High Street is in Rainham, Gillingham and in Medway district. ME8 8AZ is located in the Rainham North electoral ward, within the English Parliamentary constituency of Gillingham and Rainham. This postcode has been in use since 2004-08-01.
StreetScan combines information about High Street, Rainham, Gillingham, ME8 8AZ and displays a report on the quality of life in this place and its surroundings.
Nearby postcodes are: ME8 8AN, ME8 8AA, ME8 8BE, ME8 8AP, ME8 8BG, ME8 8BB, ME8 8BQ, ME8 8BA, ME8 8AR.
In the UK, the overall gender distribution is approximately 49% male and 51% female. However, the area surrounding ME8 8AZ has a female population much higher than UK average, with 58.5% of the population 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 | 52.8% | 58.5% | 5.7% | 51.0% | 7.5% |
| Male | 47.2% | 41.5% | -5.7% | 49.0% | -7.5% |
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 | 43.1% | 39.5% | -3.6% | 37.9% | 1.6% |
| Married: Opposite sex | 35.4% | 26.5% | -8.9% | 44.2% | -17.7% |
| Separated | 5.6% | 2.2% | -3.4% | 2.2% | 0.0% |
| Divorced | 13.3% | 16.1% | 2.8% | 9.1% | 7.0% |
| Widowed | 2.6% | 15.7% | 13.1% | 6.1% | 9.6% |
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 | 45.6% | 47.3% | 1.7% | 48.4% | -1.1% |
| Good health | 40.4% | 33.1% | -7.3% | 33.6% | -0.5% |
| Fair health | 9.6% | 14.2% | 4.6% | 12.7% | 1.5% |
| Bad health | 4% | 4.3% | 0.3% | 4.0% | 0.3% |
| Very bad health | 0.4% | 1.1% | 0.7% | 1.2% | -0.1% |
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 19.8%.
| 2011 | 2021 | 10y change (pp) | UK Average | postcode vs UK (pp) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No qualifications | 16.9% | 27.9% | 11.0% | 18.2% | 9.7% |
| 1-4 GCSEs or Equivalent | 19% | 14.9% | -4.1% | 9.6% | 5.3% |
| 5 or more GCSEs, an A-Level or 1-2 AS Levels | 23.1% | 15.8% | -7.3% | 13.4% | 2.4% |
| Apprenticeship | 4.6% | 7.2% | 2.6% | 5.3% | 1.9% |
| HNC, HND or 2+ A Levels | 15.4% | 12.2% | -3.2% | 16.9% | -4.7% |
| Degree or Similar | 13.8% | 19.8% | 6.0% | 33.8% | -14.0% |
| Other | 7.2% | 2.3% | -4.9% | 2.8% | -0.5% |
In this area, the population is predominantly white, with 95.7% 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) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bangladeshi | 0.8% | 0% | -0.8% | 1.1% | -1.1% |
| Chinese | 0.4% | 0% | -0.4% | 0.7% | -0.7% |
| Indian | 0% | 0.7% | 0.7% | 3.1% | -2.4% |
| Other Asian | 0.4% | 0% | -0.4% | 1.6% | -1.6% |
| Black African | 0.4% | 0.7% | 0.3% | 2.5% | -1.8% |
| Black Caribbean | 0% | 0.4% | 0.4% | 1.0% | -0.6% |
| Other Black | 0% | 1.8% | 1.8% | 0.5% | 1.3% |
| Mixed White and Asian | 0.8% | 0% | -0.8% | 0.8% | -0.8% |
| Mixed White and Caribbean | 0.8% | 0.4% | -0.4% | 0.9% | -0.5% |
| White | 96.4% | 95.7% | -0.7% | 81.4% | 14.3% |
| Other | 0% | 0.4% | 0.4% | 1.6% | -1.2% |
In this area, 94.3% 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 | 95.6% | 94.3% | -1.3% | 83.2% | 11.1% |
| European Union | 1.6% | 1.1% | -0.5% | 6.1% | -5.0% |
| Rest of Europe | 1.2% | 1.4% | 0.2% | 0.8% | 0.6% |
| Africa | 0.4% | 2.1% | 1.7% | 2.7% | -0.6% |
| Middle East and Asia | 1.2% | 0.4% | -0.8% | 5.6% | -5.2% |
| The Americas and the Caribbean | 0% | 0.4% | 0.4% | 1.3% | -0.9% |
| British Overseas | 0% | 0.4% | 0.4% | 0.0% | 0.4% |
| 2011 | 2021 | 10y change (pp) | UK Average | postcode vs UK (pp) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Born in the UK | 93.6% | 94% | 0.4% | 83.2% | 10.8% |
| 10+ Years | 0% | 2.5% | 2.5% | 9.8% | -7.3% |
| 5-10 Years | 0% | 0.7% | 0.7% | 2.9% | -2.2% |
| 2-5 Years | 0.8% | 2.1% | 1.3% | 2.2% | -0.1% |
| Less than 2 years | 5.6% | 0.7% | -4.9% | 1.9% | -1.2% |
| 2021 | UK Average | postcode vs UK (pp) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom | 81.5% | 76.7% | 4.8% |
| Germany | 0.4% | 0.2% | 0.2% |
| Other EU countries | 0.7% | 1.5% | -0.8% |
| Turkey | 1.1% | 0.1% | 1.0% |
