Living in Norfolk

Norfolk is a county in the east of England, known for its wide open landscapes, long coastline and strong agricultural traditions. Much of the county is low lying, with farmland, river valleys and expansive skies giving it a distinctive sense of space. Its coastline along the North Sea, with beaches, dunes and marshland, has played an important role in shaping local life and settlement.

The county includes towns and cities such as Norwich, King’s Lynn, Great Yarmouth and Thetford, each serving different parts of the area. Norwich acts as the county’s main centre for administration, education and culture, while coastal towns developed through fishing, trade and tourism. Across Norfolk, market towns and villages remain central to everyday life, supporting farming, local services and close knit communities.

Norfolk is particularly associated with its natural environment, including the Broads, a network of rivers and waterways that support wildlife and leisure activity. Walking, boating and cycling are widely enjoyed, often in quiet and scenic surroundings. Overall, Norfolk offers a calm and enduring mix of rural landscape, coastal influence and historic settlement, giving it a distinctive and well rooted place within England.

Largest Towns in Norfolk 12

Norwich
341.2K
King's Lynn
109.1K
Great Yarmouth
100.7K
Wisbech
56K
Thetford
55K
Ely
26.7K
Beccles
22.4K
Diss
21.7K
Norwich, Dereham
20.3K
Dereham
19.1K
Brandon
19K
Norwich, Wymondham
17.5K

Location

Elevation & Terrain

Lowest point Barroway Drove — -7 ft (-2 m)
Highest point Swanton Novers — 315 ft (96 m)
Average across towns 98 ft (30 m)
Elevation range 322 ft (98 m)

Norfolk stretches from -7 ft at Barroway Drove up to 315 ft at Swanton Novers, a span of 322 ft across 1,046 towns and villages. This reflects gently undulating terrain, with modest variation between lower and higher places.

Deprivation Index (IMD)

Average deprivation scores across 51 postcode areas in Norfolk. Higher deciles (closer to 10) indicate less deprivation.

Overall Deprivation
5/10
Income
6/10
Employment
6/10
Education
4/10
Health
6/10
Housing
4/10
Environment
5/10
251,780 Children (0-15) 16%
924,955 Working Age 59%
500,777 Older (60+) 32%

Places in Norfolk 1046

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U W Y
Quidenham

Postcode Areas in Norfolk 4

Norfolk is served by 4 postcode areas. Each area contains multiple postcode districts covering different parts of the county.

CB 1 places
IP 116 places
NR 732 places
PE 197 places

Neighbouring Counties 1

Suffolk 33 miles away