Freshwater Road is in Chatham and in Rochester Upon Medway district. ME5 7SY is located in the Princes Park electoral ward, within the English Parliamentary constituency of Chatham and Aylesford. This postcode has been in use since 1988-03-01.
StreetScan combines information about Freshwater Road, Chatham, ME5 7SY and displays a report on the quality of life in this place and its surroundings.
Nearby postcodes are: ME5 7RY, ME5 7SZ, ME5 0DG, ME5 7RU, ME5 7RZ, ME5 7RX, ME5 0DL, ME5 7RT, ME5 7RS.
In the UK, the overall gender distribution is approximately 49% male and 51% female. The local area around ME5 7SY is generally consistent with those figures, having a male population of 48.1%.
| 2011 | 2021 | 10y change (pp) | UK Average | postcode vs UK (pp) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Female | 48.6% | 51.9% | 3.3% | 51.0% | 0.9% |
| Male | 51.4% | 48.1% | -3.3% | 49.0% | -0.9% |
Across the UK, the average relationship status breakdown is roughly 44% married, 38% single, 9% divorced, 6% widowed, and 2% separated.
In the immediate area around ME5 7SY, a significant portion of the population is single, making up 48% of the residents. On average, approximately 38% of individuals who responded to the census in the UK were single. Areas with higher single populations are typically urban centers, university towns, regions with dynamic job markets, rich cultural offerings and entertainment facilities. These regions also tend to have a younger demographic.
| 2011 | 2021 | 10y change (pp) | UK Average | postcode vs UK (pp) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Single | 48.8% | 48% | -0.8% | 37.9% | 10.1% |
| Married: Opposite sex | 38.8% | 37.7% | -1.1% | 44.2% | -6.5% |
| Civil partnership: Opposite sex | 0% | 0.9% | 0.9% | 0.1% | 0.8% |
| Separated | 2.1% | 2.2% | 0.1% | 2.2% | 0.0% |
| Divorced | 9.6% | 9.4% | -0.2% | 9.1% | 0.3% |
| Widowed | 0.8% | 1.8% | 1.0% | 6.1% | -4.3% |
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 | 56.3% | 44.8% | -11.5% | 48.4% | -3.6% |
| Good health | 34.6% | 37.9% | 3.3% | 33.6% | 4.3% |
| Fair health | 6.4% | 14.1% | 7.7% | 12.7% | 1.4% |
| Bad health | 1.5% | 2.8% | 1.3% | 4.0% | -1.2% |
| Very bad health | 1.2% | 0.3% | -0.9% | 1.2% | -0.9% |
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 | 9.6% | 13% | 3.4% | 18.2% | -5.2% |
| 1-4 GCSEs or Equivalent | 15.4% | 8.1% | -7.3% | 9.6% | -1.5% |
| 5 or more GCSEs, an A-Level or 1-2 AS Levels | 26.3% | 20.6% | -5.7% | 13.4% | 7.2% |
| Apprenticeship | 2.5% | 5.8% | 3.3% | 5.3% | 0.5% |
| HNC, HND or 2+ A Levels | 17.1% | 24.7% | 7.6% | 16.9% | 7.8% |
| Degree or Similar | 21.3% | 27.8% | 6.5% | 33.8% | -6.0% |
| Other | 7.9% | 0% | -7.9% | 2.8% | -2.8% |
This area closely mirrors the overall ethnic composition of the UK, with 89.2% of the population identifying as white, with UK average of 81.4%.
| 2011 | 2021 | 10y change (pp) | UK Average | postcode vs UK (pp) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chinese | 0.6% | 0.7% | 0.1% | 0.7% | 0.0% |
| Indian | 0.3% | 0% | -0.3% | 3.1% | -3.1% |
| Pakistani | 0.3% | 0% | -0.3% | 2.7% | -2.7% |
| Other Asian | 1.2% | 0.7% | -0.5% | 1.6% | -0.9% |
| Black African | 0.9% | 2.1% | 1.2% | 2.5% | -0.4% |
| Black Caribbean | 1.2% | 1.7% | 0.5% | 1.0% | 0.7% |
| Other Black | 0.3% | 0.7% | 0.4% | 0.5% | 0.2% |
| Mixed White and Asian | 0% | 1.4% | 1.4% | 0.8% | 0.6% |
| Mixed White and African | 0.6% | 1% | 0.4% | 0.4% | 0.6% |
| Mixed White and Caribbean | 1.5% | 1.4% | -0.1% | 0.9% | 0.5% |
| Mixed Other | 0.6% | 0.7% | 0.1% | 0.8% | -0.1% |
