Best places for families in Cambridgeshire

The most persuasive places in Cambridgeshire combine their strengths in different ways. Across the shortlist, everyday amenities and healthcare access appear most consistently. Ely's case is centred on everyday amenities and healthcare access and Cambridge's case is centred on access to green space and everyday amenities, giving the top of the list two distinct starting points for a search.

For buyers, price is the clearest dividing line: typical recorded sold-price figures run from £216,750 in Peterborough to £601,774 in Cambridge, with the middle of this shortlist at £320,969. That midpoint describes these selected places, not Cambridgeshire as a whole. The individual entries show what each part of that range buys in measured strengths and compromises.

Ely — Cambridgeshire — Excellent overall choice · Very strong nationally
Place overview
Ely is a small town in Cambridgeshire, in the East of England. The nearest railway station is Ely Rail Station, about 1.0 km away.
Why it ranked
- ✓ Strong transport links
- ✓ Strong amenities
- ✓ Strong healthcare
Trade-off
- • Less green space nearby
Ely is a small town in Cambridgeshire, in the East of England. The nearest railway station is Ely Rail Station, about 1.0 km away.
Ely's case rests on well-provided everyday amenities, good access to healthcare and reliable public transport links.
Its typical recorded sold-price figure is £337,500, above the median figure across this shortlist.
Cambridge — Cambridgeshire — Very strong contender · Very strong nationally
Place overview
Cambridge (Cambridge) is a large town in Cambridgeshire, in the East of England. The nearest railway station is Cambridge Rail Station, about 1.1 km away.
Why it ranked
- ✓ Strong green space
- ✓ Strong transport links
- ✓ Strong amenities
Trade-off
- • Higher house prices
Cambridge (Cambridge) is a large town in Cambridgeshire, in the East of England. The nearest railway station is Cambridge Rail Station, about 1.1 km away.
For buyers, the clearest advantages are good access to green space, well-provided everyday amenities and good access to healthcare.
Its typical recorded sold-price figure is £601,774, above the median figure across this shortlist.
Buckden — Cambridgeshire — Worth considering · Strong nationally
Place overview
Buckden is a village in Cambridgeshire, in the East of England. The nearest railway station is Huntingdon Rail Station, about 5.6 km away.
Why it ranked
- ✓ Strong amenities
- ✓ Strong healthcare
Trade-off
- • Limited public transport
Buckden is a village in Cambridgeshire, in the East of England. The nearest railway station is Huntingdon Rail Station, about 5.6 km away.
What gives Buckden an edge is well-provided everyday amenities and good access to healthcare.
Its typical recorded sold-price figure is £306,563, close to the median figure across this shortlist.
One caveat: Schools has not been measured for Buckden, so it plays no part in this result and we make no claim about it.
Sawston — Cambridgeshire — Worth considering · Very strong nationally
Place overview
Sawston is a small town in Cambridgeshire, in the East of England. The nearest railway station is Whittlesford Parkway Rail Station, about 2.2 km away.
Why it ranked
- ✓ Strong transport links
- ✓ Strong amenities
- ✓ Strong healthcare
Trade-off
- • Higher house prices
Sawston is a small town in Cambridgeshire, in the East of England. The nearest railway station is Whittlesford Parkway Rail Station, about 2.2 km away.
The strongest reasons to consider it are well-provided everyday amenities, good access to healthcare and reliable public transport links.
Its typical recorded sold-price figure is £399,500, above the median figure across this shortlist.
St Ives — Cambridgeshire — Worth considering · Strong nationally
Place overview
St Ives (Huntingdonshire) is a small town in Cambridgeshire, in the East of England. The nearest railway station is Huntingdon Rail Station, about 7.9 km away.
Why it ranked
- ✓ Strong transport links
- ✓ Strong amenities
- ✓ Strong healthcare
Trade-off
- • Less green space nearby
St Ives (Huntingdonshire) is a small town in Cambridgeshire, in the East of England. The nearest railway station is Huntingdon Rail Station, about 7.9 km away.
The strongest reasons to consider it are well-provided everyday amenities, good access to healthcare and reliable public transport links.
Its typical recorded sold-price figure is £293,250, below the median figure across this shortlist.
Huntingdon — Cambridgeshire — Worth considering · Strong nationally
Place overview
Huntingdon is a town in Cambridgeshire, in the East of England. The nearest railway station is Huntingdon Rail Station, about 1.3 km away.
Why it ranked
- ✓ Strong value for money
- ✓ Strong amenities
- ✓ Strong healthcare
Trade-off
- • Limited public transport
Huntingdon is a town in Cambridgeshire, in the East of England. The nearest railway station is Huntingdon Rail Station, about 1.3 km away.
