There were 8.7 anti-social behaviour reports per 1,000 residents (not graded), higher than both Suffolk’s towns (3.9) and England’s towns (7.8).
61.5violent and sexual offences per 1,000 a yearDSafety Grade
Compared with UK towns its sizeLess crime per resident than 4% of the 1,308 UK towns of 2,500 to 10,000 people: more crime than most for its size. Context only, not part of the grade.
Reports by type · Sep 2025 to Aug 2026
Violence & sexual144
Other crime109
Shoplifting72
Other theft44
Public order25
Drugs19
Damage & arson18
Vehicle crime5
Anti-social18
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.
61.5
violent and sexual offences per 1,000 residents a year, averaged Sep 2023 to Aug 2026
13.9
burglary, vehicle crime and damage per 1,000 a year, averaged Sep 2023 to Aug 2026
8.7
anti-social behaviour reports per 1,000 (not graded)
449
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.
History
Most of Martlesham Heath is newer: only 1% of homes were built before 1919, below Suffolk’s towns and England’s towns
The heritage lists give each building’s grade but not its age, so we don’t say which is oldest.
Martlesham Heath has 2 scheduled monuments. Historic England’s list has no building inside the town’s built-up area.
0listed buildingsDHistory Grade
Listed buildings by grade · Historic England
Grade I0
Grade II*0
Grade II0
2
scheduled monuments
0
registered parks and gardens
1%
of homes built before 1919 · typical UK town 15%
0
listed buildings per 10,000 residents · typical UK town 24
Historic England list, October 2026 · Valuation Office Agency, homes by build period · OGL
Health
83% of people in Martlesham Heath rate their health good or very good
One GP practice serves the town; nearly nine in ten patients rate theirs good in the GP Patient Survey. Life expectancy here is 84.6 for women and 81.9 for men (2019–23). The nearest A&E to Martlesham Heath is Ipswich Hospital, 3.3 miles away.
83%good or very good healthA−Health Grade
General health, self-reported
Good or very good 83%Fair 13%Bad or very bad 4%
| Census 2021 | Martlesham Heath | Suffolk | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Good or very good health | 83% | 81% | 82% |
| Bad or very bad health | 4.4% | 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 · These shares come straight from the census, without allowing for age, and young towns benefit; the Health Grade instead weighs age-adjusted measures, including life expectancy and early deaths.
Work & commuteJobs & income grade A
Only 29% of Martlesham Heath’s commuters work within 5 km, fewer than in both Suffolk’s towns and England’s towns
The Census was taken on 21 March 2021, in lockdown, so 36% of workers were mainly at home; shares here are of those who travelled.
16% of commuters went to work on foot, by bike or by public transport at the census. About a tenth of its commuters stay in Martlesham Heath for work. The car carried 81% of commuters at the census.
16%walk, cycle or ride
How commuters got to work · March 2021
Driving81%
On foot9%
Bicycle5%
Bus2%
Train1%
29%
of commuters travel under 5 km · England 45%
36%
worked mainly from home in March 2021
£64K
mean household income, before tax
1.4%
of 16 to 64s claim unemployment benefits (2026)
B
Walkability: more walkable than 62% 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
Most households in Martlesham Heath own their home: 77%, more than in both Suffolk’s towns and England’s towns
Social housing holds 4% of households. Private rents average £842 a month across the East Suffolk council area. The £348,375 median rests on 128 standard sales inside the built-up area (September 2023 to August 2026).
£348Kmedian sale
Median sale price · Sep 2023 to Aug 2026
Martlesham Heath£348K
Typical UK town£277K
| By type | Median | Sales |
|---|---|---|
| Detached | £397,000 | 64 |
| Semi-detached | £327,750 | 41 |
| Terraced | £251,250 | 18 |
| Flat or maisonette | £160,000 | 5 |
77%
of households own their home · England 61%
19%
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 5 more in and around Martlesham Heath
Museums, castles, gardens and days out in and near Martlesham Heath. Best known first.
MuseumWoodbridge Tide Mill3.6 km outside town, to the northeast
MuseumIpswich Transport Museum4.5 km outside town, to the southwestHistoric siteHistoric site · National TrustSutton Hoo Archeological Site4.4 km outside town, to the northeastMuseumMuseumMartlesham Heath Control Tower Museum100 m outside town, to the westMuseumMuseumSuffolk Aviation Heritage Museum1.3 km outside town, to the southwestMuseumMuseumWoodbridge Museum3.6 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 (2)
- Woodbridge Tide Mill: Circuitsight at English Wikipedia, Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
- Ipswich Transport Museum: Nowell87, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
Keep exploring
Everything we know about Martlesham Heath
14pages on Martlesham Heath
The big questions
SafetyD61.5 violent and sexual offences per 1,000 residents a year, averaged Sep 2023 to Aug 2026Cost of livingBMedian home £348K · rent £842 a monthHousing30 sold in 12 months · busiest street Stevens PlaceSchoolsB1 state schoolHealthA−Life expectancy 81.9 (men), 84.6 (women)Work & commuteA52% of working residents work in the townFlood & hazardsA0% of homes at high or medium flood risk
Out and about
Martlesham Heath’s neighbours
The nearest built-up areas, from ONS’s 2022 boundaries. See them on the map →
MartleshamKesgraveWoodbridgeGrundisburghMeltonKirtonSutton CommonMartlesham Heath
How the neighbours grade
| Town | People | Miles | Overall | Cost | Safety | Health |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Martlesham Heath | 2,730 | — | B+ | B | D | A− |
| Martlesham | 1,976 | 0.7 | — | B− | C+ | A− |
| Kesgrave | 14,947 | 1.3 | A+ | B+ | A | A− |
| Woodbridge | 10,146 | 2.8 | A− | B− | B | A− |
| Grundisburgh | 1,424 | 3.6 | — | B− | A | A |
| Melton | 1,608 | 3.9 | — | B+ | B− | A |
| Kirton | 1,245 | 4.2 | — | B | A+ | B |
| Sutton Common | 1,262 | 4.9 | — | A | A+ | B+ |
Martlesham, Grundisburgh, Melton, Kirton and Sutton Common 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 Heath
Is Martlesham Heath safe?
Burglary was rare, with 4 reports in the year.
Is Martlesham Heath expensive to live in?
Homes cost more than in most UK towns: the median sale over three years was £348,375, against £277,000 in the typical UK town. By type: flats £160,000, terraced houses £251,250, semi-detached houses £327,750 and detached houses £397,000. Household incomes are higher than in 78% of UK towns, so cost of living still grades B.
About Martlesham Heath
Town in Suffolk, England
Martlesham Heath is a built-up area of 2,730 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
- 2,730 (Census 2021)
- Council
- East Suffolk
- County
- Suffolk
- Region
- East of England
- Area
- 0.7 sq mi (1.9 km²)
- ONS code
- E63003713
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.