New Forest

How New Forest compares with every council area in England and Wales, on official figures only (175,930 people, mid-2025). Ranked 1st = best for someone living there. There is no overall score: the places are too different for one number to be honest.

Gigabit broadband

77.4%

273rd fastest of 318

lastmiddle area: 89.4%1st

Ofcom Connected Nations, January 2026

Average house price

£384,977

234th most affordable of 317

lastmiddle area: £289,2821st

HM Land Registry UK House Price Index, July 2026

Price change over 12 months

+0.0%

226th fastest rising of 317

lastmiddle area: +1.8%1st

HM Land Registry UK House Price Index, July 2026

Fine particles (PM2.5)

5.7 µg/m³

52nd cleanest of 318

lastmiddle area: 6.9 µg/m³1st

Defra modelled background PM2.5, 2024 (WHO guideline 5 µg/m³)

Recorded crime

52.9 per 1,000

49th lowest of 283

lastmiddle area: 73.3 per 1,0001st

ONS / Home Office police recorded crime, year ending March 2026

Deprivation rank

236 / 296

61st least deprived of 296

lastmiddle area: 148.5 / 2961st

English Indices of Deprivation 2025 (MHCLG); 1 = most deprived

Flood risk and road noise are not here because no official figure exists for a whole council area. Both vary street by street, which is what the free check reads.

Check a street in New Forest

These figures are for the whole area. The free check reads one postcode: flood, crime, noise and the station, in seconds.

League tables for Hampshire

Fastest broadband Most affordable homes Fastest-rising prices Cleanest air Lowest recorded crime Least deprived (England)

New Forest

Check a street in New Forest

League tables for Hampshire

Other areas in South East