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Living in Canterbury

Canterbury is a city in the United Kingdom. Its population was 55,090 at the end of 2021. The regional median gross salary was €2,929 per month at the end of 2024. An unemployment rate of 3.3% was measured at the end of 2023.

Which United Kingdom-wide rules apply when you move to Canterbury?

National rules stay on the country page instead of being relabelled as city data.

Visa and entry rulesPassport-specific entry and national residence context.BenefitsCountry-wide eligibility and official application routes.Taxes in United KingdomNational rates and thresholds that apply in Canterbury.Healthcare eligibilityCountry-wide insurance and residence conditions.

Housing and cost

No city-level rent or cost figure is published for Canterbury yet. United Kingdom has country-level context; it is not substituted for this city.

Work and income

Canterbury's employment rate reached 44.9% at the end of 2021. Canterbury had 21,260 at the end of 2021.

Unemployment across cities in United KingdomUnemployment in Canterbury is 3.3%. Of 1,007 cities with data, 657 have unemployment of 2 to under 4%.
unemployment rate, % · measured cities in United Kingdom per band24 cities: 0% to under 2%240–2657 cities: 2% to under 4%6572–4Canterbury 3.3%265 cities: 4% to under 6%2654–649 cities: 6% to under 8%496–87 cities: 8% to under 10%78–104 cities: 10% to under 12%410–121 city: 16% to under 18%116–18

Unemployment rate (%)

MetricValuePeriodSource
Employment rate44.9 %31 Dec 2021Office for National Statistics2Official
Median gross salary (regional)2,929 EUR/month31 Dec 2024Office for National Statistics (ONS)4Official · regional context
Unemployment rate3.3 %31 Dec 2023Office for National Statistics (ONS)5Official · regional context

Public employment service

No exact public employment office is currently linked to Canterbury. The verified national service may still offer online registration, job search or an official office finder.

Country-level information

Jobcentre Plus — Public employment service

Department for Work and Pensions

Job SearchUnemployment Claim
Open official service
Open the United Kingdom service overview

Country-level service information is not treated as proof of a physical office in Canterbury. Sources checked through 10 Aug 2026.

Family and education

MetricValuePeriodSource
Primary School Count30 count3 Aug 2026Department for Education (GIAS)1Official
School Count54 count3 Aug 2026Department for Education (GIAS)1Official

Mobility and administration

Canterbury's nearest airport was SEN, 42 km away and offered 14 direct destinations.

MetricValuePeriodSource
Airport Direct Destinations Count14 count3 Aug 2026OpenFlights8Official
Nearest Major Airport Distance Km42 km3 Aug 2026OurAirports9Official
Nearest Major Airport IataSEN3 Aug 2026OurAirports9Official

Climate and air quality

Monthly mean temperature moved from 5.1°C in January to 17.9°C in July.

Temperature through the yearAverage daytime high and night-time low, °C
Canterbury average monthly daytime high and night-time low temperature, °C0°10°20°30°JFMAMJJASOND22°2°Daytime highNight-time low
Rainfall through the yearAverage monthly precipitation, mm
Canterbury average monthly precipitation, mm020406080514136384847475149746963JFMAMJJASONDmm
Sunshine through the yearAverage monthly sunshine, hours
Canterbury average monthly sunshine, hours06513019526066841351962312352432251721227760JFMAMJJASONDhours
Air quality vs health guidelinesAnnual means against WHO 2021 guidelines and EU legal limits
Canterbury annual air pollutant levels against WHO 2021 guidelines and EU legal limitsCity valueWHO guidelineEU limit5256.7PM2.5µg/m³

City values from the published air-quality observations. WHO 2021 guidelines and EU limit values are published constants.

