Earl Close is in Chatham and in Medway district. ME5 8HA is located in the Lordswood & Walderslade electoral ward, within the English Parliamentary constituency of Chatham and Aylesford. This postcode has been in use since 1980-01-01.
StreetScan combines information about Earl Close, Chatham, ME5 8HA and displays a report on the quality of life in this place and its surroundings.
Nearby postcodes are: ME5 8HB, ME5 8EX, ME5 8EU, ME5 8HP, ME5 8HD, ME5 8EY, ME5 8HE, ME5 8ES, ME5 8AJ.
In the UK, the overall gender distribution is approximately 49% male and 51% female. The local area around ME5 8HA is generally consistent with those figures, having a male population of 48.5%.
| 2011 | 2021 | 10y change (pp) | UK Average | postcode vs UK (pp) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Female | 50.1% | 51.5% | 1.4% | 51.0% | 0.5% |
| Male | 49.9% | 48.5% | -1.4% | 49.0% | -0.5% |
Across the UK, the average relationship status breakdown is roughly 44% married, 38% single, 9% divorced, 6% widowed, and 2% separated.
In the immediate vicinity of ME5 8HA there is a very large concentration of residents that are married - 51.5% of the resident population. In contrast, the average marriage rate across the census is about 44%.
Areas with a high percentage of married residents are typically suburban neighborhoods, towns with good schools and family-friendly amenities, and regions with affordable, spacious housing options. Additionally, such areas can be popular among retirees.
| 2011 | 2021 | 10y change (pp) | UK Average | postcode vs UK (pp) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Single | 26.5% | 32.3% | 5.8% | 37.9% | -5.6% |
| Married: Opposite sex | 56.6% | 51.5% | -5.1% | 44.2% | 7.3% |
| Separated | 1.4% | 1.5% | 0.1% | 2.2% | -0.7% |
| Divorced | 9.3% | 9.8% | 0.5% | 9.1% | 0.7% |
| Widowed | 6.1% | 4.9% | -1.2% | 6.1% | -1.2% |
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 | 45.4% | 47.6% | 2.2% | 48.4% | -0.8% |
| Good health | 41% | 35.4% | -5.6% | 33.6% | 1.8% |
| Fair health | 9.1% | 15.2% | 6.1% | 12.7% | 2.5% |
| Bad health | 3.8% | 1.2% | -2.6% | 4.0% | -2.8% |
| Very bad health | 0.6% | 0.6% | 0.0% | 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 | 18.6% | 14.8% | -3.8% | 18.2% | -3.4% |
| 1-4 GCSEs or Equivalent | 18.6% | 9.5% | -9.1% | 9.6% | -0.1% |
| 5 or more GCSEs, an A-Level or 1-2 AS Levels | 20.4% | 17.8% | -2.6% | 13.4% | 4.4% |
| Apprenticeship | 5.4% | 6.4% | 1.0% | 5.3% | 1.1% |
| HNC, HND or 2+ A Levels | 15.4% | 21.6% | 6.2% | 16.9% | 4.7% |
| Degree or Similar | 19.7% | 27.7% | 8.0% | 33.8% | -6.1% |
| Other | 1.8% | 2.3% | 0.5% | 2.8% | -0.5% |
This area closely mirrors the overall ethnic composition of the UK, with 89.6% 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% | 0.3% | 0.3% | 0.7% | -0.4% |
| Indian | 0.6% | 1.8% | 1.2% | 3.1% | -1.3% |
| Pakistani | 0.3% | 0% | -0.3% | 2.7% | -2.7% |
| Other Asian | 0% | 0.3% | 0.3% | 1.6% | -1.3% |
| Black African | 1.5% | 5.2% | 3.7% | 2.5% | 2.7% |
| Black Caribbean | 0.6% | 0% | -0.6% | 1.0% | -1.0% |
| Mixed White and Asian | 0% | 0.9% | 0.9% | 0.8% | 0.1% |
| Mixed White and African | 0% | 0.6% | 0.6% | 0.4% | 0.2% |
| Mixed White and Caribbean | 0.9% | 0.9% | 0.0% | 0.9% | 0.0% |
| Mixed Other | 0% | 0.3% | 0.3% | 0.8% | -0.5% |
| White | 96.2% | 89.6% | -6.6% | 81.4% | 8.2% |
In this area, 91.2% of the population were born in the United Kingdom, which is higher than the UK average of 83.2%.
