Best places to live for commuting to Cambridge

Door-to-door commute times by train to Cambridge from every neighbourhood in England, with typical house prices, good schools nearby and crime, so you can see where families can live within reach. Times are for the morning rush and include getting to the station and waiting for the train.

Find an area: add your budget and schools → See commute times on the map

neighbourhoods within 30 min

within 45 min

within an hour

3 min

quickest: Coleridge

Commuter towns, quickest first

Typical door-to-door time across each town's neighbourhoods, the quickest of them, the typical home price, and the neighbourhood with the best family score.

Town	Typical commute	Quickest	Typical home	Best for families
Cambridge	14 min	3 min	£480k	Cherry Hinton
Milton (South Cambridgeshire)	19 min	19 min	£440k	Milton, Fen Ditton & Quy
Fulbourn	21 min	21 min	£475k	Fulbourn & Teversham
Great Shelford and Stapleford	21 min	21 min	£634k	Great Shelford & Stapleford
Girton	24 min	24 min	£500k	Bar Hill, Girton & Grantchester
Histon and Impington	24 min	24 min	£475k	HIston, Impington & Orchard Park
Harston	26 min	26 min	£574k	Little Shelford , Foxton & Haslingfield
Sawston	28 min	28 min	£405k	Sawston
Waterbeach	28 min	28 min	£424k	Waterbeach and Landbeach
Hardwick (South Cambridgeshire)	32 min	32 min	£474k	Hardwick & Highfields
Cottenham	33 min	33 min	£415k	Cottenham
Bottisham	35 min	35 min	£425k	Swaffham & Bottisham
Ely	36 min	35 min	£351k	North Ely
Duxford	36 min	36 min	£498k	Duxford, Whittlesford & the Abingtons
Longstanton	37 min	37 min	£380k	Longstanton, Swavesey & Oakington
Royston (North Hertfordshire)	41 min	40 min	£370k	Royston South, West & East
Cambourne	44 min	44 min	£378k	Cambourne
Melbourn	44 min	44 min	£425k	Meldreth, Melbourn & Great Chishill
Willingham	44 min	44 min	£375k	Willingham & Over
Burwell	46 min	46 min	£356k	Burwell
Haddenham (East Cambridgeshire)	46 min	46 min	£342k	Haddenham, Stretham & Witchford
Linton (South Cambridgeshire)	49 min	49 min	£415k	Linton & Balsham
Littleport	49 min	49 min	£280k	Littleport
Saffron Walden	49 min	49 min	£458k	Saffron Walden Town
Bassingbourn	50 min	50 min	£448k	Bassingbourn & the Mordens
Papworth Everard	50 min	50 min	£365k	Papworth, Caxton & Fen Drayton
Soham	50 min	50 min	£278k	Soham
Newport (Uttlesford)	53 min	53 min	£570k	Newport, Littlebury & Clavering
Sutton (East Cambridgeshire)	53 min	53 min	£318k	Little Downham & Sutton
Ashwell	54 min	54 min	£576k	Ashwell, Weston & Barley
Baldock	54 min	54 min	£328k	Baldock
Letchworth	55 min	54 min	£414k	Letchworth South West
Needingworth	56 min	56 min	£325k	Bluntisham, Earith & Needingworth
Newmarket	56 min	53 min	£276k	South Newmarket & Racecourse
Hitchin	57 min	56 min	£430k	Hitchin Highbury
Stansted Mountfitchet	57 min	57 min	£455k	Stansted Mountfitchet & Elsenham
Stotfold	59 min	59 min	£428k	Stotfold
Hemingford Grey	60 min	60 min	£370k	Houghton, Hemingford & Fenstanton
Isleham	60 min	60 min	£365k	Isleham, Fordham & Chippenham
St Ives (Huntingdonshire)	62 min	60 min	£310k	St Ives North
Bishop's Stortford	63 min	59 min	£480k	Bishop's Stortford East
Gamlingay	63 min	63 min	£460k	Barrington, Orwell & Gamlingay
Thetford	65 min	64 min	£198k	Thetford Central & East
Ickleford	66 min	66 min	£575k	Ickleford, Great Offley & Whitwell
Takeley and Little Canfield	66 min	66 min	£517k	Takeley, Airport & Mountfitchet South
Buntingford	67 min	67 min	£455k	Buntingford & Great Hormead
Biggleswade	68 min	66 min	£338k	Biggleswade West
Arlesey	68 min	68 min	£350k	Arlesey & Henlow
Beck Row	68 min	68 min	£280k	Beck Row, Eriswell & Barton Mills
Downham Market	70 min	70 min	£257k	Downham Market
Godmanchester	70 min	70 min	£336k	Godmanchester
Lower Stondon	70 min	70 min	£420k	Clifton, Meppershall & Stondon
Potton	70 min	70 min	£398k	Potton
Red Lodge	70 min	70 min	£295k	Red Lodge, Icklingham & Moulton
Sawbridgeworth	70 min	70 min	£468k	Sawbridgeworth
Stevenage	70 min	66 min	£350k	Chells North
Thaxted	70 min	70 min	£467k	Thaxted, Great Sampford & Radwinter
Bury St Edmunds	71 min	69 min	£288k	Moreton Hall
Chatteris	71 min	71 min	£230k	Chatteris
Somersham (Huntingdonshire)	71 min	71 min	£325k	Somersham, Riptons & Raveleys

