Daylight through the yearLongest day (Jun 21): 16 h 46 min4:35 am – 9:20 pmShortest day (Dec 21): 7 h 43 min8:02 am – 3:45 pm
Sun todaySunrise –Sunset –
People9,845 residentsin the Needham Market South & Great Blakenham census areaMedian age 39.74,171 households72% of homes owner-occupied38% owned outright10% social rented, 17% private rentedSource: Office for National Statistics, Census 2021
Work and commuting2.6% unemployment rate65% of adults are economically active, 5,248 in work, 24% retiredMain industries: public administration and defence 14%, retail and wholesale 13%, health and social work 13%Getting to work: 28% work from home, 62% go by car, 1% take public transport, 8% walk or cycle47% of those who travel work within 10 km of homeSource: Office for National Statistics, Census 2021
Education and languages28% of adults hold a degree or higher18% have no qualifications, 7% an apprenticeshipMain language: English 98%Source: Office for National Statistics, Census 2021
ClimateWarmest month July: highs 23°C, lows 12°CColdest month January: highs 7°C, lows 2°C609 mm of rain a year, 14 days with 10 mm or morewettest month October42 days of air frost, 15 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)
Parks and green spacesBarking Tye Commonpark · 2.5 mi · 14 haThe Greenpark · 3.9 miElmsett Greenpark · 4.2 miSource: Ordnance Survey Open Greenspace
Earthquakes12 of magnitude 2 or more within 50 miles since 19702 of magnitude 3+, 0 of magnitude 4+Largest: magnitude 3.0 on 15 Sep 199444 mi away, Offshore Harwich, EssexMost recent: magnitude 2.0 on 1 May 202630 mi away, Southern North SeaSource: British Geological Survey earthquake database
Flood riskRivers and sea: no mapped risk within 500 m of the centreSource: Environment Agency, Risk of Flooding from Rivers and Sea
Air qualityNO2 5.6 · PM2.5 6.8 · PM10 12 µg/m³annual mean concentrations, 2024Within UK limits, above the WHO guideline for PM2.5Source: DEFRA modelled background pollution maps 2024, 1 km grid
Broadband54% of premises can get gigabit-capable broadband98% can get superfast (30 Mbit/s or more)0.2% cannot get a decent connection (below the 10 Mbit/s universal service obligation)4,629 residential premises in the census areaSource: Ofcom Connected Nations, July 2025
Elevation86 m282 ft above sea levelLand within 1 km ranges from 74 to 89 mSource: Ordnance Survey, OS Terrain 50
Local servicesHospitalSt Leonards Hospital11 miGP surgeryWattisham Medical Centre1.1 miPharmacyCombs Ford Pharmacy3.6 miDentistWattisham Dental Centre1.1 miSource: NHS Organisation Data Service
SchoolsWithin 2 mi1 school1 primaryPrimaryRingshall Schoolages 4-11, 117 pupils1.9 miSecondaryStowmarket High Schoolages 11-16, 901 pupils4.0 miCollegeSuffolk New College10.6 miUniversityUniversity of Suffolk10.6 miSource: Department for Education, Get Information about Schools
Getting aroundAirportLondon Stansted Airport STN35 miRailway stationStowmarket4.3 miBus stationBarnardsStowmarket4.1 miFerryHarwich International Ferry TerminalHarwich International Port18 miBus stops1 within a mileSources: Department for Transport NaPTAN; OurAirports
Distances in these cards are measured from the centre of the IP14 postcode district.