What gives Huntingdon an edge is housing that offers relative value, well-provided everyday amenities and good access to healthcare.
Its typical recorded sold-price figure is £261,000, below the median figure across this shortlist.
St Neots — Cambridgeshire — Worth considering · Strong nationally
Place overview
St Neots is a town in Cambridgeshire, in the East of England. The nearest railway station is St Neots Rail Station, about 1.7 km away.
Why it ranked
- ✓ Strong transport links
- ✓ Strong amenities
- ✓ Strong healthcare
Trade-off
- • Less green space nearby
St Neots is a town in Cambridgeshire, in the East of England. The nearest railway station is St Neots Rail Station, about 1.7 km away.
The strongest reasons to consider it are well-provided everyday amenities, good access to healthcare and reliable public transport links.
Its typical recorded sold-price figure is £305,750, close to the median figure across this shortlist.
Papworth Everard — Cambridgeshire — Worth considering · Strong nationally
Place overview
Papworth Everard is a village in Cambridgeshire, in the East of England. The nearest railway station is St Neots Rail Station, about 9.0 km away.
Why it ranked
- ✓ Strong amenities
- ✓ Strong healthcare
Trade-off
- • Limited public transport
Papworth Everard is a village in Cambridgeshire, in the East of England. The nearest railway station is St Neots Rail Station, about 9.0 km away.
For buyers, the clearest advantages are well-provided everyday amenities and good access to healthcare.
Its typical recorded sold-price figure is £335,375, close to the median figure across this shortlist.
One caveat: Schools has not been measured for Papworth Everard, so it plays no part in this result and we make no claim about it.
Melbourn — Cambridgeshire — Worth considering · Very strong nationally
Place overview
Melbourn is a village in Cambridgeshire, in the East of England. The nearest railway station is Meldreth Rail Station, about 1.0 km away.
Why it ranked
- ✓ Strong transport links
- ✓ Strong amenities
- ✓ Strong healthcare
Trade-off
- • Higher house prices
Melbourn is a village in Cambridgeshire, in the East of England. The nearest railway station is Meldreth Rail Station, about 1.0 km away.
What gives Melbourn an edge is well-provided everyday amenities, good access to healthcare and reliable public transport links.
Its typical recorded sold-price figure is £399,031, above the median figure across this shortlist.
One caveat: Schools has not been measured for Melbourn, so it plays no part in this result and we make no claim about it.
Peterborough — Cambridgeshire — Worth considering · Strong nationally
Place overview
Peterborough is a large town in Cambridgeshire, in the East Midlands. It is served by the Peterborough (Nene Valley Railway) metro network.
Why it ranked
- ✓ Strong value for money
- ✓ Strong transport links
- ✓ Strong amenities
Trade-off
- • Less green space nearby
Peterborough is a large town in Cambridgeshire, in the East Midlands. It is served by the Peterborough (Nene Valley Railway) metro network.
Peterborough's case rests on well-provided everyday amenities, good access to healthcare and reliable public transport links.
Its typical recorded sold-price figure is £216,750, below the median figure across this shortlist.
Soham — Cambridgeshire — Worth considering · Very strong nationally
Place overview
Soham is a small town in Cambridgeshire, in the East of England. The nearest railway station is Soham, about 0.7 km away.
Why it ranked
- ✓ Strong value for money
- ✓ Strong amenities
- ✓ Strong healthcare
Trade-off
- • Limited public transport
Soham is a small town in Cambridgeshire, in the East of England. The nearest railway station is Soham, about 0.7 km away.
Soham's case rests on housing that offers relative value, well-provided everyday amenities and good access to healthcare.
Its typical recorded sold-price figure is £256,563, below the median figure across this shortlist.
Gamlingay — Cambridgeshire — Worth considering · Strong nationally
Place overview
Gamlingay is a village in Cambridgeshire, in the East of England. The nearest railway station is Sandy Rail Station, about 7.0 km away.
Why it ranked
- ✓ Strong amenities
Trade-off
- • Limited public transport
Gamlingay is a village in Cambridgeshire, in the East of England. The nearest railway station is Sandy Rail Station, about 7.0 km away.
For buyers, the clearest advantages are well-provided everyday amenities.
Its typical recorded sold-price figure is £351,188, above the median figure across this shortlist.
One caveat: Schools has not been measured for Gamlingay, so it plays no part in this result and we make no claim about it.

What this means for your search

The useful dividing line in Cambridgeshire is not one headline quality. everyday amenities and healthcare access appear in different combinations, while Peterborough and Cambridge mark opposite ends of the shortlist's recorded-price range. Buyers can use that contrast to decide which measured strengths justify the extra cost for them.