Lower Road is in Sutton Valence, Maidstone and in Maidstone district. ME17 3BJ is located in the Headcorn & Sutton Valence electoral ward, within the English Parliamentary constituency of Faversham and Mid Kent. This postcode has been in use since 1980-01-01.
StreetScan combines information about Lower Road, Sutton Valence, Maidstone, ME17 3BJ and displays a report on the quality of life in this place and its surroundings.
Nearby postcodes are: ME17 3BH, ME17 3BL, ME17 3AG, ME17 3BE, ME17 3BN, ME17 3BW, ME17 3AL, ME17 3HH, ME17 3BP.
In the UK, the overall gender distribution is approximately 49% male and 51% female. The local area around ME17 3BJ is generally consistent with those figures, having a male population of 48.8%.
| 2011 | 2021 | 10y change (pp) | UK Average | postcode vs UK (pp) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Female | 50.3% | 51.2% | 0.9% | 51.0% | 0.2% |
| Male | 49.7% | 48.8% | -0.9% | 49.0% | -0.2% |
Across the UK, the average relationship status breakdown is roughly 44% married, 38% single, 9% divorced, 6% widowed, and 2% separated.
| 2011 | 2021 | 10y change (pp) | UK Average | postcode vs UK (pp) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Single | 29.6% | 33.9% | 4.3% | 37.9% | -4.0% |
| Married: Opposite sex | 51.8% | 45.8% | -6.0% | 44.2% | 1.6% |
| Married: Same sex | 0.8% | 0% | -0.8% | 0.3% | -0.3% |
| Separated | 1.2% | 1.6% | 0.4% | 2.2% | -0.6% |
| Divorced | 8.5% | 11.6% | 3.1% | 9.1% | 2.5% |
| Widowed | 8.1% | 7.2% | -0.9% | 6.1% | 1.1% |
Across the UK, the average 48.4% rated their health as Very Good, 33.6% as Good, 12.7% as Fair, 4% as Bad, and 1.2% as Very Bad.
Population age significantly impacts residents' health. Additionally, socioeconomic status plays a crucial role: higher income levels and lower poverty rates are linked to better health outcomes. Affluent areas benefit from higher living standards, access to private healthcare, and healthier lifestyle choices.
| 2011 | 2021 | 10y change (pp) | UK Average | postcode vs UK (pp) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Very good health | 47.6% | 48.2% | 0.6% | 48.4% | -0.2% |
| Good health | 36.3% | 35.1% | -1.2% | 33.6% | 1.5% |
| Fair health | 12.7% | 12.4% | -0.3% | 12.7% | -0.3% |
| Bad health | 2.7% | 2.5% | -0.2% | 4.0% | -1.5% |
| Very bad health | 0.7% | 1.8% | 1.1% | 1.2% | 0.6% |
During the 2021 census, the educational qualifications of residents across the UK were as follows: 18.2% had no qualifications, 9.6% had 1-4 GCSEs, 13.4% had 5 or more GCSEs and 1-2 A/AS Levels, 16.9% had 2 or more A Levels, 33.8% held a degree (or equivalent), and 5.4% had completed an apprenticeship.
| 2011 | 2021 | 10y change (pp) | UK Average | postcode vs UK (pp) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No qualifications | 14.6% | 15.2% | 0.6% | 18.2% | -3.0% |
| 1-4 GCSEs or Equivalent | 11.3% | 10.4% | -0.9% | 9.6% | 0.8% |
| 5 or more GCSEs, an A-Level or 1-2 AS Levels | 11.7% | 14% | 2.3% | 13.4% | 0.6% |
| Apprenticeship | 3.2% | 4.8% | 1.6% | 5.3% | -0.5% |
| HNC, HND or 2+ A Levels | 16.6% | 15.6% | -1.0% | 16.9% | -1.3% |
| Degree or Similar | 39.3% | 38.4% | -0.9% | 33.8% | 4.6% |
| Other | 3.2% | 1.6% | -1.6% | 2.8% | -1.2% |
In this area, the population is predominantly white, with 95% identifying as such, significantly higher than the UK average of 81.4%. This indicates a lower level of ethnic diversity compared to the broader UK population.
| 2011 | 2021 | 10y change (pp) | UK Average | postcode vs UK (pp) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chinese | 0% | 0.7% | 0.7% | 0.7% | 0.0% |
| Indian | 1% | 0.7% | -0.3% | 3.1% | -2.4% |
| Other Asian | 0.7% | 0.7% | 0.0% | 1.6% | -0.9% |
| Black African | 0.3% | 0% | -0.3% | 2.5% | -2.5% |
| Mixed White and Asian | 1.4% | 1.4% | 0.0% | 0.8% | 0.6% |
| Mixed Other | 0.7% | 0.4% | -0.3% | 0.8% | -0.4% |
| White | 95.2% | 95% | -0.2% | 81.4% | 13.6% |
| Gypsy or Irish Traveller | 0.7% | 0% | -0.7% | 0.1% | -0.1% |
| Other | 0% | 1.1% | 1.1% | 1.6% | -0.5% |
In this area, 87.9% of the population were born in the United Kingdom, which is similar to the UK average of 83.2%.
