See a sample

Neighbourhood · Medway

Rochester South West: house prices and how the area is changing

Official figures for the Rochester South West neighbourhood of Medway, England (ONS area Medway 024). Headline figures assembled 25 October 2026. Postcodes ME1. Figures that read a point use the neighbourhood's centre, near ME1 3FZ.

An affluent neighbourhood, showing some signs of gentrification

Rochester South West is an affluent neighbourhood; it shows some signs of gentrification against Medway (2 of 19 signals rising, none falling). Houses here typically resell for £320,000 (median resale price, 2023-2025). Recorded crime is lower than across Medway (0.7 times the borough's rate), schools nearby are improving in line with the council's and the nearest railway station, Chatham, is 2.3 km from the neighbourhood's centre.

The neighbourhood in brief, from the figures on this page. Summary updated 25 October 2026; source dates are shown below.

Typical house price

£320,000

Median resale price of houses in the neighbourhood, 2023-2025; +24% against 2017-2019.

Source: HM Land Registry Price Paid Data

Affluence today

Affluent

How well off the neighbourhood is now, from household income, home prices and deprivation.

Source: ONS, HM Land Registry, MHCLG Indices of Deprivation

Signs of gentrification

Some signs

Weighted balance +0.07; 2 of 19 signals up, 0 down, against the borough.

Source: Official statistics on prices, incomes, benefits, businesses, schools and more (a full report shows every signal)

Deprivation

Decile 9 of 10

English Indices of Deprivation 2025: 1 is the most deprived tenth of neighbourhoods, 10 the least. At the neighbourhood's centre; its 4 small areas range from decile 4 to 9.

Source: MHCLG English Indices of Deprivation 2025

Average household income

£56,300

ONS estimate for the neighbourhood (modelled, with a margin of error).

Source: Office for National Statistics

Recorded crime

0.7 times the borough's rate

Crimes recorded by the police over 12 months (not anti-social behaviour) per resident, against the borough. Crime per resident can overstate the risk in busy centres where many people work or visit.

Source: Police.uk

Schools getting better

In line with the council's

Nearby state schools' latest Ofsted inspections and results, against the council's schools.

Source: Ofsted, Department for Education

Where Rochester South West sits in Medway

  • Typical house price: 15th highest of 38 neighbourhoods in Medway
  • Average household income: joint 17th lowest of 38 neighbourhoods in Medway

Ranked among the council's neighbourhoods by the figures on each one's own page, checked 25 October 2026: typical prices are HM Land Registry resale medians over the latest three-year window, household income the ONS's modelled estimate, with a margin of error, so neighbourhoods a place or two apart may not really differ.

Prices over time in Rochester South West

House prices: Rochester South West against Medway: This neighbourhood £50k (1995) to £324k (2026); Medway £46k (1995) to £320k (2026).£82k£291k2026202120162011200620011995This neighbourhood£324kMedway£320k
Median resale price of houses each year here and across Medway, 1995 to 2026 (HM Land Registry Price Paid Data: standard sales, new builds left out). Years with fewer than 10 sales here are left out. 2026 is the year so far (dashed).
Flat prices: Rochester South West against Medway: This neighbourhood £29k (1997) to £135k (2016); Medway £32k (1997) to £173k (2026).£49k£168k2026202120162011200620011997This neighbourhood£135kMedway£173k
Median resale price of flats each year here and across Medway, 1997 to 2026 (HM Land Registry Price Paid Data: standard sales, new builds left out). Years with fewer than 10 sales here are left out. 2026 is the year so far (dashed).

Source: HM Land Registry Price Paid Data, held locally and checked 25 October 2026. Medians each year, not a valuation of any home.

How the area is changing, signal by signal

2 of 19 counted signals point towards rising affluence against Medway, 0 the other way and 17 in line. A reading of official statistics against the borough, not a prediction; a full report shows every signal's figures and weight. Where this reading sits among every neighbourhood in England and Wales: the gentrification league table.

Rising against the borough

  • Recorded crime
  • Anti-social behaviour

Stations and schools nearby

Nearest station

  • Chatham Railway station, 2.3 km from the neighbourhood's centre in a straight line. About 15 trains an hour leave between 07:00 and 19:00 on a weekday: Southeastern to London Victoria (46 to 57 min); Southeastern and Thameslink to Rainham (Kent) (about 10 min).

Station locations: NaPTAN (Department for Transport). Trains: Network Rail's timetable for Tuesday 6 October 2026, with the timetabled minutes of direct trains; timetabled, not live running. Distances from the neighbourhood's centre in a straight line, walked at 4.8 km/h; the real route is longer.

Nearest state schools

  • Nearest state primary school St William of Perth Roman Catholic Primary School 570 m from the neighbourhood's centre. Ofsted: Ungraded visit: School remains Good (Oct 2023).
  • Nearest state secondary school Sir Joseph Williamson's Mathematical School 350 m from the neighbourhood's centre. Ofsted: Outstanding (Mar 2023).

Schools: Department for Education, Get Information about Schools (20 October 2026); inspections: Ofsted's management information as at 30 September 2026, in Ofsted's own words. Straight-line distances; not a catchment or admissions assessment.

Questions about Rochester South West

What is the typical house price in Rochester South West?

£320,000. Median resale price of houses in the neighbourhood, 2023-2025; +24% against 2017-2019.

How does Rochester South West compare with the rest of Medway?

Typical house price: 15th highest of 38 neighbourhoods in Medway. Average household income: joint 17th lowest of 38 neighbourhoods in Medway.

Is Rochester South West an affluent area?

Affluent. How well off the neighbourhood is now, from household income, home prices and deprivation.

Is Rochester South West gentrifying?

Some signs. Weighted balance +0.07; 2 of 19 signals up, 0 down, against the borough.

What is the nearest station to Rochester South West?

Chatham. Railway station, 2.3 km from the neighbourhood's centre in a straight line. About 15 trains an hour leave between 07:00 and 19:00 on a weekday: Southeastern to London Victoria (46 to 57 min); Southeastern and Thameslink to Rainham (Kent) (about 10 min).

Which state schools are nearest to Rochester South West?

Nearest state primary school. St William of Perth Roman Catholic Primary School. 570 m from the neighbourhood's centre. Ofsted: Ungraded visit: School remains Good (Oct 2023). Nearest state secondary school. Sir Joseph Williamson's Mathematical School. 350 m from the neighbourhood's centre. Ofsted: Outstanding (Mar 2023).

Each answer repeats a figure shown above, with its source there.

Thinking of buying in Rochester South West?

A full report covers flood risk, schools, crime, your commute, energy, planning and how the area is changing, for the exact home.

Prepare a full report for a home here See a sample report

Nearby neighbourhoods in Medway

Postcode districts

Neighbourhood names: House of Commons Library, MSOA Names, Open Parliament Licence v3.0. Contains HM Land Registry data © Crown copyright and database right 2026. This data is licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Contains National Statistics data © Crown copyright and database right 2026. Contains public sector information (MHCLG, Police.uk, Ofsted, Department for Education) licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Station locations from NaPTAN (Department for Transport), Open Government Licence v3.0. Trains: contains information of Network Rail Infrastructure Limited licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Figures describe the area, not any home, and are not a valuation or a prediction.