| White | 92% | 89.2% | -2.8% | 81.4% | 7.8% |
| Gypsy or Irish Traveller | 0.3% | 0% | -0.3% | 0.1% | -0.1% |
| Other | 0% | 0.3% | 0.3% | 1.6% | -1.3% |
In this area, 89.9% 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 | 88.7% | 89.9% | 1.2% | 83.2% | 6.7% |
| European Union | 6.7% | 4.5% | -2.2% | 6.1% | -1.6% |
| Rest of Europe | 0.9% | 1.7% | 0.8% | 0.8% | 0.9% |
| Africa | 1.2% | 2.4% | 1.2% | 2.7% | -0.3% |
| Middle East and Asia | 1.8% | 0.7% | -1.1% | 5.6% | -4.9% |
| The Americas and the Caribbean | 0.6% | 0.7% | 0.1% | 1.3% | -0.6% |
| 2011 | 2021 | 10y change (pp) | UK Average | postcode vs UK (pp) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Born in the UK | 88.1% | 88.6% | 0.5% | 83.2% | 5.4% |
| 10+ Years | 0.6% | 5.9% | 5.3% | 9.8% | -3.9% |
| 5-10 Years | 3.1% | 2.8% | -0.3% | 2.9% | -0.1% |
| 2-5 Years | 4% | 2.8% | -1.2% | 2.2% | 0.6% |
| Less than 2 years | 4.3% | 0% | -4.3% | 1.9% | -1.9% |
| 2021 | UK Average | postcode vs UK (pp) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom | 78.4% | 76.7% | 1.7% |
| Ireland | 0.3% | 0.6% | -0.3% |
| Lithuania | 0.7% | 0.3% | 0.4% |
| Romania | 2.1% | 0.9% | 1.2% |
| Other EU countries | 3.1% | 1.5% | 1.6% |
| Turkey | 0.3% | 0.1% | 0.2% |
| Central and Western Africa | 0.3% | 0.3% | 0.0% |
| South and Eastern Africa | 0.3% | 0.2% | 0.1% |
| South-East Asia | 0.3% | 0.2% | 0.1% |
| No passport held | 14.1% | 13.5% | 0.6% |
| 2021 | UK Average | postcode vs UK (pp) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| No religion | 51.9% | 37.2% | 14.7% |
| Christian | 43.9% | 46.2% | -2.3% |
| Muslim | 0.7% | 6.5% | -5.8% |
| Other religion | 1% | 0.6% | 0.4% |
| Not answered | 2.4% | 6.0% | -3.6% |
Over the last 12 months, the overall crime rate around Freshwater Road was 88.3 per 1,000 residents, which is 79.1% higher than the Lordswood & Walderslade average. The most reported crime type was Violence and sexual offences.
Freshwater Road has the 6th highest crime rate of 44 local areas in Lordswood & Walderslade and the 299th highest crime rate of 820 local areas in Medway .
Violent and sexual offences accounted for around 50.5 crimes per 1,000 residents and have been falling year on year. Over the last decade, overall crime has fallen by about -34.6%.

Households in this area have a higher level of wealth to the average household in England and Wales. 80% of analyzed areas in England and Wales have lower average household annual income than this area.

| Address | Sale Price | Sale Date | Price Estimate 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 32 Freshwater Road, Chatham, Medway Terraced, an established residential building | £260,000 | 2023-09-22 | £268,050 |
| 80 Freshwater Road, Chatham, Medway Semi-Detached, an established residential building | £264,500 | 2022-09-09 | £269,056 |
| 66 Freshwater Road, Chatham, Medway Semi-Detached, an established residential building | £302,000 | 2022-07-04 | £314,858 |
| 20 Freshwater Road, Chatham, Medway Terraced, an established residential building | £250,000 | 2021-07-30 | £289,063 |
| 24 Freshwater Road, Chatham, Medway Terraced, an established residential building | £255,000 | 2020-09-25 | £316,061 |
ME5 7SY area has a high level of entrepreneurship. Only 20% of streets have higher percent of entrepreneur residents. 13% of population in this area is self-employed, while the average in the UK is 9.7%. High number of entrepreneurs usually leads to relatively high economic growth, higher paid jobs and better quality of life in the area.
