LocaleIQ

Local reports for real address decisions.

Best Areas To Live

Best Areas to Live in Rotherham (2026)

South YorkshireData checked against live LocaleIQ ranking for Rotherham on 28 March 2026.

The best areas to live in Rotherham in 2026 are Hoober, Aston & Todwick, Thurcroft & Wickersley South, based on safety, schools, and neighbourhood wellbeing data from LocaleIQ.

Explore the full Rotherham map Check your postcode
Best city sectorHoober (S35 2)Hoober currently leads Rotherham on 73.9 (Top 7%).Safest shortlist pickAston & Todwick (S26 2)Aston & Todwick is the current safety leader among the strongest sectors.Best value shortlistHoober (S35 2)Hoober looks stronger on score-versus-price than the most expensive winners.Needs most cautionBoston Castle (S60 9)Boston Castle is the softest current sector and needs postcode-by-postcode checking before any move decision.

Short answer

Quick answer: where to live in Rotherham

Hoober is currently the strongest all-round area in Rotherham. After that, the most practical shortlist is Aston & Todwick, Thurcroft & Wickersley South, Bramley & Ravenfield, Rother Vale, while Boston Castle needs extra caution before committing.

  • Best overall: Hoober.
  • Best for families: Aston & Todwick, Bramley & Ravenfield, Thurcroft & Wickersley South.
  • Safest current shortlist: Aston & Todwick, Wales, Bramley & Ravenfield, Wales.
  • Best for young professionals: Rother Vale, Sitwell, Boston Castle.
  • Cheapest areas: Boston Castle, Wath, Wath.
  • Best value shortlist: Hoober, Aston & Todwick, Thurcroft & Wickersley South.
  • Best outer alternatives: Wales, Anston & Woodsetts, Wales.
  • Classic areas people still search for: Wickersley, Bramley, Maltby, Kimberworth.

Top-ranked areas in Rotherham

Live LocaleIQ ranking by postcode sector — with score breakdown, typical sold prices where we have them, and what actually drives each place up or down the table. Median price is from recent sales in that sector, not a forecast.

73.9Top 7%
#1
S35 2Hoober
Median sold price£187k
Why it ranks

Hoober is one of the more affordable options while still keeping a reliable all-round profile for buyers on a tighter budget.

Best for: value-seekers who still want a solid area score. The obvious compromise is property, which is weaker here than in the strongest sectors.

Safety
81
Education
48
Wellbeing
94
Property
43
Employment
58

Top school match for this sector

  • Wath AcademySecondary · Inspection Good · LocaleIQ 78.3 · Top 22% nationallyNo school in our sample matched this postcode sector (some prefixes have no listed schools) — example from the wider area on this page.
  • Whiston Worrygoose Junior and Infant SchoolPrimary · Inspection Outstanding · LocaleIQ 99.1 · Top 1% nationallyNo school in our sample matched this postcode sector (some prefixes have no listed schools) — example from the wider area on this page.
Map S35 2AA postcode analysis
73.6Top 7%
#2
S26 2Aston & Todwick
Median sold price£215k
Why it ranks

Aston & Todwick is one of the more affordable options while still keeping a reliable all-round profile for buyers on a tighter budget.

Best for: value-seekers who still want a solid area score. The obvious compromise is property, which is weaker here than in the strongest sectors.

Safety
94
Education
52
Wellbeing
83
Property
30
Employment
55

Top school match for this sector

Map S26 2AA postcode analysis
73Top 8%
#3
S66 1Thurcroft & Wickersley South
Median sold price£285k
Why it ranks

Thurcroft & Wickersley South is one of the more affordable options while still keeping a reliable all-round profile for buyers on a tighter budget.

Best for: value-seekers who still want a solid area score. The obvious compromise is property, which is weaker here than in the strongest sectors.

Safety
82
Education
59
Wellbeing
83
Property
50
Employment
56

Top school match for this sector

Map S66 1AA postcode analysis
71.9Top 10%
#4
S66 3Bramley & Ravenfield
Median sold price£234k
Why it ranks

Bramley & Ravenfield is one of the more affordable options while still keeping a reliable all-round profile for buyers on a tighter budget.

Best for: value-seekers who still want a solid area score. The obvious compromise is property, which is weaker here than in the strongest sectors.

Safety
92
Education
51
Wellbeing
72
Property
50
Employment
56

Top school match for this sector

Map S66 3AA postcode analysis
68.9Top 14%
#5
S60 8Rother Vale
Median sold price£285k
Why it ranks

Rother Vale offers a lively local market with strong day-to-day convenience, good transport links, and consistent demand from working professionals.

Best for: value-seekers who still want a solid area score. The obvious compromise is education, which is weaker here than in the strongest sectors.

Safety
68
Education
44
Wellbeing
89
Property
74
Employment
67

Top school match for this sector

Map S60 8AA postcode analysis
67.4Top 18%
#6
S25 5Anston & Woodsetts
Median sold price£312k
Why it ranks

Anston & Woodsetts is one of the more affordable options while still keeping a reliable all-round profile for buyers on a tighter budget.

Best for: value-seekers who still want a solid area score. The obvious compromise is property, which is weaker here than in the strongest sectors.