| 2011 | 2021 | 10y change (pp) | UK Average | postcode vs UK (pp) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom | 95.3% | 91.2% | -4.1% | 83.2% | 8.0% |
| European Union | 0.9% | 2.4% | 1.5% | 6.1% | -3.7% |
| Rest of Europe | 0% | 0.3% | 0.3% | 0.8% | -0.5% |
| Africa | 2.1% | 5.2% | 3.1% | 2.7% | 2.5% |
| Middle East and Asia | 0.6% | 0.9% | 0.3% | 5.6% | -4.7% |
| The Americas and the Caribbean | 1.2% | 0% | -1.2% | 1.3% | -1.3% |
| 2011 | 2021 | 10y change (pp) | UK Average | postcode vs UK (pp) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Born in the UK | 94.4% | 91.2% | -3.2% | 83.2% | 8.0% |
| 10+ Years | 0% | 4.6% | 4.6% | 9.8% | -5.2% |
| 5-10 Years | 0% | 1.8% | 1.8% | 2.9% | -1.1% |
| 2-5 Years | 0.3% | 0.3% | 0.0% | 2.2% | -1.9% |
| Less than 2 years | 5.3% | 2.1% | -3.2% | 1.9% | 0.2% |
| 2021 | UK Average | postcode vs UK (pp) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom | 86.6% | 76.7% | 9.9% |
| Poland | 0.3% | 1.3% | -1.0% |
| Romania | 1.5% | 0.9% | 0.6% |
| Other EU countries | 0.6% | 1.5% | -0.9% |
| Other Europe | 0.3% | 0.2% | 0.1% |
| North Africa | 0.6% | 0.1% | 0.5% |
| South and Eastern Africa | 1.2% | 0.2% | 1.0% |
| Southern Asia | 0.3% | 1.2% | -0.9% |
| South-East Asia | 0.3% | 0.2% | 0.1% |
| No passport held | 8.2% | 13.5% | -5.3% |
| 2021 | UK Average | postcode vs UK (pp) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| No religion | 47.9% | 37.2% | 10.7% |
| Christian | 46.6% | 46.2% | 0.4% |
| Buddhist | 0.3% | 0.5% | -0.2% |
| Hindu | 0.9% | 1.7% | -0.8% |
| Muslim | 0.9% | 6.5% | -5.6% |
| Sikh | 0.3% | 0.9% | -0.6% |
| Not answered | 3% | 6.0% | -3.0% |
Over the last 12 months, the overall crime rate around Earl Close was 53.4 per 1,000 residents, which is 8.2% higher than the Lordswood & Walderslade average. The most reported crime type was Violence and sexual offences.
Earl Close has the 15th highest crime rate of 44 local areas in Lordswood & Walderslade and the 357th lowest crime rate of 820 local areas in Medway .
Violent and sexual offences accounted for around 24.9 crimes per 1,000 residents and have been rising year on year. Over the last decade, overall crime has risen by about 145.5%.

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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 9 Earl Close, Chatham, Medway Semi-Detached, an established residential building | £330,000 | 2024-09-18 | £348,391 |
| 7 Earl Close, Chatham, Medway Semi-Detached, an established residential building | £340,000 | 2021-05-14 | £405,898 |
| 9 Earl Close, Chatham, Medway Semi-Detached, an established residential building | £272,500 | 2018-09-07 | £336,519 |
| 6 Earl Close, Chatham, Medway Detached, an established residential building | £260,000 | 2018-08-10 | £316,233 |
| 5 Earl Close, Chatham, Medway Detached, an established residential building | £264,000 | 2013-11-25 | £506,253 |
ME5 8HA area has a high level of entrepreneurship. Only 24% of streets have higher percent of entrepreneur residents. 12% 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 8HA area has a low unemployment rate. According to Census 2021, 0% 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 | 101 |
| Retired | 63 |
| Part-Time Employee | 40 |
| Self-Employed | 32 |
| Student (economically inactive) | 11 |
| Looking after home or family | 11 |
| Long-Term Sick or disabled | 5 |
| Other | 3 |
| Full-Time Student (with or without job) | 3 |
| Unemployed | 0 |
| Wholesale and retail trade; repair of motor vehicles and motor cycles | 40 |
| Construction | 24 |
| Human health and social work activities | 19 |
| Manufacturing | 16 |
| Transport and storage | 11 |
| Education | 11 |
| Professional, scientific and technical activities | 8 |
| Public administration and defence; compulsory social security | 8 |
| Other | 8 |
| Administrative and support service activities | 6 |
| Financial and insurance activities | 6 |
| Accommodation and food service activities | 6 |
| Information and communication | 5 |
| Water supply; sewerage, waste management and remediation activities | 3 |
| Electricity, gas, steam and air conditioning supply | 2 |
| Ofsted Overall Effectiveness | Distance | Establishment Type | Has Nursery Classes | Gender | More Info | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| St Thomas More Roman Catholic Primary School Bleakwood Road , ME5 0NF | 4out of 4 | 512 yd | Voluntary aided school | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Walderslade Primary School Dargets Road , Walderslade ME5 8BJ | 3out of 4 | 556 yd | Academy converter | Yes | Mixed | More About School |