| Other Europe | 0.4% | 0.2% | 0.2% |
| South and Eastern Africa | 0.7% | 0.2% | 0.5% |
| British Overseas Territories | 0.4% | 0.0% | 0.4% |
| No passport held | 14.9% | 13.5% | 1.4% |
| 2021 | UK Average | postcode vs UK (pp) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| No religion | 53.4% | 37.2% | 16.2% |
| Christian | 36.7% | 46.2% | -9.5% |
| Buddhist | 0.4% | 0.5% | -0.1% |
| Hindu | 0.7% | 1.7% | -1.0% |
| Muslim | 0.4% | 6.5% | -6.1% |
| Other religion | 0.7% | 0.6% | 0.1% |
| Not answered | 7.8% | 6.0% | 1.8% |
Over the last 12 months, the overall crime rate around High Street was 70.7 per 1,000 residents, which is 10.6% lower than the Rainham North average. The most reported crime type was Violence and sexual offences.
High Street has the 31st highest crime rate of 88 local areas in Rainham North and the 362nd highest crime rate of 820 local areas in Medway .
Violent and sexual offences accounted for around 33.7 crimes per 1,000 residents and have been rising year on year. Over the last decade, overall crime has fallen by about -37.8%.

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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Flat 6 Appletree Court, 117 High Street, Gillingham, Medway Flats/Maisonettes, an established residential building | £210,000 | 2024-08-02 | £216,499 |
| Flat 25 Appletree Court, 117 High Street, Gillingham, Medway Flats/Maisonettes, an established residential building | £200,000 | 2024-03-13 | £210,917 |
| Flat 27 Appletree Court, 117 High Street, Gillingham, Medway Flats/Maisonettes, an established residential building | £200,000 | 2024-02-05 | £209,091 |
| Flat 20 Appletree Court, 117 High Street, Gillingham, Medway Flats/Maisonettes, an established residential building | £210,000 | 2024-01-05 | £216,963 |
| Flat 32 Appletree Court, 117 High Street, Gillingham, Medway Flats/Maisonettes, an established residential building | £200,000 | 2023-07-19 | £200,832 |
ME8 8AZ 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 | 66 |
| Retired | 56 |
| Part-Time Employee | 29 |
| Self-Employed | 20 |
| Looking after home or family | 14 |
| Other | 12 |
| Long-Term Sick or disabled | 7 |
| Unemployed | 7 |
| Student (economically inactive) | 4 |
| Full-Time Student (with or without job) | 4 |
| Wholesale and retail trade; repair of motor vehicles and motor cycles | 30 |
| Construction | 19 |
| Public administration and defence; compulsory social security | 13 |
| Accommodation and food service activities | 12 |
| Financial and insurance activities | 10 |
| Human health and social work activities | 9 |
| Professional, scientific and technical activities | 8 |
| Manufacturing | 7 |
| Administrative and support service activities | 6 |
| Education | 6 |
| Other | 5 |
| Information and communication | 4 |
| Real estate activities | 3 |
| Transport and storage | 2 |
| Water supply; sewerage, waste management and remediation activities | 1 |
| Agriculture, forestry and fishing | 1 |
| Ofsted Overall Effectiveness | Distance | Establishment Type | Has Nursery Classes | Gender | More Info | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| St Margaret's Infant School St Margaret's Infant School, Orchard Street , Orchard Street ME8 9AE | 3out of 4 | 433 yd | Academy converter | Yes | Mixed | More About School |
| St Margaret's Church of England Junior School Orchard Street , Rainham ME8 9AE | 3out of 4 | 433 yd | Academy converter | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Riverside Primary School St Edmunds Way , Rainham ME8 8ET | 3out of 4 | 784 yd | Academy converter | Yes | Mixed | More About School |
| Miers Court Primary School Silverspot Close , ME8 8JR | 3out of 4 | 894 yd | Academy converter | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Thames View Primary School Bloors Lane , Rainham ME8 7DX | 3out of 4 | 1,157 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 | 1,008 yd | Free schools | No | Mixed | More About School |
