North Ely
East Cambridgeshire 003 · 7 sub-areas · 12,961 residents
East Cambridgeshire 003 is a rural neighbourhood within East Cambridgeshire, home to around 12,900 people. A typical two-bedroom lets for about £937 a month — noticeably below the national median for a 2-bed and well under what you'd pay in Cambridge city itself. Owner-occupation is high and more than a third of residents work from home.
North Ely is a settled residential pocket of East Cambridgeshire. The bigger gravitational centre is London, around 98 minutes away by direct train, but most days don't require leaving — local life is what people are here for.
Overview
What's it like to live in North Ely?
The area is unusually green for its density — 14 parks and 1 playgrounds sit within five minutes' walk of the centroid; The streets feel safe by national standards — police-recorded crime is well below the country-wide median; rents are roughly in line with the national norm, at around £1,016 a month for a typical home; gigabit broadband is effectively universal.
Generated from the latest May 2026 data · refreshed automatically
Figures are aggregated across 7 sub-areas — population-weighted means for rates, sums for counts. Sources cited beneath each section.
North Ely in East Cambridgeshire
Living in North Ely
East Cambridgeshire 003 covers a spread of settlements in the flat agricultural landscape east of Cambridge. It feels nothing like the city — quieter, more spaced out, strongly owner-occupied, and largely self-contained. Around two in three households own their home, and the working-from-home rate is exceptionally high at nearly four in ten residents, which shapes the character of the area: it functions less as a commuter dormitory and more as a place people have deliberately chosen to base themselves.
Rents are low by most comparisons. A one-bed runs roughly £715 a month, a two-bed around £937, and a three-bed about £1,141 — each well beneath the UK median for the equivalent size. The trade-off is that affordability on paper is complicated by a rent-to-take-home ratio of nearly 47%, reflecting the gap between local wages and even modest rents. The median resident salary sits at around £34,300 a year, which is a reasonable income for the area but leaves limited slack once housing is covered.
The population skews slightly older than many urban neighbourhoods, with a notable share aged 35 and above. Families with children make up around a quarter of households, and single-person households account for roughly three in ten. The degree-holding share — around 42% — is high for a rural district, likely reflecting the gravitational pull of Cambridge's knowledge economy on the surrounding area.
Practically speaking, car ownership is almost essential: public transport accounts for fewer than 5% of commutes, and the nearest mainline rail station is about 2.3 km away — a walk of roughly 28 minutes, though most residents drive. The nearest major employment hub is reachable in around 98 minutes by public transport, so this is not a place for those who need a quick daily commute into London. See the streets and sub-areas below for more detail on specific pockets.
What you'll need on day one
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Frequently asked
- Is East Cambridgeshire 003 a nice place to live?
- It's a quiet, rural area with low crime, good broadband, and relatively affordable rents compared to nearby Cambridge. The trade-off is that you'll need a car for almost everything, and the nearest Outstanding school is over 10 km away. It suits people who work remotely and want space over urban convenience.
- What is the rent in East Cambridgeshire 003?
- A one-bed averages around £715 a month, a two-bed roughly £937, and a three-bed about £1,141. These are estimates scaled from council-level data using local sale prices. Rents were flat year-on-year with no notable change in either direction.
- Is East Cambridgeshire 003 safe?
- Yes, by most measures. The crime rate is around 56 per 1,000 residents annually, noticeably below the UK national rate of roughly 80. The area also sits in the top two deprivation deciles nationally, which typically correlates with lower crime across most categories.
- What's the commute from East Cambridgeshire 003 to the nearest major city?
- The nearest major employment hub is around 98 minutes away by public transport. Fewer than 5% of residents commute that way — most drive. The nearest rail station is about 2.3 km away, which most people reach by car rather than on foot.
- Who lives in East Cambridgeshire 003?
- Mostly owner-occupiers — around 65% own their home. The population is spread fairly evenly across adult age groups, with a decent share of families with children (about 23% of households). Nearly 42% hold a degree, and close to 39% work from home, giving the area a distinctly professional feel.
- What schools are near East Cambridgeshire 003?
- There are 40 schools within typical catchment distance, but only around 38% are rated Good or Outstanding by Ofsted — well below the national average of roughly 89%. The nearest Outstanding school is approximately 10 km away. Families should research individual schools carefully before choosing an address.
- Is East Cambridgeshire 003 good for remote workers?
- It's one of the stronger setups for home working in the region. Gigabit broadband is available to 100% of premises, and nearly 39% of residents already work from home — the highest share in the area. Combined with relatively low rents and a calm environment, it's a practical base for those not tied to a daily commute.