| Maundene School Swallow Rise , Walderslade ME5 7QB | 3out of 4 | 585 yd | Academy sponsor led | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Lordswood School Lordswood Lane , ME5 8NN | 3out of 4 | 770 yd | Academy sponsor led | Yes | Mixed | More About School |
| Oaklands School Weedswood Road , Walderslade ME5 0QS | - not rated | 791 yd | Academy converter | Yes | Mixed | More About School |
| Ofsted Overall Effectiveness | Distance | Establishment Type | Has Nursery Classes | Gender | More Info | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Greenacre Academy 157 Walderslade Road , Walderslade ME5 0LP | 3out of 4 | 714 yd | Academy converter | No | Boys | More About School |
| Walderslade Girls' School Bradfields Avenue , Walderslade ME5 0LE | 2out of 4 | 773 yd | Academy converter | Not Applicable | Girls | More About School |
| Holcombe Grammar School Holcombe , Maidstone Road ME4 6JB | 3out of 4 | 2,607 yd | Academy converter | Not Applicable | Boys | More About School |
| The Victory Academy Magpie Hall Road , ME4 5JB | 3out of 4 | 2,756 yd | Academy sponsor led | Not Applicable | Mixed | More About School |
| The Thomas Aveling School Arethusa Road , ME1 2UW | 3out of 4 | 3,133 yd | Academy converter | Not Applicable | Mixed | More About School |
| Ofsted Overall Effectiveness | Distance | Establishment Type | Has Nursery Classes | Gender | More Info | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bradfields Academy Churchill Avenue , ME5 0LB | 4out of 4 | 875 yd | Academy special converter | No | Mixed | More About School |
| INSPIRE Free Special School Churchill Avenue , ME5 0LB | 3out of 4 | 875 yd | Free schools special | No | Mixed | More About School |
| The Rowans Silverbank , Churchill Avenue ME5 0LB | 4out of 4 | 1,213 yd | Academy alternative provision converter | Not Applicable | Mixed | More About School |
| Medway Secure Training Centre Sir Evelyn Road , ME1 3YB | - not rated | 3,389 yd | Secure units | Not Applicable | Mixed | More About School |
| Blue Skies School 126 Maidstone Road , ME4 6DQ | - not rated | 3,475 yd | Other independent special school | No | Mixed | More About School |
School statistics for this postcode are based on Ofsted rankings.
| Business Name | Address | Food hygiene rating | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bliss Tea Rooms | 383A Walderslade Road, Walderslade | 898 yd | |
| 363 Coffee Lounge | 363-367 Walderslade Road, Walderslade | 904 yd | |
| Walderslade Village Cafe | 359 Walderslade Road, Walderslade | 905 yd | |
| Taj Cuisine | 1 Sherwood House, Walderslade Road | 1,028 yd |
| Business Name | Address | Food hygiene rating | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Prince Park Pub | Neighbourhood Centre, Princes Avenue | 969 yd | |
| The Oak | Sherwood Oak Public House, Sherwood Oak | 1,026 yd | |
| The Poachers Pocket | The Poachers Pocket, 135 Walderslade Road | 1,067 yd | |
| Lordswood Sports & Social Club | Lordswood Sports And Social Club, North Dane Way | 1,093 yd |
| Business Name | Address | Food hygiene rating | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Anchor Seafry Mishas Diner | Anchor Seafry, 1 Admirals Walk | 538 yd | |
| Domino's Pizza | 371 - 373 Walderslade Road, Walderslade | 901 yd | |
| Golden Dragon | 383 Walderslade Road, Walderslade | 901 yd | |
| The Curry Kitchen | The Princes Park, Neighbourhood Centre | 909 yd | |
| Chan's Chinese Takeaway | 4 Sherwood House, Walderslade Road | 1,020 yd |
| Business Name | Address | Food hygiene rating | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Morrisons | Princes Avenue, Walderslade | 762 yd | |
| Co-Op | Invicta Co Operative Society Ltd, Walderslade Road | 984 yd |
| Facility Name | Sport Objects | Distance |
|---|---|---|
| Lordswood School LORDS WOOD LANE | grass pitches | 647 yd |
| Oaklands Junior School WEEDS WOOD ROAD | grass pitches | 795 yd |
| Greenacre Academy WALDERSLADE ROAD | artificial grass pitch, grass pitches | 840 yd |
| Walderslade Girls' School BRADFIELDS AVENUE | health and fitness suite | 895 yd |
| Hook Meadow King George Road | grass pitches | 1,068 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% |
| Median download speed | 200 Mbit/s |
| Average download speed | 180.6 Mbit/s |
| Minimum download speed | 350 Mbit/s |
| Maximum download speed | 350 Mbit/s |
| Median upload speed | 20 Mbit/s |
| Average upload speed | 22 Mbit/s |
| Maximum upload speed | 35 Mbit/s |
Broadband statistics are based on Ofcom's Communications Market Report (CMR) 2022.