Plaistow South
Newham 028 · 4 sub-areas · 8,586 residents
Newham 028 is a densely populated pocket of the London borough of Newham, home to around 8,600 people. A typical two-bedroom flat runs about £1,977 a month — noticeably above the UK median for a two-bed, but well below what you'd pay in many inner London neighbourhoods. Rents rose nearly 8% over the past year, so the affordability window here is narrowing fast.
Plaistow South is a commuter neighbourhood within Newham — train into London runs in around 23 minutes, and the rhythm of weekday mornings is shaped by it. The demographic profile leans family-aged, with a clear share of households with school-age children.
Overview
What's it like to live in Plaistow South?
4 parks and 6 playgrounds are within five minutes' walk, so greenspace is reliably close at hand; food and drink within walking distance is workable but not dense — around 12 restaurants and 1 pubs in five minutes; Recorded crime is higher than the national norm — common for built-up urban areas, but worth weighing if you're looking for a quieter base; Public transport is genuinely strong; most errands and a fair share of social life don't need a car; rents sit firmly in the upper bracket nationally, with a typical home letting at around £1,912 a month; gigabit broadband is effectively universal.
Generated from the latest May 2026 data · refreshed automatically
Figures are aggregated across 4 sub-areas — population-weighted means for rates, sums for counts. Sources cited beneath each section.
Plaistow South in Newham
Living in Plaistow South
This part of Newham sits firmly in the affordable-for-London category, though that label needs context. Rents have climbed sharply — nearly 8% in a single year — and at a median of around £1,912 a month across all bedroom sizes, the area is no longer the bargain it once was. What you get in return is genuine connectivity: the nearest major employment hub is around 22 minutes away by public transport, which for a London neighbourhood at this price point is a strong deal.
The cost picture is mixed when you look more closely. A one-bed averages around £1,618 a month — manageable for a single professional on a decent salary, but the rent-to-take-home ratio across the neighbourhood sits at a striking 94%, which tells you most residents here are stretching. A three-bed runs about £2,187, making family renting genuinely difficult without two solid incomes. Council tax (Band D) adds around £1,944 a year on top.
Who lives here reflects Newham broadly: a young, diverse population, with over a quarter of residents under 18 and roughly equal shares in the 18–34 and 35–49 age bands. Only 48% were born in the UK, and the diversity index of 69 puts this among the more ethnically mixed neighbourhoods in the country. Tenure splits roughly three ways — around 42% owner-occupiers, 32% private renters, and nearly a quarter in social housing — which gives the area a more mixed, settled feel than purely transient rental zones.
Practically, the nearest underground or metro station is just over a kilometre away — roughly a 14-minute walk — and the nearest mainline rail station is about 1.8 km away (around a 22-minute walk). Broadband is 100% gigabit-capable across the neighbourhood, with no properties falling below the universal service standard. See the streets and sub-areas below for more detail on how conditions vary across the postcode.
What you'll need on day one
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Frequently asked
- Is Newham 028 a nice place to live?
- It depends on your priorities. The transport links are genuinely good — you're around 22 minutes from a major employment hub by public transport — and the neighbourhood has a diverse, community feel. The trade-off is a high crime rate relative to the national average and a deprivation score in the bottom fifth nationally. Rents aren't cheap by UK standards, though they're competitive within inner east London.
- What is the rent in Newham 028?
- A one-bed averages around £1,618 a month, a two-bed around £1,977, and a three-bed about £2,187. These are estimates scaled from borough-level ONS data using local sale prices. Rents rose nearly 8% in the past year, so expect continued upward pressure. Council tax (Band D) adds around £1,944 a year.
- Is Newham 028 safe?
- Crime runs at around 179 incidents per 1,000 residents annually — more than double the UK national rate. That's consistent with inner east London broadly, but it's a figure worth weighing carefully. Conditions vary by street, so checking the police.uk crime map for specific roads you're considering is worthwhile before committing.
- What's the commute from Newham 028 to central London?
- The nearest major employment hub is around 22 minutes away by public transport, making this one of the better-connected neighbourhoods at this price point in east London. The nearest metro station is about a 14-minute walk, and the nearest mainline rail station is roughly 22 minutes on foot.
- Who lives in Newham 028?
- A young, diverse, mixed-tenure population. Over a quarter of residents are under 18, pointing to a lot of families. Around 42% own their home, 32% rent privately, and nearly a quarter are in social housing. Just 48% were born in the UK, and the neighbourhood has one of the higher diversity scores in the country.
- What schools are near Newham 028?
- There are around 200 schools within 2 km, though only about 59% are rated Good or Outstanding — below the national average of roughly 89%. The nearest Outstanding-rated school is approximately 264 metres away, so there is a strong local option close by. Check individual Ofsted reports and current admission catchments directly, as they shift regularly in this part of Newham.
- How affordable is Newham 028 compared to the rest of London?
- It's competitive within inner east London but not cheap by national standards. The median rent across all property sizes is around £1,912 a month. The rent-to-take-home ratio sits at roughly 94% for typical residents, which signals genuine affordability pressure — most people here are stretching their budget to live in this neighbourhood.