| 2011 | 2021 | 10y change (pp) | UK Average | postcode vs UK (pp) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom | 93.8% | 87.9% | -5.9% | 83.2% | 4.7% |
| European Union | 2.4% | 6% | 3.6% | 6.1% | -0.1% |
| Rest of Europe | 0.3% | 0.7% | 0.4% | 0.8% | -0.1% |
| Africa | 1.4% | 1.4% | 0.0% | 2.7% | -1.3% |
| Middle East and Asia | 1.4% | 1.8% | 0.4% | 5.6% | -3.8% |
| The Americas and the Caribbean | 0.3% | 0% | -0.3% | 1.3% | -1.3% |
| Oceania | 0.3% | 2.1% | 1.8% | 0.3% | 1.8% |
| 2011 | 2021 | 10y change (pp) | UK Average | postcode vs UK (pp) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Born in the UK | 92.5% | 88.2% | -4.3% | 83.2% | 5.0% |
| 10+ Years | 0.3% | 8.6% | 8.3% | 9.8% | -1.2% |
| 5-10 Years | 0.3% | 2.9% | 2.6% | 2.9% | 0.0% |
| 2-5 Years | 1% | 0% | -1.0% | 2.2% | -2.2% |
| Less than 2 years | 5.8% | 0.4% | -5.4% | 1.9% | -1.5% |
| 2021 | UK Average | postcode vs UK (pp) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom | 85.5% | 76.7% | 8.8% |
| Ireland | 1.1% | 0.6% | 0.5% |
| France | 1.1% | 0.3% | 0.8% |
| Lithuania | 0.7% | 0.3% | 0.4% |
| Other EU countries | 2.8% | 1.5% | 1.3% |
| South-East Asia | 0.4% | 0.2% | 0.2% |
| Oceania | 0.7% | 0.1% | 0.6% |
| No passport held | 7.8% | 13.5% | -5.7% |
| 2021 | UK Average | postcode vs UK (pp) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| No religion | 42% | 37.2% | 4.8% |
| Christian | 51.2% | 46.2% | 5.0% |
| Buddhist | 1.1% | 0.5% | 0.6% |
| Muslim | 0.7% | 6.5% | -5.8% |
| Other religion | 1.4% | 0.6% | 0.8% |
| Not answered | 3.6% | 6.0% | -2.4% |
Over the last 12 months, the overall crime rate around Lower Road was 15.7 per 1,000 residents, which is 76.5% lower than the Headcorn & Sutton Valence average. The most reported crime type was Drugs.
Lower Road has the lowest crime rate of 21 local areas in Headcorn & Sutton Valence and the 47th lowest crime rate of 511 local areas in Maidstone .
Violent and sexual offences accounted for around 0.0 crimes per 1,000 residents and have been falling year on year. Over the last decade, overall crime has fallen by about -72.2%.
Households in this area have a higher level of wealth to the average household in England and Wales. 73% of analyzed areas in England and Wales have lower average household annual income than this area.
| Address | Sale Price | Sale Date | Price Estimate 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Motto House Lower Road, Maidstone, Kent Semi-Detached, an established residential building | £470,000 | 2018-04-27 | £557,177 |
| Motto House Lower Road, Maidstone, Kent Semi-Detached, an established residential building | £490,000 | 2007-06-13 | £821,189 |
| Valence Green Cottage Lower Road, Maidstone, Kent Detached, an established residential building | £249,950 | 2000-08-21 | £764,998 |
| Candy Cottage Lower Road, Maidstone, Kent Semi-Detached, an established residential building | £150,000 | 2000-01-21 | £573,792 |
| Townwell House Lower Road, Maidstone, Kent Semi-Detached, an established residential building | £130,000 | 1999-06-04 | £537,229 |
ME17 3BJ area has a low unemployment rate. According to Census 2021, 2% residents of this area were unemployed, while the average in the UK was 4.83%. A low level of unemployment in an area indicates a strong job market, where most people who are seeking work can find employment. This generally reflects a healthy economy in the area.
