Medway area report

Highlights

Medway is a unitary authority in Kent with a population of 279776. The median house price stands at 300000, with 6971 sales in the 12 months to April 2026 and a 5-year price trend of 17.6 percent. Terraced homes make up 37.7 percent of the housing stock, semi-detached 30.9 percent. The affordability ratio is 8.3, based on median earnings of 37128. Crime was recorded at 9.3 per 1000 population in May 2026, with violent crime the largest category. Education provision includes 76 primary schools and 19 secondary schools; 37 of the 41 schools with an Ofsted rating were rated good or better. Life expectancy is 78.8 years for males and 82.8 years for females. The area has 33 GP surgeries, 47 dentists and 4 hospitals. Transport connectivity includes 8 rail stations; the nearest is 1.6 kilometres away, with a typical commute of 44 minutes to London St Pancras from Gillingham station. Gigabit-capable broadband reaches 80.4 percent of premises. Air quality is moderate, with nitrogen dioxide at 10.8 annual mean and fine particulates at 7.4. Council tax band D for 2026/27 is 2319.29.

Data updated 2026/27 (tax); 2025 (control). Medway, 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, Medway ranks 4th cheapest of 13, 10th safest and 4th most affordable.

What does it cost?

• £300,000 median home price (HM Land Registry Price Paid + UK HPI, Apr 2026)

Sold prices in Medway have risen 15% over the last five years (UK House Price Index).

How safe is it?

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

Who lives here?

• 279,776 residents (ONS Census 2021 (Nomis), 2021)

About 45% of neighbourhoods in England are more deprived than Medway (English Indices of Deprivation, decile 5 of 10, national basis). Little changed since 2019 (decile 5).

Schools

• 90% of inspected schools rated Good or Outstanding (Get Information About Schools (GIAS) + Ofsted inspections MI, 2026)

Health

• 78.8 · 82.8 yrs life expectancy (men · women) (NHS ODS register (GP/dentist/pharmacy) + OSM (hospitals) + IoD2025 health domain + OHID Fingertips (outcomes), 2026/2025)

Getting around

• ≈44 min fastest train to London (OpenStreetMap + National Rail timetable (ATOC/RDG, GTFS), 2026)
• 80% of premises can get gigabit broadband (Ofcom Connected Nations 2024, Jul 2024)

Has it been a good investment?

Of homes in Medway that changed hands in the last five years, 16.3% sold for less than the previous owner paid — 0.8 points below South East (17.1%) (nominal, not inflation-adjusted). Across those resales the typical gain was 15.38% over 6.81 years held.

Investment context: a gross rental yield of about 5.4% (area median rent against the median sold price) — appraise a specific property at /appraisal/medway.

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

Nearby areas we cover: Gravesham, Maidstone, Tonbridge and Malling.