| The Howard School Derwent Way , Rainham ME8 0BX | 3out of 4 | 1,274 yd | Academy converter | No | Boys | More About School |
| Rainham School for Girls Derwent Way , Rainham ME8 0BX | 3out of 4 | 1,292 yd | Academy converter | Not Applicable | Girls | More About School |
| Rainham Mark Grammar School Pump Lane , Rainham ME8 7AJ | 4out of 4 | 1,383 yd | Academy converter | Not Applicable | Mixed | More About School |
| The Robert Napier School Third Avenue , ME7 2LX | 3out of 4 | 4,017 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 | 1,863 yd | Other independent school | Yes | Mixed | More About School |
| Danecourt School Hotel Road , ME8 6AA | 3out of 4 | 3,068 yd | Academy special converter | Yes | Mixed | More About School |
| Will Adams Centre Woodlands Road , ME7 2BX | 3out of 4 | 3,687 yd | Pupil referral unit | Not Applicable | Mixed | More About School |
| The GFC School Priestfield Stadium , Redfern Avenue ME7 4DD | - not rated | 4,352 yd | Other independent school | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Rivermead School Forge Lane , ME7 1UG | 3out of 4 | 5,157 yd | Academy special converter | Not Applicable | Mixed | More About School |
School statistics for this postcode are based on Ofsted rankings.
| Business Name | Address | Food hygiene rating | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Galata Mezze Restaurant | 109 High Street, Rainham | 72 yd | |
| Hon's Restaurant | 143 High Street, Rainham | 116 yd | |
| The Centre Cafe | 35 Rainham Shopping Centre, Rainham | 194 yd | |
| Tarana | 85 High Street, Rainham | 220 yd | |
| Tick Tocks Coffee & Kitchen Ltd | 16 Rainham Shopping Centre, Rainham | 221 yd |
| Business Name | Address | Food hygiene rating | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Prince Of Ales | 121 High Street, Rainham | 47 yd | |
| White Horse | White Horse PH, White Horse | 150 yd | |
| The Greedy Banker | 89-93 High Street, Rainham | 191 yd | |
| Cricketers | The Cricketers Inn, 88 High Street | 210 yd | |
| Jordans Pool & Snooker Lounge | 1-3A Rainham Shopping Centre, Rainham | 293 yd |
| Business Name | Address | Food hygiene rating | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Asham Indian | 109A High Street, Rainham | 62 yd | |
| Tandoori Parlour & The Grill Guys | 134 High Street, Rainham | 123 yd | |
| Quality Chicken & Ribs | 18 Station Road, Rainham | 135 yd | |
| Charcoal Grill | 146 High Street, Rainham | 153 yd | |
| Mohim Express | 27 Station Road, Rainham | 163 yd |
| Facility Name | Sport Objects | Distance |
|---|---|---|
| Reynolds Fitness Spa Rainham HIGH STREET | health and fitness suite | 53 yd |
| Rainham Recreation Ground Station Road | grass pitches | 444 yd |
| St Margaret'S C Of E Junior School ORCHARD STREET | grass pitches, swimming pool | 534 yd |
| Berengrave Park BERENGRAVE LANE | grass pitches | 803 yd |
| Miers Court Primary School SILVERSPOT CLOSE | grass pitches | 867 yd |
| Cozenton Park Bloors Lane | grass pitches | 1,003 yd |
| Ryetop Playing Fields Beacon Close | grass pitches | 1,064 yd |
| Playfootball Gillingham LONDON ROAD | artificial grass pitch | 1,073 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 | 0.0% |
| Percentage of premises that have Ultrafast Broadband (300Mbit/s or greater) coverage from fixed broadband | 0.0% |
| Percentage of premises that have coverage from a Gigabit capable service from fixed broadband | 0.0% |
| 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 | 54.8 Mbit/s |
| Average download speed | 43.9 Mbit/s |
| Minimum download speed | 70.05 Mbit/s |
| Maximum download speed | 70.05 Mbit/s |
| Median upload speed | 10 Mbit/s |
| Average upload speed | 10 Mbit/s |
| Maximum upload speed | 20 Mbit/s |
Broadband statistics are based on Ofcom's Communications Market Report (CMR) 2022.