Under 30 minutes from Cambridge

22 neighbourhoods. The 15 with the best family score:

Neighbourhood	By train, door to door	By car (light traffic)	Typical home	Walk to a Good+ primary	Drive to a Good+ secondary	Crime	Family score
Sawston, Sawston	28 min	17 min	£405k	9 min	4 min	Very low	7.9 / 10
Cherry Hinton, Cambridge	15 min	10 min	£433k	6 min	5 min	Average	7.0 / 10
Eddington & Castle, Cambridge	17 min	9 min	£552k	10 min	5 min	Very low	6.8 / 10
HIston, Impington & Orchard Park, Histon and Impington	24 min	14 min	£475k	8 min	5 min	Average	6.7 / 10
Addenbrooke's & Queen Edith's, Cambridge	13 min	6 min	£816k	11 min	5 min	Low	6.3 / 10
West Chesterton, Cambridge	14 min	9 min	£548k	9 min	4 min	High	6.1 / 10
Little Shelford , Foxton & Haslingfield, Harston	26 min	12 min	£574k	9 min	11 min	Very low	6.1 / 10
Petersfield, Cambridge	11 min	6 min	£480k	8 min	4 min	Very high	6.0 / 10
Great Shelford & Stapleford, Great Shelford and Stapleford	21 min	12 min	£634k	12 min	7 min	Very low	6.0 / 10
Arbury, Cambridge	17 min	10 min	£455k	8 min	4 min	High	5.9 / 10
Romsey, Cambridge	12 min	8 min	£481k	13 min	4 min	Average	5.6 / 10
Trumpington, Cambridge	15 min	7 min	£592k	11 min	5 min	Average	5.6 / 10
Kings Hedges, Cambridge	18 min	11 min	£372k	7 min	4 min	High	5.5 / 10
Coleridge, Cambridge	3 min	7 min	£470k	13 min	6 min	Average	5.3 / 10
Bar Hill, Girton & Grantchester, Girton	24 min	15 min	£500k	11 min	11 min	Low	5.2 / 10

30 to 45 minutes from Cambridge

12 neighbourhoods. The 12 with the best family score:

Neighbourhood	By train, door to door	By car (light traffic)	Typical home	Walk to a Good+ primary	Drive to a Good+ secondary	Crime	Family score
Royston South, West & East, Royston (North Hertfordshire)	42 min	24 min	£390k	8 min	5 min	Low	7.4 / 10
Royston North & Central, Royston (North Hertfordshire)	40 min	25 min	£350k	8 min	6 min	Average	6.1 / 10
North Ely, Ely	35 min	34 min	£350k	10 min	6 min	Low	6.0 / 10
Cambourne, Cambourne	44 min	22 min	£378k	10 min	6 min	Low	5.6 / 10
Longstanton, Swavesey & Oakington, Longstanton	37 min	21 min	£380k	11 min	5 min	High	5.5 / 10
Cottenham, Cottenham	33 min	23 min	£415k	12 min	5 min	Average	5.4 / 10
Hardwick & Highfields, Hardwick (South Cambridgeshire)	32 min	22 min	£474k	20 min	11 min	Very low	4.8 / 10
Willingham & Over, Willingham	44 min	28 min	£375k	16 min	9 min	Low	4.6 / 10
Duxford, Whittlesford & the Abingtons, Duxford	36 min	15 min	£498k	17 min	10 min	Low	4.5 / 10
Meldreth, Melbourn & Great Chishill, Melbourn	44 min	21 min	£425k	15 min	11 min	Low	4.5 / 10
Swaffham & Bottisham, Bottisham	35 min	25 min	£425k	24 min	17 min	Very low	4.2 / 10
South Ely, Ely	36 min	34 min	£351k	17 min	7 min	High	3.8 / 10

