Postcode district · London

SW3 area guide

Who lives in SW3, what homes sell for, and how it compares on crime, schools and transport.

Council: Kensington and Chelsea
Region: London
Population: 35,822 (2024)

SW3Postcode district · London

At a glance

What SW3 is like

The SW3 postcode district in Kensington and Chelsea covers 867 live postcodes and is home to about 35,822 people across 25 census neighbourhoods. 37.4% of households own their home, 44.7% rent privately and 17.4% are in social housing. The biggest age group is 25–29, and 54.9% of adults are in work. On deprivation it sits close to the middle of the range for England. Higher-harm crime is around the national middle. Homes in SW3 sold for a median of £1,150,000 over the year to August 2026.

Scores

How SW3 compares

Each figure is set against England as a whole. Follow a score for the detail behind it.

AffluenceMore

6.2/ 10

Around the middle — decile 1 is the most deprived tenth of England, 10 the least.

CrimeMore

7/ 10

Around the middle — 34.5 higher-harm crimes per 1,000 people a year vs 31.1 nationally.

House pricesMore

£1,150,000

Median over 200 sales in SW3, −24.1% on the year before.

TransportMore

6.0/ 10

Very good — 9 stations within a mile, 48 bus stops within 800m.

SchoolsMore

100%

of 10 rated schools in SW3 are good or better.

Household incomeMore

£87,509

Average a year, before tax — higher than 97% of neighbourhoods in England and Wales.

What stands out

Worth knowing before you invest

Only flagged where this area is materially different from the national picture.

01
A big private rental marketPositive
44.7% of households rent privately, against 20.5% across England. Tenant demand is established here.
02
A student area
12.9% of adults are full-time students, against 7.9% across England. Expect HMO demand and term-time turnover.
03
A young populationPositive
25.8% of residents are 20 to 34 — the age group that rents most — against 19.6% across England.
04
Prices fallingLook closer
The median sale price in SW3 is down 24.1% on the year before.
05
Well connectedPositive
9 stations within a mile and 48 bus stops within a ten-minute walk.

Questions

SW3 FAQs

Is SW3 a good place to live?

Deprivation, crime, schools and transport at a glance.

On the English Indices of Deprivation 2025 it averages decile 6.2 of 10, where 10 is the least deprived tenth of England. Higher-harm crime runs at 34.5 per 1,000 people a year, band 7 of 10 nationally. 100% of the inspected schools nearby are rated good or better. Transport connectivity scores 6.0 out of 10 (very good).

How much does a house cost in SW3?

The median sale price over the last year was £1,150,000.

Homes in SW3 sold for a median of £1,150,000 across 200 sales in the year to August 2026, −24.1% on the year before. Prices come from HM Land Registry's record of every residential sale.

Is SW3 safe?

How crime here compares with the rest of the country.

Higher-harm crime — violence, robbery, burglary, vehicle crime and weapons offences — runs at 34.5 offences per 1,000 people a year around SW3, broadly in line with the 31.1 average across England and Wales, band 7 of 10.

Who lives in SW3?

Age, home ownership and housing from the census.

The biggest age group is 25–29, at 9% of residents. 37.4% of households own their home. The most common home is purpose-built flat (58.7%).

Which council covers SW3?

SW3 is in Kensington and Chelsea.

SW3 is in Kensington and Chelsea, in London. Council tax, planning applications and bin collections are handled there.

How well connected is SW3?

Connectivity scores 6.0 out of 10.

There are 48 bus stops within 800m and 9 stations and tram stops within a mile, scoring 6.0 out of 10 (very good). The nearest station is Cadogan Pier, 0.4 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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