House prices in Swale
The median price paid for a home in Swale was £299,125 in the 12 months to September 2026, from 1,900 sales. House prices in Swale fell 0.3% in the year to September 2026, and are 8.8% higher than five years earlier. In the 12 months to September 2026, the median price in Swale was 19% lower than the median for South East (£370,000). The average private rent in Swale was £1,114 a month in August 2026, 0.8% up on a year earlier (ONS). Swale had 9.0 crimes per 100 people recorded by the police in the 12 months to August 2026.
Where Swale stands out
- Rents in Swale had the 21st smallest rent rise of 316 local authorities in England and Wales in the year to August 2026 (+0.8%).
House prices in Swale
The median price paid in Swale was £299,125 in the 12 months to September 2026, from 1,900 sales, or £3,559 per square metre of floor area.
By type of home
| Type | Median price | Sales | Per m² | 1 year | 5 years | South East |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Detached | £431,250 | 422 | £3,845 | +0.3% | +8.1% | £590,000 |
| Semi-detached | £325,000 | 569 | £3,778 | +3.9% | +16.1% | £400,000 |
| Terraced | £256,500 | 728 | £3,272 | +0.6% | +9.6% | £320,000 |
| Flats | £168,000 | 181 | £3,000 | −1.2% | +5.0% | £213,000 |
Compared with South East and England
Median price
Price per m² of floor area
| Area | Median price | 1 year | 5 years | Per m² | Per m², 1 year |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Swale | £299,125 | −0.3% | +8.8% | £3,559 | −2.2% |
| South East | £370,000 | −1.3% | +4.2% | £4,310 | −1.2% |
| England | £285,000 | −1.4% | +5.6% | £3,333 | −0.6% |
By floor area, homes in Swale sold for a median £3,559 per m² in the 12 months to September 2026, 17% lower than the figure for South East (£4,310).
Swale has the 150th highest median price of 317 local authorities in England and Wales, and the 9th lowest of 64 local authorities in South East.
Its −0.3% change over the year is the 149th biggest price fall of 317 in England and Wales, and the 32nd biggest rise of 64 local authorities in South East.
Rents in Swale
The average private rent in Swale was £1,114 a month in August 2026, 0.8% up on a year earlier. Rents in Swale are 26.9% higher than five years earlier (August 2026 against August 2021).
Swale has the 143rd highest average rent of 316 local authorities in England and Wales, and the 4th lowest of 64 local authorities in South East.
How many homes sell in Swale
1,710 homes were sold in Swale in the 12 months to September 2026, 1.08 for every 100 people living there. In the 12 months to June 2026, sales in Swale were 1.9% up on the year before and 36.0% lower than five years earlier.
That is the 127th most sales per person of 317 local authorities in England and Wales, and the 31st most of 64 local authorities in South East.
Home sales per 100 people: sales recorded by HM Land Registry, less those not at full market value, against ONS's population estimate.
Crime in Swale
The police recorded 13,779 crimes in Swale in the 12 months to August 2026, 9.0 for every 100 people living or working there. Recorded crime in Swale fell 5.9% in the 12 months to August 2026 compared with the 12 months before, and is 8.5% lower than three years earlier.
| Kind of crime | Per 100 people |
|---|---|
| Violence and sexual offences | 3.59 |
| Anti-social behaviour, damage, drugs and public order | 4.03 |
| Theft and vehicle crime | 1.07 |
| Burglary and robbery | 0.30 |
Swale has the 92nd highest crime rate of 302 local authorities in England and Wales with full figures, and the 11th highest of 64 local authorities in South East.
The figure for England leaves out Gloucestershire and Greater Manchester, whose police have not published every month.
Street crime from police.uk. People are those living there plus those coming in to work, so town and city centres aren't overstated.
Deprivation in Swale
Swale is the 59th most deprived of 296 local authorities in England on the English Indices of Deprivation 2025 (where 1 is the most deprived).
| Part of the index | Rank of 296 (1 = most deprived) |
|---|---|
| Overall | 59th |
| Income | 90th |
| Employment | 72nd |
| Education and skills | 18th |
| Health | 97th |
| Crime | 43rd |
| Barriers to housing and services | 52nd |
| Living environment | 221st |
Broadband and mobile in Swale
80.2% of premises in Swale can get gigabit broadband and 96.4% can get superfast (30 Mbit/s or more), by Ofcom's latest figures. 74.3% can get full fibre, and 1.1% get under 10 Mbit/s. Its gigabit coverage is the 61st lowest of 318 local authorities in England and Wales.
Premises able to get gigabit broadband
80.0% of premises in Swale get good 4G indoors from all four mobile networks (England: 91.2%).
People moving in and out in Swale
In the year ending June 2025, 8,640 people moved to Swale from elsewhere in the UK and 6,950 moved away, a net gain of 1,690 (10.7 per 1,000 residents).
Most moved in from
- Medway 1,907
- Canterbury 633
- Maidstone 552
Most moved out to
- Canterbury 937
- Medway 918
- Maidstone 540
Moves within the UK only (ONS internal migration); people arriving from or leaving for abroad aren't counted.
Questions about Swale
How much does a house cost in Swale?
The median price paid for a home in Swale was £299,125 in the 12 months to September 2026. By type: detached £431,250; semi-detached £325,000; terraced £256,500; flats £168,000.
Are house prices in Swale going up?
In the year to September 2026, the median price in Swale fell 0.3%, and over five years it rose 8.8%. Across South East prices fell 1.3% over the same year.
How much is rent in Swale?
The average private rent in Swale was £1,114 a month in August 2026. 1 bed £779; 2 bed £1,029; 3 bed £1,244; 4+ bed £1,855.
Is Swale a safe place to live?
Swale had 9.0 crimes per 100 people in the 12 months to August 2026, the 92nd highest of 302 local authorities in England and Wales with full figures. The figure for South East was 7.2. Crime varies a lot from street to street: look up a postcode on the map for its own figures.
Can you get full fibre broadband in Swale?
74.3% of premises in Swale can get full fibre and 80.2% can get gigabit broadband, by Ofcom's latest figures.
Nearby areas
- Canterbury 19 km
- Maidstone 20 km
- Medway 21 km
- Ashford 22 km
- Southend-on-Sea 27 km
Sources: HM Land Registry Price Paid Data, ONS (private rents, population estimates, internal migration), police.uk, MHCLG English Indices of Deprivation 2025, Ofcom Connected Nations. Figures updated November 2026. Contains HM Land Registry data © Crown copyright and database right; Office for National Statistics and police.uk data licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.