45 minutes to an hour from Cambridge

32 neighbourhoods. The 15 with the best family score:

Neighbourhood	By train, door to door	By car (light traffic)	Typical home	Walk to a Good+ primary	Drive to a Good+ secondary	Crime	Family score
Hitchin Highbury, Hitchin	57 min	47 min	£489k	7 min	3 min	Very low	9.1 / 10
Saffron Walden Town, Saffron Walden	49 min	33 min	£415k	7 min	5 min	Low	7.8 / 10
Hitchin Walsworth, Hitchin	57 min	44 min	£425k	7 min	5 min	Very low	7.7 / 10
Baldock, Baldock	54 min	38 min	£328k	7 min	4 min	Average	7.6 / 10
Hitchin Bearton, Hitchin	56 min	47 min	£430k	9 min	3 min	Average	7.1 / 10
Hitchin Town & West, Hitchin	57 min	48 min	£430k	8 min	4 min	High	6.7 / 10
Bishop's Stortford Central, Bishop's Stortford	59 min	38 min	£355k	8 min	4 min	High	6.6 / 10
Audley End, Ashdon & the Chesterfords, Saffron Walden	49 min	33 min	£500k	10 min	8 min	Very low	6.4 / 10
South Newmarket & Racecourse, Newmarket	53 min	30 min	£274k	7 min	5 min	Average	6.4 / 10
Soham, Soham	50 min	38 min	£278k	13 min	4 min	Low	6.0 / 10
Stotfold, Stotfold	59 min	45 min	£428k	9 min	11 min	Low	5.6 / 10
Stansted Mountfitchet & Elsenham, Stansted Mountfitchet	57 min	39 min	£455k	9 min	12 min	Low	5.4 / 10
Houghton, Hemingford & Fenstanton, Hemingford Grey	60 min	29 min	£370k	12 min	12 min	Very low	5.4 / 10
Papworth, Caxton & Fen Drayton, Papworth Everard	50 min	24 min	£365k	10 min	12 min	Very low	5.3 / 10
Burwell, Burwell	46 min	33 min	£356k	11 min	13 min	Low	5.2 / 10

An hour to 90 minutes from Cambridge

316 neighbourhoods. The 15 with the best family score:

Neighbourhood	By train, door to door	By car (light traffic)	Typical home	Walk to a Good+ primary	Drive to a Good+ secondary	Crime	Family score
Bishop's Stortford East, Bishop's Stortford	62 min	34 min	£425k	8 min	3 min	Low	8.2 / 10
Sawbridgeworth, Sawbridgeworth	70 min	45 min	£468k	7 min	4 min	Low	8.1 / 10
Broxbourne Town, Hoddesdon	84 min	61 min	£735k	10 min	3 min	Very low	7.9 / 10
Fortis Green & Coldfall, Haringey	90 min	84 min	£876k	6 min	4 min	Low	7.9 / 10
Knightsfield, Welwyn Garden City	81 min	52 min	£550k	7 min	4 min	Low	7.8 / 10
Stopsley North, Luton	77 min	63 min	£328k	7 min	3 min	Low	7.7 / 10
Muswell Hill North, Haringey	88 min	81 min	£638k	6 min	4 min	Average	7.7 / 10
Hornsey Vale, Haringey	88 min	81 min	£635k	4 min	4 min	Low	7.6 / 10
Chells North, Stevenage	72 min	48 min	£368k	11 min	4 min	Very low	7.5 / 10
Crouch End West, Haringey	89 min	85 min	£670k	7 min	4 min	Average	7.4 / 10
Bramingham, Luton	84 min	71 min	£382k	9 min	4 min	Very low	7.3 / 10
St Ives North, St Ives (Huntingdonshire)	63 min	35 min	£295k	8 min	6 min	Very low	7.2 / 10
Church Langley, Harlow	79 min	45 min	£368k	8 min	6 min	Very low	7.2 / 10
Panshanger, Welwyn Garden City	87 min	57 min	£371k	7 min	4 min	Average	7.2 / 10
Hoddesdon Ware Road, Hoddesdon	88 min	57 min	£450k	7 min	7 min	Very low	7.2 / 10