Safety
87
Education
31
Wellbeing
83
Property
20
Employment
53

Top school match for this sector

Map S25 5AA postcode analysis
64.1Top 25%
#7
S60 4Sitwell
Median sold price£207k
Why it ranks

Sitwell is one of the more affordable options while still keeping a reliable all-round profile for buyers on a tighter budget.

Best for: value-seekers who still want a solid area score. The obvious compromise is wellbeing, which is weaker here than in the strongest sectors.

Safety
68
Education
66
Wellbeing
56
Property
74
Employment
56

Top school match for this sector

Map S60 4AA postcode analysis
63Top 28%
#8
S26 7Wales
Median sold price£300k
Why it ranks

Wales is one of the more affordable options while still keeping a reliable all-round profile for buyers on a tighter budget.

Best for: value-seekers who still want a solid area score. The obvious compromise is property, which is weaker here than in the strongest sectors.

Safety
92
Education
45
Wellbeing
44
Property
30
Employment
59

Top school match for this sector

Map S26 7AB postcode analysis
63Top 28%
#9
S26 6Wales
Median sold price£180k
Why it ranks

Wales is one of the more affordable options while still keeping a reliable all-round profile for buyers on a tighter budget.

Best for: value-seekers who still want a solid area score. The obvious compromise is property, which is weaker here than in the strongest sectors.

Safety
89
Education
42
Wellbeing
50
Property
30
Employment
58

Top school match for this sector

Map S26 6AA postcode analysis
62.9Top 29%
#10
S60 3Boston Castle
Median sold price£260k
Why it ranks

Boston Castle is one of the more affordable options while still keeping a reliable all-round profile for buyers on a tighter budget.

Best for: value-seekers who still want a solid area score. The obvious compromise is employment, which is weaker here than in the strongest sectors.

Safety
59
Education
61
Wellbeing
67
Property
74
Employment
51

Top school match for this sector

Map S60 3AA postcode analysis

Areas that need closer checking

Not blanket avoid calls — but the score gap is visible, so check at postcode level.

SectorAreaScoreRankWhy it needs more scrutiny
S60 9Boston Castle23.6Bottom 1%Boston Castle is being dragged down by wellbeing and social rented mix.
S65 1Boston Castle27.9Bottom 2%Boston Castle is being dragged down by wellbeing and social rented mix.
S62 6Rawmarsh East30.4Bottom 3%Rawmarsh East is being dragged down by social rented mix and wellbeing.
S65 2Boston Castle32.9Bottom 5%Boston Castle is being dragged down by wellbeing and social rented mix.
S60 1Boston Castle33.6Bottom 5%Boston Castle is being dragged down by wellbeing and social rented mix.
S66 7Tickhill & Wadsworth34Bottom 6%Tickhill & Wadsworth is being dragged down by wellbeing and education.

How Rotherham splits

What the Rotherham market is really splitting on

Eastern growth, western corridors, and older industrial pockets diverge sharply. Right now the leading sectors are S35 2, S26 2, S66 1, S66 3, which is why this page stays at sector level first instead of repeating one broad reputation line.

Where buyers are most likely to get misled

Caution sectors are where softer signals stack with affordability in visible ways. In the current table the weaker end is led by S60 9, with S65 1, S62 6, S65 2 also needing much harder postcode-level checking.

Why the shortlist changes once value enters the picture

Smart value is where discounting tracks fundamentals rather than masking them. That is why a value-aware shortlist usually ends up including sectors such as S35 2, S26 2, S66 1 rather than simply the cheapest addresses.

Schools in Rotherham

Secondary schools

Best secondary schools to cross-check against Rotherham postcode choices
SchoolLocaleIQ scoreInspectionWhy it matters
Wath Academy78.3GoodAttainment 8 47.8, Basics 94 65.0%
Oakwood High School77.8GoodAttainment 8 47.5, Basics 94 65.7%
Winterhill School75.3GoodAttainment 8 39.3, Basics 94 58.1%
St Bernard's Catholic High School74.6GoodAttainment 8 48.9, Basics 94 66.3%

Primary schools

Best primary schools to compare with Rotherham's strongest sectors
SchoolLocaleIQ scoreInspectionWhy it matters
Whiston Worrygoose Junior and Infant School99.1OutstandingKS2 expected 93%, higher 30%
Herringthorpe Junior School99OutstandingKS2 expected 85%, higher 18%
Aston Fence Junior and Infant School95.2OutstandingKS2 expected 83%, higher 10%
Thorpe Hesley Primary School91.5OutstandingKS2 expected 62%, higher 14%

Shortlists by use case

Best Rotherham areas for families

Families often weigh village-facing belts against M1-side practicality. In the current data that points most clearly to S26 2, S66 3, S66 1.

  • S26 2: safety 93.8, education 52.4, overall 73.6.
  • S66 3: safety 91.5, education 50.8, overall 71.9.
  • S66 1: safety 81.5, education 58.5, overall 73.
S26 2AA postcode analysis S66 3AA postcode analysis S66 1AA postcode analysis

Best Rotherham areas for schools

Rotherham schools need sector pairing; borough reputation is not granular enough. In the current school snapshot, the strongest names to cross-check first are Wath Academy, Oakwood High School, Whiston Worrygoose Junior and Infant School, Herringthorpe Junior School.

