Daylight through the yearLongest day (Jun 21): 16 h 37 min4:41 am – 9:18 pmShortest day (Dec 21): 7 h 51 min8:00 am – 3:51 pm
Sun todaySunrise –Sunset –
People7,458 residentsin the Rochester West census areaMedian age 39.43,663 households42% of homes owner-occupied18% owned outright23% social rented, 32% private rentedSource: Office for National Statistics, Census 2021
Work and commuting6.8% unemployment rate66% of adults are economically active, 3,793 in work, 18% retiredMain industries: health and social work 13%, retail and wholesale 12%, education 12%Getting to work: 38% work from home, 42% go by car, 8% take public transport, 10% walk or cycle59% of those who travel work within 10 km of homeSource: Office for National Statistics, Census 2021
Education and languages40% of adults hold a degree or higher14% have no qualifications, 4% an apprenticeshipMain language: English 93%1% cannot speak English wellSource: Office for National Statistics, Census 2021
ClimateWarmest month July: highs 23°C, lows 13°CColdest month January: highs 8°C, lows 3°C597 mm of rain a year, 13 days with 10 mm or morewettest month October29 days of air frost, 23 summer days above 25°C in a typical yearSource: Met Office HadUK-Grid 1991-2020 averages, 2 km grid (highs and lows from the 12 km grid)
Nearby landmarksGundulph Poollake · 1.2 miChatham Nessheadland · under a mileCouvre Port Reservoirreservoir · 1.1 miBridge Reachtidal water · under a mileLimehouse Reachtidal water · under a mileSt Mary's Islandisland · 1.9 miSource: Ordnance Survey Open Names
Parks and green spacesVines Gardenspark · under a mileCastle Gardenspark · under a mileChurch Field Recreation Groundpark · under a mile · 2 haJackson Recreation Groundplaying field · under a mile · 7 haPriestfields Recreation Groundplaying field · 1.0 mi · 10 haPriestfields Lower Site Allotmentsallotments · under a mile · 2 haSource: Ordnance Survey Open Greenspace
Earthquakes14 of magnitude 2 or more within 50 miles since 19705 of magnitude 3+, 2 of magnitude 4+Largest: magnitude 4.0 on 22 May 201541 mi away, Ramsgate, KentMost recent: magnitude 2.0 on 9 Feb 202320 mi away, Bicknacre, EssexSource: British Geological Survey earthquake database
Flood riskRivers and sea: areas at High risk within 500 m of the centrea 1 in 30 chance of flooding in any year, or greaterAlso medium, low risk areas nearbySource: Environment Agency, Risk of Flooding from Rivers and Sea
Air qualityNO2 13 · PM2.5 7.7 · PM10 12 µg/m³annual mean concentrations, 2024Within UK limits, above the WHO guideline for NO2 and PM2.5Source: DEFRA modelled background pollution maps 2024, 1 km grid
Broadband77% of premises can get gigabit-capable broadband99% can get superfast (30 Mbit/s or more)Every premises can get at least 10 Mbit/s (the universal service obligation)3,850 residential premises in the census areaSource: Ofcom Connected Nations, July 2025
Elevation4 m13 ft above sea levelLand within 1 km ranges from -2 to 56 mSource: Ordnance Survey, OS Terrain 50
Local servicesHospitalMedway Maritime Hospital1.6 miGP surgeryWinchester House43 surgeries within 2 milesunder a milePharmacyRyders Chemist28 pharmacies within 2 milesright hereDentistCoco Dental Rochester Limitedright hereSource: NHS Organisation Data Service
SchoolsWithin 2 mi58 schools36 primary, 11 secondary, 3 independent, 5 special, 3 otherPrimaryRochester Riverside Church of England Primary Schoolages 3-11, 298 pupilsunder a mileIndependentKing's School, Rochesterages 2-18, 574 pupilsunder a mileSecondaryFort Pitt Grammar Schoolages 11-18, 1,009 pupilsunder a mileCollegeMidKent College1.6 miSource: Department for Education, Get Information about Schools
Getting aroundAirportLondon Southend Airport SEN15 miMajor airportLondon Gatwick Airport LGW34 miRailway stationRochesterunder a mileBus stationWaterfront Bus StationChathamunder a mileFerryTown PierGravesend7.1 miBus stops117 within a mileSources: Department for Transport NaPTAN; OurAirports
Distances in these cards are measured from the centre of the ME1 postcode district.
