Kingsdown & St Margaret's-at-Cliffe
Dover 009 · 4 sub-areas · 6,963 residents
Dover 009 is a quieter, largely residential part of Dover district in the South East, home to around 6,963 people. A typical two-bedroom lets for about £896 a month — noticeably below the national two-bed median — and the area skews older than most of the country, with well over a third of residents aged 65 or above.
Kingsdown & St Margaret's-at-Cliffe is a settled residential pocket of Dover. The bigger gravitational centre is London, around 101 minutes away by direct train, but most days don't require leaving — local life is what people are here for. 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 Kingsdown & St Margaret's-at-Cliffe?
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 £962 a month for a typical home.
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.
Kingsdown & St Margaret's-at-Cliffe in Dover
Living in Kingsdown & St Margaret's-at-Cliffe
Dover 009 sits in the South East but feels little like it in terms of cost. Rents here are significantly lower than the regional norm, and the neighbourhood itself has the unhurried character you'd expect when nearly four in ten residents are retired age. It's a place where owner-occupation is the dominant tenure and the pace is steady rather than driven.
The cost picture is one of the most striking things about Dover 009. A two-bedroom runs roughly £896 a month, well under the UK-wide two-bed median of around £1,200. That said, the rent-to-take-home ratio still sits at about 46%, reflecting the fact that local wages are moderate — median resident earnings are around £33,700 a year. If you're relocating from a higher-cost city, the headline rents look attractive; if you're on a local wage, you'll feel the squeeze the same as anywhere.
The community is predominantly older, settled, and owner-occupied — over four in five households own their home. That shapes the character considerably. You won't find a young professional crowd competing for flats on a Friday evening, but you will find a stable, long-rooted population. Ethnic diversity is low, with around 93% of residents born in the UK, and single-person households make up just under a third of the area.
Practically speaking, the nearest mainline rail station is roughly 1.7 km away — about a 22-minute walk — connecting to London in around 99 minutes by rail. The vast majority of residents drive: over half commute by car, and only around 3% rely on public transport for their commute. There's no realistic metro or tram service in the area. See the streets and sub-areas below for more detail on specific pockets within Dover 009.
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Frequently asked
- Is Dover 009 a nice place to live?
- It's a calm, settled area that suits people looking for lower rents and a quieter pace. The crime rate is roughly half the national average, owner-occupation is high, and the community is well-established. It won't suit everyone — particularly younger renters who want a lively social scene or easy commutes — but for those who want stability and space, it delivers.
- What is the rent in Dover 009?
- A one-bedroom typically runs around £686 a month, a two-bedroom around £896, and a three-bedroom around £1,098. These figures are estimates scaled from district-level data using local sale prices. Rents rose about 5.4% over the past year.
- Is Dover 009 safe?
- Yes, by most measures. The recorded crime rate is around 41 incidents per 1,000 residents per year, which is roughly half the UK national rate. The high proportion of owner-occupiers and older residents tends to keep antisocial behaviour low.
- What's the commute from Dover 009 to London?
- By rail, London takes around 99 minutes. The nearest mainline station is about 1.7 km away — roughly a 22-minute walk. Most residents here drive rather than commute by train: just 3% use public transport for their daily journey to work.
- Who lives in Dover 009?
- Predominantly older, owner-occupying residents — around 39% are aged 65 or above, and over four in five households own their home. It's one of the more settled, less transient neighbourhoods in the South East, with a strong proportion of long-term residents.
- What schools are near Dover 009?
- There are 8 schools within typical catchment distance, but only around 41% are rated Good or Outstanding — noticeably below the national average of roughly 89%. The nearest Outstanding-rated school is about 2.1 km away. Families should check current Ofsted ratings directly before making decisions.
- How affordable is Dover 009 for renters?
- Rents are low by South East standards, but the rent-to-take-home ratio still sits at around 46% because local wages are modest — median resident earnings run to about £33,700 a year. The area is affordable in headline terms; whether it feels that way depends heavily on what you earn.