Clare, Cavendish & Wickhambrook
West Suffolk 017 · 3 sub-areas · 6,482 residents
West Suffolk 017 is a rural stretch of West Suffolk, home to around 6,500 people and markedly quieter than most of the East of England. A typical two-bedroom home lets for about £1,050 a month — noticeably below the national average — and nearly three-quarters of residents own their home outright or with a mortgage, giving the area a settled, established feel.
Clare, Cavendish & Wickhambrook is a green, lower-density part of West Suffolk — parks within walking distance of most addresses, a slower weekday rhythm, and a population skewed toward longer-tenure households rather than transient renters. The population skews older, with a long-settled feel and a high share of retirees; most homes are owner-occupied, so turnover is low and many residents have been here a long time.
Overview
What's it like to live in Clare, Cavendish & Wickhambrook?
Greenspace is on the doorstep — a park or playing field is within walking distance of most homes; there's effectively nothing within walking distance — eating out, drinking and shopping mean a drive; The streets feel safe by national standards — police-recorded crime is well below the country-wide median; Transport links are limited — a car or e-bike is a practical assumption for most regular trips; rents are roughly in line with the national norm, at around £1,176 a month for a typical home.
Generated from the latest May 2026 data · refreshed automatically
Figures are aggregated across 3 sub-areas — population-weighted means for rates, sums for counts. Sources cited beneath each section.
Clare, Cavendish & Wickhambrook in West Suffolk
Living in Clare, Cavendish & Wickhambrook
This part of West Suffolk sits at the quieter end of the county's spectrum. There's no metro network, the nearest mainline rail station is roughly 12.3 km away as the crow flies, and over half of residents commute by car — all of which tells you something important about daily life here. It's an area that rewards those who have a vehicle and don't need to be in a city centre every day.
Rents are genuinely affordable by East of England standards. A two-bedroom home at around £1,050 a month sits noticeably below the national average of roughly £1,200, and a three-bedroom comes in at about £1,310. That said, with a median house price of around £380,000, getting on the ownership ladder still takes time — the typical deposit takes around 5.7 years to save on local wages.
The population skews older. Nearly a third of residents are 65 or over, and the 50–64 bracket accounts for another quarter of the area. Working-age residents in their 20s and 30s make up a relatively small share. One-person households account for just under a third of all homes, which fits with the older age profile. Owner-occupation at over 70% is well above the national norm, reflecting the settled, long-established character of the community.
For those who work remotely, the area has real appeal: around 36% of residents work from home, broadband gigabit coverage reaches 60% of premises, and there are no properties falling below the universal service obligation speed. Greenspace is close — the typical resident is within about 340 metres of the nearest green area, and roughly two-thirds of the neighbourhood has walkable access to parks or open land. See the streets and sub-areas below for more.
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Frequently asked
- Is West Suffolk 017 a nice place to live?
- It depends on what you're after. If you want quiet, green surroundings, low crime, and affordable rents, it delivers on all three. Crime runs at around 32.8 per 1,000 residents — well under half the national rate — and greenspace is within walking distance for most residents. The trade-off is limited public transport and an older, quieter community feel.
- What is the rent in West Suffolk 017?
- A one-bedroom property averages around £810 a month, a two-bedroom around £1,050, and a three-bedroom roughly £1,310. These are estimates scaled from county-level data using local sale prices. Rents rose about 5.5% over the past year. For context, the national two-bedroom average is roughly £1,200.
- Is West Suffolk 017 safe?
- Yes, by national standards. The crime rate sits at around 32.8 incidents per 1,000 residents a year — well below the UK average of roughly 80 per 1,000. It's a low-density, predominantly owner-occupied area, which typically correlates with lower crime across most categories.
- What's the commute from West Suffolk 017 to the nearest city?
- Most residents drive — around 54% commute by car, and public transport use is just 1.4%. The nearest mainline rail station is roughly 12.3 km away as the crow flies, so you'll need a car to reach it. The public-transport journey to London takes around 3 hours 55 minutes. Remote working is common here, with 36% of residents working from home.
- Who lives in West Suffolk 017?
- Predominantly older, settled homeowners. Nearly a third of residents are 65 or over, and over half are aged 50 or above. Owner-occupation stands at 70%, one-person households make up around 32% of homes, and 94.8% of residents were born in the UK. It's a stable, long-established community with relatively low demographic turnover.
- What schools are near West Suffolk 017?
- There are four schools within typical catchment distance, but only around 35% are rated Good or Outstanding by Ofsted — significantly below the national average of roughly 89%. The nearest Outstanding-rated school is approximately 10.4 km away in a straight line. Families with strong school preferences should check current Ofsted ratings and consider nearby towns for a wider choice.
- How good is broadband in West Suffolk 017?
- Reasonably good. Around 60% of premises have gigabit-capable broadband, and no properties fall below the universal service obligation minimum speed. For remote workers, connectivity is solid — which matters here given that 36% of residents work from home.