High Street is in Rainham, Gillingham and in Gillingham district. ME8 8AY is located in the Rainham North electoral ward, within the English Parliamentary constituency of Gillingham and Rainham. This postcode has been in use since 1980-01-01.
StreetScan combines information about High Street, Rainham, Gillingham, ME8 8AY and displays a report on the quality of life in this place and its surroundings.
Nearby postcodes are: ME8 8JA, ME8 8JB, ME8 8AT, ME8 8AX, ME8 8BP, ME8 8JD, ME8 8DN, ME8 8JH, ME8 8BL.
In the UK, the overall gender distribution is approximately 49% male and 51% female. However, the area surrounding ME8 8AY, has a female population slightly higher than UK average, with 53.4% of residents being female. Several factors can contribute to this. Women generally live longer than men, resulting in a higher proportion of women in neighborhoods with significant elderly populations. Typically, as people grow older, they tend to relocate from city center addresses to suburban areas, smaller towns, and rural locations. Consequently, these areas often have a higher number of females. A higher female population can also be found in areas with industries that employ more women, such as healthcare, education, and retail.
| 2011 | 2021 | 10y change (pp) | UK Average | postcode vs UK (pp) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Female | 50.4% | 53.4% | 3.0% | 51.0% | 2.4% |
| Male | 49.6% | 46.6% | -3.0% | 49.0% | -2.4% |
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 | 30.6% | 36% | 5.4% | 37.9% | -1.9% |
| Married: Opposite sex | 48.5% | 35.6% | -12.9% | 44.2% | -8.6% |
| Separated | 3.4% | 4.5% | 1.1% | 2.2% | 2.3% |
| Divorced | 6.8% | 13.1% | 6.3% | 9.1% | 4.0% |
| Widowed | 10.7% | 10.8% | 0.1% | 6.1% | 4.7% |
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 | 33.2% | 45.5% | 12.3% | 48.4% | -2.9% |
| Good health | 45.6% | 33.8% | -11.8% | 33.6% | 0.2% |
| Fair health | 14.4% | 15.8% | 1.4% | 12.7% | 3.1% |
| Bad health | 4.8% | 2.6% | -2.2% | 4.0% | -1.4% |
| Very bad health | 2% | 2.3% | 0.3% | 1.2% | 1.1% |
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.
This area stands out for its low percentage of residents with higher education degree. The UK average is 33.8%, while in this area it is 21.2%.
| 2011 | 2021 | 10y change (pp) | UK Average | postcode vs UK (pp) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No qualifications | 25.2% | 27.5% | 2.3% | 18.2% | 9.3% |
| 1-4 GCSEs or Equivalent | 13.1% | 11.7% | -1.4% | 9.6% | 2.1% |
| 5 or more GCSEs, an A-Level or 1-2 AS Levels | 16% | 14.4% | -1.6% | 13.4% | 1.0% |
| Apprenticeship | 3.9% | 5.9% | 2.0% | 5.3% | 0.6% |
| HNC, HND or 2+ A Levels | 15% | 16.2% | 1.2% | 16.9% | -0.7% |
| Degree or Similar | 22.3% | 21.2% | -1.1% | 33.8% | -12.6% |
| Other | 4.4% | 3.2% | -1.2% | 2.8% | 0.4% |
This area closely mirrors the overall ethnic composition of the UK, with 88% of the population identifying as white, with UK average of 81.4%.
