Maidstone area report

Highlights

Maidstone in Kent has a population of 175782 and a median house price of 350000. Over five years, property values have grown by 11.8 percent. The area shows moderate affordability with a price-to-earnings ratio of 10.1. Crime incidents numbered 1394 in May 2026, at 7.9 per 1000 residents, with violent crime the largest category at 440 incidents. Education provision includes 73 schools across primary, secondary and independent sectors, with 30 of 31 rated schools achieving good or better. Healthcare facilities comprise 16 GP surgeries, 31 dentists, 22 pharmacies and 6 hospitals. Employment is steady at 60.8 percent with unemployment at 4.3 percent. Air quality shows low nitrogen dioxide levels at 8.6 annual mean and moderate particulate matter at 7.0. Transport links include 15 rail stations; Bearsted Rail Station lies 1.4 kilometres away with a 59-minute commute to London Bridge. Connectivity is strong with 90.2 percent superfast broadband coverage. The area contains 2029 listed buildings and 49 conservation areas. Maidstone Borough Council controls the district with council tax band D at 2454.24 for 2026/27.

Data updated 2026/27 (tax); 2025 (control). Maidstone, Kent — a free, sourced local-area report from Acreright. Every figure shows its source and date; where the data isn't reliable we say so rather than guess.

Within Kent, Maidstone ranks 9th cheapest of 13, 8th safest and 9th most affordable.

What does it cost?

• £350,000 median home price (HM Land Registry Price Paid + UK HPI, Apr 2026)

Sold prices in Maidstone have risen 14% over the last five years (UK House Price Index).

How safe is it?

• 7.9 recorded crimes per 1,000 people (police.uk, May 2026)

Who lives here?

• 175,782 residents (ONS Census 2021 (Nomis), 2021)

About 55% of neighbourhoods in England are more deprived than Maidstone (English Indices of Deprivation, decile 6 of 10, national basis). More deprived than in 2019 (decile 6 then).

Schools

• 97% of inspected schools rated Good or Outstanding (Get Information About Schools (GIAS) + Ofsted inspections MI, 2026)

Health

• 80.5 · 84.5 yrs life expectancy (men · women) (NHS ODS register (GP/dentist/pharmacy) + OSM (hospitals) + IoD2025 health domain + OHID Fingertips (outcomes), 2026/2025)

Getting around

• ≈59 min fastest train to London (OpenStreetMap + National Rail timetable (ATOC/RDG, GTFS), 2026)
• 66% of premises can get gigabit broadband (Ofcom Connected Nations 2024, Jul 2024)

Has it been a good investment?

Of homes in Maidstone that changed hands in the last five years, 14% sold for less than the previous owner paid — 3.1 points below South East (17.1%) (nominal, not inflation-adjusted). Across those resales the typical gain was 16.67% over 7.17 years held.

Investment context: a gross rental yield of about 5% (area median rent against the median sold price) — appraise a specific property at /appraisal/maidstone.

Compare every area in Kent: Kent area guide & rankings.

Nearby areas we cover: Tonbridge and Malling, Medway, Tunbridge Wells.