Most affordable with good schools, within an hour

A Good or Outstanding primary within a 15-minute walk, a Good or Outstanding secondary within a 15-minute drive, and average or lower crime, cheapest first.

Neighbourhood	By train, door to door	By car (light traffic)	Typical home	Walk to a Good+ primary	Drive to a Good+ secondary	Crime	Family score
South Newmarket & Racecourse, Newmarket	53 min	30 min	£274k	7 min	5 min	Average	6.4 / 10
Soham, Soham	50 min	38 min	£278k	13 min	4 min	Low	6.0 / 10
Little Downham & Sutton, Sutton (East Cambridgeshire)	53 min	40 min	£318k	13 min	9 min	Very low	4.6 / 10
Bluntisham, Earith & Needingworth, Needingworth	56 min	38 min	£325k	10 min	13 min	Low	5.2 / 10
Baldock, Baldock	54 min	38 min	£328k	7 min	4 min	Average	7.6 / 10
Haddenham, Stretham & Witchford, Haddenham (East Cambridgeshire)	46 min	30 min	£342k	9 min	11 min	Low	4.7 / 10
Letchworth Wilbury, Letchworth	56 min	44 min	£345k	9 min	8 min	Average	4.5 / 10
Royston North & Central, Royston (North Hertfordshire)	40 min	25 min	£350k	8 min	6 min	Average	6.1 / 10
North Ely, Ely	35 min	34 min	£350k	10 min	6 min	Low	6.0 / 10
Burwell, Burwell	46 min	33 min	£356k	11 min	13 min	Low	5.2 / 10
Papworth, Caxton & Fen Drayton, Papworth Everard	50 min	24 min	£365k	10 min	12 min	Very low	5.3 / 10
Isleham, Fordham & Chippenham, Isleham	60 min	37 min	£365k	15 min	13 min	Low	3.9 / 10
Houghton, Hemingford & Fenstanton, Hemingford Grey	60 min	29 min	£370k	12 min	12 min	Very low	5.4 / 10
Letchworth Grange, Letchworth	55 min	44 min	£376k	7 min	10 min	Average	4.9 / 10
Cambourne, Cambourne	44 min	22 min	£378k	10 min	6 min	Low	5.6 / 10

Questions

Where can I live within an hour of Cambridge?

66 neighbourhoods in England are within 60 minutes of Cambridge door to door by train, 34 within 45 minutes and 22 within 30. The commuter towns table above lists the towns, quickest first.

What are the best places to live for families commuting to Cambridge?

The lists above rank neighbourhoods at each commute time on a family score: how far it is to walk to a Good or Outstanding primary school, how far to drive to a Good or Outstanding secondary, recorded crime and deprivation. Within 45 minutes, the top is Sawston.

Where is cheapest to live with good schools within an hour of Cambridge?

Of the neighbourhoods within 60 minutes with a Good or better primary within a 15-minute walk, a Good or better secondary within a 15-minute drive and average or lower crime, the cheapest typical home price is in South Newmarket & Racecourse (£274k).

How are the commute times worked out?

Door to door at the morning peak. By train: getting from homes to the neighbourhood's best station (walking, or driving and parking where the station is more than 20 minutes' walk), the typical train leaving between 07:00 and 08:45 including the wait, then the walk from the arrival station. The fastest train on a line is often a few minutes quicker. Car times are a typical drive without rush-hour traffic, so expect longer at peak times.

Family score: each neighbourhood's place in England (0 to 10) on walking time to a Good or Outstanding primary, driving time to a Good or Outstanding secondary, recorded crime and deprivation, averaged. School times are from the middle of the neighbourhood. Prices are typical sales over the latest 12 months.