| 2011 | 2021 | 10y change (pp) | UK Average | postcode vs UK (pp) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Indian | 8% | 3.8% | -4.2% | 3.1% | 0.7% |
| Other Asian | 0.4% | 0% | -0.4% | 1.6% | -1.6% |
| Black African | 2% | 4.9% | 2.9% | 2.5% | 2.4% |
| Black Caribbean | 0% | 1.5% | 1.5% | 1.0% | 0.5% |
| Other Black | 0% | 0.4% | 0.4% | 0.5% | -0.1% |
| Mixed White and Caribbean | 0% | 0.4% | 0.4% | 0.9% | -0.5% |
| Mixed Other | 0% | 1.1% | 1.1% | 0.8% | 0.3% |
| White | 89.6% | 88% | -1.6% | 81.4% | 6.6% |
In this area, 87.2% 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 | 93.6% | 87.2% | -6.4% | 83.2% | 4.0% |
| European Union | 0.8% | 7.5% | 6.7% | 6.1% | 1.4% |
| Africa | 1.6% | 3% | 1.4% | 2.7% | 0.3% |
| Middle East and Asia | 2.8% | 1.1% | -1.7% | 5.6% | -4.5% |
| The Americas and the Caribbean | 1.2% | 1.1% | -0.1% | 1.3% | -0.2% |
| 2011 | 2021 | 10y change (pp) | UK Average | postcode vs UK (pp) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Born in the UK | 92.4% | 86.8% | -5.6% | 83.2% | 3.6% |
| 10+ Years | 0% | 9.4% | 9.4% | 9.8% | -0.4% |
| 5-10 Years | 0.4% | 3% | 2.6% | 2.9% | 0.1% |
| 2-5 Years | 0% | 0.8% | 0.8% | 2.2% | -1.4% |
| Less than 2 years | 7.2% | 0% | -7.2% | 1.9% | -1.9% |
| 2021 | UK Average | postcode vs UK (pp) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom | 73.6% | 76.7% | -3.1% |
| Ireland | 0.4% | 0.6% | -0.2% |
| Lithuania | 1.5% | 0.3% | 1.2% |
| Poland | 1.5% | 1.3% | 0.2% |
| Romania | 1.5% | 0.9% | 0.6% |
| Other EU countries | 1.9% | 1.5% | 0.4% |
| Southern Asia | 0.4% | 1.2% | -0.8% |
| North America and the Caribbean | 0.4% | 0.3% | 0.1% |
| No passport held | 18.9% | 13.5% | 5.4% |
| 2021 | UK Average | postcode vs UK (pp) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| No religion | 40.6% | 37.2% | 3.4% |
| Christian | 49.6% | 46.2% | 3.4% |
| Buddhist | 0.4% | 0.5% | -0.1% |
| Hindu | 1.1% | 1.7% | -0.6% |
| Sikh | 2.3% | 0.9% | 1.4% |
| Other religion | 0.8% | 0.6% | 0.2% |
| Not answered | 5.3% | 6.0% | -0.7% |
Over the last 12 months, the overall crime rate around High Street was 104.2 per 1,000 residents, which is 31.8% higher than the Rainham North average. The most reported crime type was Violence and sexual offences.
High Street has the 22nd highest crime rate of 88 local areas in Rainham North and the 260th highest crime rate of 820 local areas in Medway .
Violent and sexual offences accounted for around 41.7 crimes per 1,000 residents and have been falling year on year. Over the last decade, overall crime has fallen by about -78.8%.

Households in this area have a slightly lower level of wealth to the average household in England and Wales. 63% of analyzed areas in England and Wales have higher average household annual income than this area.

| Address | Sale Price | Sale Date | Price Estimate 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 175 High Street, Gillingham, Medway Other, an established residential building | £250,000 | 2022-02-02 | £254,478 |
| 177 High Street, Gillingham, Medway Terraced, an established residential building | £255,000 | 2022-02-02 | £274,806 |
| Flat 7 Axford Court, 231 High Street, Gillingham, Medway Flats/Maisonettes, an established residential building | £165,000 | 2021-03-05 | £177,891 |
| Flat 2 Axford Court, 231 High Street, Gillingham, Medway Flats/Maisonettes, an established residential building | £135,000 | 2020-11-13 | £153,424 |
| Flat 6 Axford Court, 231 High Street, Gillingham, Medway Flats/Maisonettes, an established residential building | £187,500 | 2020-01-30 | £218,223 |
ME8 8AY 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 | 61 |
| Retired | 59 |
| Part-Time Employee | 27 |
| Self-Employed | 24 |
| Looking after home or family | 14 |
| Student (economically inactive) | 10 |
| Long-Term Sick or disabled | 10 |
| Unemployed | 7 |
| Other | 5 |
| Full-Time Student (with or without job) | 3 |
| Education | 13 |
| Financial and insurance activities | 13 |
| Wholesale and retail trade; repair of motor vehicles and motor cycles | 13 |
| Construction | 12 |
| Human health and social work activities | 10 |
| Transport and storage | 9 |
| Professional, scientific and technical activities | 8 |
| Administrative and support service activities | 6 |
| Other | 5 |
| Public administration and defence; compulsory social security | 5 |
| Manufacturing | 5 |
| Real estate activities | 3 |
| Accommodation and food service activities | 2 |
| Water supply; sewerage, waste management and remediation activities | 2 |
| Information and communication | 1 |
