Living in Ely
Ely is a city in Cambridgeshire.
Ely is a city. It is known for its strong high street.
Where is Ely?
- Type of place
- City
- County
- Cambridgeshire
- Region
- East of England
- Nation
- England
What is it like to live in Ely?
Ely is a city in Cambridgeshire. It is known for its strong high street. Two things stand out in the evidence. Healthcare access — GP provision and the wider network around Ely — measures among the better-served places we cover. Ely carries a genuinely full local centre, so the weekly routine rarely means driving somewhere else. The main thing to weigh up against that: housing is pricey for the region, so price is usually the first constraint to test against your budget. On price, the median recorded sold price is about £363,000. Median of 1,099 recorded sales across postcodes in the built-up area (HM Land Registry Price Paid).
What Ely does particularly well
- Healthcare access — GP provision and the wider network around Ely — measures among the better-served places we cover.
- Ely carries a genuinely full local centre, so the weekly routine rarely means driving somewhere else.
- Strong local school performance. There are 6 rated schools within reach.
Things to consider
- Housing is pricey for the region, so price is usually the first constraint to test against your budget.
- Green space close to home measures lower in Ely than in most places we cover.
Ely at a glance
- Schools: Strong local school performance
- Safety: Insufficient local crime evidence
- Affordability: Pricey for the region
- Typical sale price: around £363k (median of 1,099 sales across the built-up area)
What Ely is known for
- Strong high street
Frequently asked questions
What is Ely like to live in?
Ely is a city. It is known for its strong high street. Schools here perform strongly and everyday shops and services are on the doorstep. Police-recorded street crime was 63.4 incidents per 1,000 residents, Jul 2025–Jun 2026. We don't currently have sufficiently comparable evidence to say whether Ely is safer or less safe than similar places. Housing here is pricey for the region.
What is Ely known for?
Ely is known for strong high street.
Is Ely good for families?
Families in Ely have 6 rated schools within reach. Police-recorded street crime was 63.4 incidents per 1,000 residents, Jul 2025–Jun 2026. We don't currently have sufficiently comparable evidence to say whether Ely is safer or less safe than similar places.
Who is Ely likely to suit?
Ely may suit people who value 6 rated schools within reach and everyday shops and services on the doorstep. Whether it suits a particular household also depends on its budget and regular journeys.
What are the schools like in Ely?
Schools here perform strongly. Ely has 6 rated schools within reach.
Is Ely a safe place to live?
Police-recorded street crime was 63.4 incidents per 1,000 residents, Jul 2025–Jun 2026. We don't currently have sufficiently comparable evidence to say whether Ely is safer or less safe than similar places.
What are the main drawbacks of living in Ely?
The clearest evidence-led trade-off is that housing is pricey for the region. Individual streets and journeys can differ, so these should be checked separately.
How expensive is Ely?
Homes in Ely typically sell for around £363k, which is pricey for the region. Median of 1,099 recorded sales across postcodes in the built-up area (HM Land Registry Price Paid).
Where is Ely?
Ely is a city in Cambridgeshire, England.
See if Ely is a good match for you
Data last updated 2026-07-23.