  • Wath Academy is the strongest current secondary in this city-level sample.
  • Whiston Worrygoose Junior and Infant School is the strongest current primary in this city-level sample.
  • The highest-scoring residential sector is not always the same place as the strongest nearby school.
Wath Academy Oakwood High School Whiston Worrygoose Junior and Infant School Herringthorpe Junior School

Best Rotherham areas for young professionals

If jobs access, rental demand and property liquidity matter most, start with Rother Vale (S60 8), Sitwell (S60 4), Boston Castle (S60 3).

  • Rother Vale (S60 8): employment 67.4, property 74, overall 68.9.
  • Sitwell (S60 4): employment 55.6, property 74, overall 64.1.
  • Boston Castle (S60 3): employment 50.5, property 74, overall 62.9.
Rother Vale on the map Sitwell on the map Boston Castle on the map

Areas to avoid in Rotherham

No area should be ruled out blindly, but these sectors currently need the most caution before you commit to viewings: Boston Castle (S60 9), Boston Castle (S65 1), Rawmarsh East (S62 6), Boston Castle (S65 2).

  • Boston Castle (S60 9): overall 23.6; weaker on wellbeing and social rented mix.
  • Boston Castle (S65 1): overall 27.9; weaker on wellbeing and social rented mix.
  • Rawmarsh East (S62 6): overall 30.4; weaker on social rented mix and wellbeing.
  • Boston Castle (S65 2): overall 32.9; weaker on wellbeing and social rented mix.
S60 9BD postcode analysis S65 1AA postcode analysis S62 6AA postcode analysis S65 2AA postcode analysis

Classic Rotherham areas people ask about

These areas are popular in search and local conversations even when they are not always top in the score table: Wickersley, Bramley, Maltby, Kimberworth.

  • Wickersley: closest current sector match is S66 1 (score 73).
  • Bramley: closest current sector match is S66 3 (score 71.9).
  • Maltby: closest current sector match is S66 8 (score 53.3).
  • Kimberworth: include this in your shortlist, then verify the exact postcode on the map.
Thurcroft & Wickersley South (S66 1) Bramley & Ravenfield (S66 3) Hellaby & Maltby West (S66 8)

Best outer areas near Rotherham

Peak-edge and Doncaster-side fringes matter when you want calmer scores. Right now the sectors worth checking first are S26 7, S25 5, S26 6.

  • S26 7: about 8.4 miles from the city anchor, score 63.
  • S25 5: about 7.0 miles from the city anchor, score 67.4.
  • S26 6: about 6.9 miles from the city anchor, score 63.
S26 7 on the map S25 5 on the map S26 6 on the map

Explore further

Explore Rotherham sectors on the mapCompare Rotherham sectors visually before you narrow to an exact address.Check S35 2AAOpen the strongest current postcode example.Check S60 9BDSee why one of the weaker sectors needs closer checking.Browse schools mapCompare school performance separately from postcode score.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Rotherham a good place to live?

Rotherham has strong and weak pockets, which is why sector and postcode-level ranking matters. The current top shortlists are Hoober (S35 2), Aston & Todwick (S26 2), Thurcroft & Wickersley South (S66 1), Bramley & Ravenfield (S66 3), Rother Vale (S60 8).

Where is safest in Rotherham?

Aston & Todwick (S26 2, safety 93.8), Wales (S26 7, safety 91.7), Bramley & Ravenfield (S66 3, safety 91.5), Wales (S26 6, safety 89.4) are the strongest current safety-led options.

What areas should I avoid in Rotherham?

Treat Boston Castle (S60 9), Boston Castle (S65 1), Rawmarsh East (S62 6), Boston Castle (S65 2) as caution-first sectors. They are not automatic no-go zones, but they need postcode-level checking before any move decision.

What is the best area to live in Rotherham in 2026?

Right now the top pick is Hoober (S35 2) on 73.9. The more practical shortlist is Hoober (S35 2), Aston & Todwick (S26 2), Thurcroft & Wickersley South (S66 1), Bramley & Ravenfield (S66 3), Rother Vale (S60 8).

What are the best value areas in Rotherham?

Hoober (S35 2, score 73.9), Aston & Todwick (S26 2, score 73.6), Thurcroft & Wickersley South (S66 1, score 73) are the strongest current value-led sectors because they hold up better on score than their price suggests.

Which outer areas near Rotherham look strongest right now?

Wales (S26 7, score 63), Anston & Woodsetts (S25 5, score 67.4), Wales (S26 6, score 63) are the strongest current outer-market options in the live table.

How should I use this Rotherham ranking before I move?

Use the sector table to build a shortlist, then open the exact postcode you are considering. Rotherham is too granular for a broad city-level answer to be enough on its own.

Compare Rotherham on the map, then check the exact postcode

The fastest way to use this page is to shortlist sectors first, then open the exact address you are considering. That is where the real move trade-offs show up.

Explore the full Rotherham map Check your postcode