ME5 7SY area has a low unemployment rate. According to Census 2021, 3% 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 | 106 |
| Part-Time Employee | 33 |
| Self-Employed | 28 |
| Retired | 14 |
| Looking after home or family | 14 |
| Long-Term Sick or disabled | 9 |
| Other | 9 |
| Unemployed | 7 |
| Student (economically inactive) | 3 |
| Full-Time Student (with or without job) | 1 |
| Wholesale and retail trade; repair of motor vehicles and motor cycles | 35 |
| Construction | 23 |
| Human health and social work activities | 19 |
| Public administration and defence; compulsory social security | 15 |
| Manufacturing | 14 |
| Education | 14 |
| Information and communication | 13 |
| Financial and insurance activities | 13 |
| Administrative and support service activities | 11 |
| Professional, scientific and technical activities | 10 |
| Other | 10 |
| Transport and storage | 9 |
| Accommodation and food service activities | 8 |
| Real estate activities | 2 |
| Water supply; sewerage, waste management and remediation activities | 2 |
| Ofsted Overall Effectiveness | Distance | Establishment Type | Has Nursery Classes | Gender | More Info | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wayfield Primary School Wayfield Road , ME5 0HH | 3out of 4 | 278 yd | Academy converter | Yes | Mixed | More About School |
| Kingfisher Community Primary School Kingfisher Drive , Princes Park ME5 7NX | 2out of 4 | 700 yd | Academy sponsor led | Yes | Mixed | More About School |
| Maundene School Swallow Rise , Walderslade ME5 7QB | 3out of 4 | 1,027 yd | Academy sponsor led | No | Mixed | More About School |
| New Horizons Children's Academy Park Crescent , ME4 6NR | 3out of 4 | 1,058 yd | Academy sponsor led | Yes | Mixed | More About School |
| St Thomas More Roman Catholic Primary School Bleakwood Road , ME5 0NF | 4out of 4 | 1,490 yd | Voluntary aided school | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Ofsted Overall Effectiveness | Distance | Establishment Type | Has Nursery Classes | Gender | More Info | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Walderslade Girls' School Bradfields Avenue , Walderslade ME5 0LE | 2out of 4 | 1,132 yd | Academy converter | Not Applicable | Girls | More About School |
| The Victory Academy Magpie Hall Road , ME4 5JB | 3out of 4 | 1,157 yd | Academy sponsor led | Not Applicable | Mixed | More About School |
| Greenacre Academy 157 Walderslade Road , Walderslade ME5 0LP | 3out of 4 | 1,242 yd | Academy converter | No | Boys | More About School |
| Holcombe Grammar School Holcombe , Maidstone Road ME4 6JB | 3out of 4 | 1,287 yd | Academy converter | Not Applicable | Boys | More About School |
| Chatham Grammar Rainham Road , ME5 7EH | 3out of 4 | 2,078 yd | Academy converter | Not Applicable | Girls | More About School |
| Ofsted Overall Effectiveness | Distance | Establishment Type | Has Nursery Classes | Gender | More Info | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MidKent College Medway Road , ME7 1FN | - not rated | 4,261 yd | Further education | Not Applicable | Mixed | More About School |
| Ofsted Overall Effectiveness | Distance | Establishment Type | Has Nursery Classes | Gender | More Info | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Rowans Silverbank , Churchill Avenue ME5 0LB | 4out of 4 | 643 yd | Academy alternative provision converter | Not Applicable | Mixed | More About School |
| Bradfields Academy Churchill Avenue , ME5 0LB | 4out of 4 | 927 yd | Academy special converter | No | Mixed | More About School |
| INSPIRE Free Special School Churchill Avenue , ME5 0LB | 3out of 4 | 927 yd | Free schools special | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Blue Skies School 126 Maidstone Road , ME4 6DQ | - not rated | 1,971 yd | Other independent special school | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Hospital and Medical Tuition Service The School Room, Dolphin Ward , Medway Maritime Hospital ME7 5NY | - not rated | 2,375 yd | Miscellaneous | Not Applicable | Mixed | More About School |
School statistics for this postcode are based on Ofsted rankings.
| Business Name | Address | Food hygiene rating | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mels Place | 179 Wayfield Road, Wayfield | 310 yd | |
| Chatham Bowling Club | Palmerston Road, Chatham | 1,059 yd |
| Business Name | Address | Food hygiene rating | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Prince Park Pub | Neighbourhood Centre, Princes Avenue | 632 yd |
| Business Name | Address | Food hygiene rating | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Curry Hut | 169 Wayfield Road, Wayfield | 293 yd | |
| Happy Garden | 171 Wayfield Road, Wayfield | 295 yd | |
| Wayfield Kebab House | 181 Wayfield Road, Wayfield | 314 yd | |
| Wayfield Fish Bar | 183 Wayfield Road, Wayfield | 319 yd | |
| The Curry Kitchen | The Princes Park, Neighbourhood Centre | 692 yd |
| Business Name | Address | Food hygiene rating | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wayfield Local | 161 Wayfield Road, Wayfield | 278 yd |
| Facility Name | Sport Objects | Distance |
|---|---|---|
| Kingfisher Community Primary School KINGFISHER DRIVE | grass pitches | 495 yd |
| Barnfield Playing Fields Barnfield | grass pitches | 663 yd |
| Chatham Golf Range (Closed) Street End Road | golf | 722 yd |
| Snodhurst Bottom SNODHURST BOTTOM SNODHURST BOTTOM WALDERSLADE ROAD | golf, grass pitches | 893 yd |
| Park Club Chatham SNODHURST BOTTOM SNODHURST BOTTOM WALDERSLADE ROAD | health and fitness suite, squash courts | 986 yd |
| The Victory Academy MAGPIE HALL ROAD | artificial grass pitch, grass pitches, health and fitness suite | 1,054 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 | 87.8% |
| Percentage of premises that have coverage from a Gigabit capable service from fixed broadband | 87.8% |
| 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% |
| Median download speed | 80 Mbit/s |
| Average download speed | 128.7 Mbit/s |
| Minimum download speed | 600 Mbit/s |
| Maximum download speed | 600 Mbit/s |
| Median upload speed | 18.9 Mbit/s |
| Average upload speed | 18 Mbit/s |
| Maximum upload speed | 40 Mbit/s |
Broadband statistics are based on Ofcom's Communications Market Report (CMR) 2022.