| Ofsted Overall Effectiveness | Distance | Establishment Type | Has Nursery Classes | Gender | More Info | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Riverside Primary School St Edmunds Way , Rainham ME8 8ET | 3out of 4 | 538 yd | Academy converter | Yes | Mixed | More About School |
| St Margaret's Infant School St Margaret's Infant School, Orchard Street , Orchard Street ME8 9AE | 3out of 4 | 717 yd | Academy converter | Yes | Mixed | More About School |
| St Margaret's Church of England Junior School Orchard Street , Rainham ME8 9AE | 3out of 4 | 717 yd | Academy converter | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Miers Court Primary School Silverspot Close , ME8 8JR | 3out of 4 | 882 yd | Academy converter | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Thames View Primary School Bloors Lane , Rainham ME8 7DX | 3out of 4 | 1,499 yd | Academy converter | Yes | Mixed | More About School |
| Ofsted Overall Effectiveness | Distance | Establishment Type | Has Nursery Classes | Gender | More Info | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Leigh Academy Rainham Otterham Quay Lane , Rainham | - not rated | 636 yd | Free schools | No | Mixed | More About School |
| The Howard School Derwent Way , Rainham ME8 0BX | 3out of 4 | 1,626 yd | Academy converter | No | Boys | More About School |
| Rainham School for Girls Derwent Way , Rainham ME8 0BX | 3out of 4 | 1,628 yd | Academy converter | Not Applicable | Girls | More About School |
| Rainham Mark Grammar School Pump Lane , Rainham ME8 7AJ | 4out of 4 | 1,742 yd | Academy converter | Not Applicable | Mixed | More About School |
| The Robert Napier School Third Avenue , ME7 2LX | 3out of 4 | 4,390 yd | Academy sponsor led | Not Applicable | Mixed | More About School |
| Ofsted Overall Effectiveness | Distance | Establishment Type | Has Nursery Classes | Gender | More Info | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bryony School 157 Marshall Road , Rainham ME8 0AJ | - not rated | 2,148 yd | Other independent school | Yes | Mixed | More About School |
| Danecourt School Hotel Road , ME8 6AA | 3out of 4 | 3,440 yd | Academy special converter | Yes | Mixed | More About School |
| Will Adams Centre Woodlands Road , ME7 2BX | 3out of 4 | 4,056 yd | Pupil referral unit | Not Applicable | Mixed | More About School |
| The GFC School Priestfield Stadium , Redfern Avenue ME7 4DD | - not rated | 4,717 yd | Other independent school | No | Mixed | More About School |
School statistics for this postcode are based on Ofsted rankings.
| Business Name | Address | Food hygiene rating | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hon's Restaurant | 143 High Street, Rainham | 263 yd | |
| Darjeeling Heights | Darjeeling Heights, 335 High Street | 413 yd | |
| Galata Mezze Restaurant | 109 High Street, Rainham | 435 yd | |
| The Centre Cafe | 35 Rainham Shopping Centre, Rainham | 565 yd | |
| Mandarin House | 154 Station Road, Rainham | 584 yd |
| Business Name | Address | Food hygiene rating | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Rose Inn | The Rose Inn, 249 High Street | 148 yd | |
| The Prince Of Ales | 121 High Street, Rainham | 348 yd | |
| White Horse | White Horse PH, White Horse | 521 yd | |
| JD Wetherspoon - The Railway Inn | The Railway, 113 Station Road | 529 yd | |
| The Greedy Banker | 89-93 High Street, Rainham | 561 yd |
| Business Name | Address | Food hygiene rating | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Peking Chef | 177 High Street, Rainham | 55 yd | |
| Tarka Baaz | 175 High Street, Rainham | 60 yd | |
| Charcoal Grill | 146 High Street, Rainham | 238 yd | |
| Tandoori Parlour & The Grill Guys | 134 High Street, Rainham | 270 yd | |
| Asham Indian | 109A High Street, Rainham | 435 yd |
| Facility Name | Sport Objects | Distance |
|---|---|---|
| Reynolds Fitness Spa Rainham HIGH STREET | health and fitness suite | 415 yd |
| Rainham Recreation Ground Station Road | grass pitches | 438 yd |
| St Margaret'S C Of E Junior School ORCHARD STREET | grass pitches, swimming pool | 848 yd |
| Miers Court Primary School SILVERSPOT CLOSE | grass pitches | 913 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 | 100 Mbit/s |
| Average download speed | 219.9 Mbit/s |
| Minimum download speed | 1000 Mbit/s |
| Maximum download speed | 1000 Mbit/s |
| Median upload speed | 20 Mbit/s |
| Average upload speed | 22.1 Mbit/s |
| Maximum upload speed | 50 Mbit/s |
Broadband statistics are based on Ofcom's Communications Market Report (CMR) 2022.