| Full-Time Employee | 95 |
| Retired | 66 |
| Self-Employed | 29 |
| Part-Time Employee | 20 |
| Looking after home or family | 10 |
| Long-Term Sick or disabled | 9 |
| Student (economically inactive) | 8 |
| Other | 7 |
| Unemployed | 6 |
| Full-Time Student (with or without job) | 1 |
| Wholesale and retail trade; repair of motor vehicles and motor cycles | 24 |
| Education | 17 |
| Professional, scientific and technical activities | 12 |
| Accommodation and food service activities | 12 |
| Human health and social work activities | 11 |
| Other | 11 |
| Construction | 11 |
| Financial and insurance activities | 10 |
| Public administration and defence; compulsory social security | 8 |
| Information and communication | 7 |
| Manufacturing | 7 |
| Administrative and support service activities | 6 |
| Transport and storage | 3 |
| Real estate activities | 3 |
| Agriculture, forestry and fishing | 2 |
| Water supply; sewerage, waste management and remediation activities | 1 |
| Ofsted Overall Effectiveness | Distance | Establishment Type | Has Nursery Classes | Gender | More Info | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sutton Valence Primary School North Street , Sutton Valence ME17 3HT | 3out of 4 | 322 yd | Community school | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Kingswood Primary School Cayser Drive , Kingswood ME17 3QF | 3out of 4 | 3,547 yd | Community school | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Leigh Academy Langley Park Edmett Way , ME17 3FX | 3out of 4 | 3,568 yd | Academy sponsor led | Yes | Mixed | More About School |
| Ulcombe Church of England Primary School The Street , Ulcombe ME17 1DU | 3out of 4 | 3,871 yd | Voluntary controlled school | No | Mixed | More About School |
| The Holy Family Catholic Primary School Bicknor Road , Park Wood ME15 9PS | 3out of 4 | 4,173 yd | Academy sponsor led | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Ofsted Overall Effectiveness | Distance | Establishment Type | Has Nursery Classes | Gender | More Info | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Senacre Technology College Sutton Road , ME15 9DT | - not rated | 5,286 yd | Foundation school | Not Applicable | Mixed | More About School |
| Ofsted Overall Effectiveness | Distance | Establishment Type | Has Nursery Classes | Gender | More Info | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sutton Valence School North Street , Sutton Valence ME17 3HL | - not rated | 182 yd | Other independent school | Yes | Mixed | More About School |
| Underhill Preparatory School Church Road , Chart Sutton ME17 3RF | - not rated | 1,055 yd | Other independent school | Not Applicable | Mixed | More About School |
| Charlton Court East Sutton , ME17 3DQ | - not rated | 2,387 yd | Pupil referral unit | Not Applicable | Mixed | More About School |
| Red Hill School East Sutton Hill , East Sutton ME17 3DQ | - not rated | 2,387 yd | Community special school | Not Applicable | Not applicable | More About School |
| Sunrise Independent School Sutton Road , Langley ME17 3ND | - not rated | 3,357 yd | Other independent school | Not Applicable | Mixed | More About School |
School statistics for this postcode are based on Ofsted rankings.
| Business Name | Address | Food hygiene rating | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Queen's Head | The Queens Head, High Street | 79 yd | |
| The Kings Head | Kings Head, North Street | 188 yd |
| Facility Name | Sport Objects | Distance |
|---|---|---|
| Sydney Wooderson Sports Centre NORTH STREET | artificial grass pitch, athletics tracks, grass pitches, health and fitness suite, squash courts, swimming pool | 188 yd |
| Sutton Valence Primary School NORTH STREET | grass pitches | 321 yd |
| Sutton Valence Village Hall NORTH STREET | 565 yd | |
| Sutton Valence War Memorial Playing Fields SUTTON VALENCE RECREATION GROUND SUTTON VALENCE RECREATION GROUND NORTH STREET | grass pitches, tennis courts | 591 yd |
| Sutton Valence School (Cricket Grounds) NORTH STREET | grass pitches | 716 yd |
This statistics are based on Active Places Data - Contains Data © Sport England
| Percentage of premises that have Superfast Broadband (30Mbit/s or greater) coverage from fixed broadband | 100.0% |
| Percentage of premises that have Ultrafast Broadband (100Mbit/s or greater) coverage from fixed broadband | 100.0% |
| Percentage of premises that have Ultrafast Broadband (300Mbit/s or greater) coverage from fixed broadband | 100.0% |
| Percentage of premises that have coverage from a Gigabit capable service from fixed broadband | 100.0% |
| Percentage of premises unable to receive 2Mbit/s | 0.0% |
| Percentage of premises unable to receive 5Mbit/s | 0.0% |
| Percentage of premises unable to receive 10Mbit/s | 0.0% |
| Percentage of premises unable to receive 30Mbit/s | 0.0% |
Broadband statistics are based on Ofcom's Communications Market Report (CMR) 2022.