Postcode district · Sheerness

ME12 area guide

Who lives in ME12, what homes sell for, and how it compares on crime, schools and transport.

Council: Swale
Region: South East
Population: 45,816 (2024)

ME12Postcode district · Sheerness

At a glance

What ME12 is like

The ME12 postcode district in Swale covers 945 live postcodes and is home to about 45,816 people in 17,490 households. 63.6% of households own their home, 23.1% rent privately and 12.4% are in social housing. The largest age group is 55–59, and 50% of adults are in work. It ranks among the more deprived parts of England. Higher-harm crime is well above the England and Wales average. Homes in ME12 sold for a median of £282,000 over the year to August 2026.

Scores

How ME12 compares

Headline figures for ME12, set against England as a whole.

AffluenceMore

2.8/ 10

More deprived than most. Scored from 1 (most deprived in England) to 10 (least deprived).

CrimeMore

8/ 10

Higher than most: 44.2 higher-harm crimes per 1,000 people a year vs 31.1 nationally.

House pricesMore

£282,000

Median over 433 sales in ME12, +0.7% on the year before.

TransportMore

3.0/ 10

Limited: 0 stations within a mile, 30 bus stops within 800m.

SchoolsMore

80%

Rated good or better across 10 inspected schools in ME12.

Household incomeMore

£46,392

Average annual income before tax, higher than 31% of neighbourhoods in England and Wales.

What stands out

Worth knowing before you invest

Where ME12 differs most from the national average.

01
Higher crime than mostLook closer
44.2 higher-harm crimes per 1,000 people a year, against 31.1 across England and Wales.
02
More deprived than mostLook closer
Scores 2.8 out of 10 on the English Indices of Deprivation 2025 (where 1 is most deprived). Yields can be higher, but check tenant demand street by street.
03
A big private rental marketPositive
23.1% of households rent privately, against 20.5% across England. Tenant demand is established here.

Questions

ME12 FAQs

Is ME12 a good place to live?

Deprivation, crime, schools and transport at a glance.

It scores 2.8 out of 10 on the English Indices of Deprivation 2025, where 10 is the least deprived in England. Higher-harm crime runs at 44.2 per 1,000 people a year, band 8 of 10 nationally. 80% of the inspected schools nearby are rated good or better. Transport connectivity scores 3.0 out of 10 (limited).

How much does a house cost in ME12?

The median sale price over the last year was £282,000.

Homes in ME12 sold for a median of £282,000 across 433 sales in the year to August 2026, +0.7% on the year before. Prices come from HM Land Registry’s record of every residential sale.

Is ME12 safe?

How recorded crime here compares with the national average.

Higher-harm crime (violence, robbery, burglary, vehicle crime and weapons offences) runs at 44.2 offences per 1,000 people a year around ME12, well above the 31.1 average across England and Wales, band 8 of 10.

Who lives in ME12?

Age, home ownership and housing from the census.

The largest age group is 55–59, at 7.3% of residents. 63.6% of households own their home. The most common property type is semi-detached (29.8%).

Which council covers ME12?

The local authority for ME12 is Swale.

ME12 comes under Swale in the South East. Council tax, planning applications and bin collections are handled there.

How well connected is ME12?

Connectivity scores 3.0 out of 10.

There are 30 bus stops within 800m and 0 stations and tram stops within a mile, scoring 3.0 out of 10 (limited). The nearest station is Sheerness-on-Sea Rail Station, 2.4 miles away.

Sources: Census 2021 (ONS); ONS mid-year population estimates; police recorded crime; the English, Welsh and Scottish indices of deprivation; ONS small area income estimates; ONS private rents; DfE, Welsh and Scottish school registers and Ofsted; DfT NaPTAN; ORR estimates of station usage; HM Land Registry Price Paid Data. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Contains OS data © Crown copyright and database right.

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