PM2.5 across cities in United KingdomAnnual PM2.5 in Canterbury is 6.7 µg/m³. Of 864 cities with data, 448 have annual PM2.5 of 6 to under 7 µg/m³.
annual PM2.5, µg/m³ · measured cities in United Kingdom per band1 city: 3 µg/m³ to under 4 µg/m³13–428 cities: 4 µg/m³ to under 5 µg/m³284–5203 cities: 5 µg/m³ to under 6 µg/m³2035–6448 cities: 6 µg/m³ to under 7 µg/m³4486–7Canterbury 6.7174 cities: 7 µg/m³ to under 8 µg/m³1747–88 cities: 8 µg/m³ to under 9 µg/m³88–91 city: 9 µg/m³ to under 10 µg/m³19–101 city: 13 µg/m³ to under 14 µg/m³113–14

Annual PM2.5 (µg/m³)

MetricValuePeriodSource
PM2.5 — annual mean6.73 µg/m³31 Dec 2024uk-air.defra.gov.uk10Official source, approximated value · Supplemental context
Average daytime high by monthJan 7.6 · Feb 7.9 · Mar 10.3 · Apr 13.2 · May 16.3 · Jun 19.5 · Jul 22.1 · Aug 22.2 · Sep 19.2 · Oct 15.1 · Nov 11 · Dec 8.3 °C31 Dec 1991World Meteorological Organization / NOAA NCEI11Official · nearest-station reading
Average night-time low by monthJan 2.6 · Feb 2.4 · Mar 3.9 · Apr 5.8 · May 8.7 · Jun 11.4 · Jul 13.7 · Aug 14 · Sep 11.9 · Oct 9.1 · Nov 5.6 · Dec 3.2 °C31 Dec 1991World Meteorological Organization / NOAA NCEI12Official · nearest-station reading
Average temperature by monthJan 5.1 · Feb 5.2 · Mar 7.1 · Apr 9.5 · May 12.5 · Jun 15.4 · Jul 17.9 · Aug 18.1 · Sep 15.5 · Oct 12.1 · Nov 8.3 · Dec 5.8 °C31 Dec 1991World Meteorological Organization / NOAA NCEI13Official · nearest-station reading
Average precipitation by monthJan 51.2 · Feb 41 · Mar 36.1 · Apr 37.8 · May 47.6 · Jun 46.5 · Jul 47.4 · Aug 50.7 · Sep 48.8 · Oct 73.7 · Nov 69.3 · Dec 62.6 mm31 Dec 1991World Meteorological Organization / NOAA NCEI14Official · nearest-station reading
Average sunshine by monthJan 65.6 · Feb 84.1 · Mar 134.5 · Apr 195.8 · May 230.8 · Jun 235.4 · Jul 242.7 · Aug 225.3 · Sep 172.2 · Oct 122.3 · Nov 77.3 · Dec 60 hours31 Dec 1991World Meteorological Organization / NOAA NCEI15Official · nearest-station reading

Cities of a similar size in United Kingdom

Closest published populations, for a like-for-like comparison.

All United Kingdom cities
Barrow in Furness55,255 residentsBrentwood55,340 residentsWeymouth55,535 residentsWellingborough54,425 residentsSittingbourne54,390 residentsMacclesfield54,345 residents

Population and city profile

Median age stood at 27 years at the end of 2021.

MetricValuePeriodSource
Population55,090 people31 Dec 2021Office for National Statistics3Official

International community in Canterbury

Named groups from exact city-grain official distributions. Citizenship, birthplace, language and ancestry answer different questions and stay separate.

Country of birth

Usual residents living in the individual ONS Built-up Area on Census Day 21 March 2021 · 2021 Census

Published groupPeopleShare
Europe: United Kingdom41,88076.0%
Non-EU countries (including British Overseas)7,66013.9%
Europe: EU countries5,55510.1%

Largest published groups; zero-count groups are omitted. Dimensions are source-native and are never merged. Official source7

Is Canterbury a good place to live?

There is no universal answer. The profile scores below show who the available published evidence may suit; they are a decision aid, not a personal recommendation.

Try your profile
Remote worker34%strong on work, weak on safety · range 23–45%
Skilled employee52%strong on work, weak on safety · range 42–62%
Student53%strong on education, weak on safety · range 43–63%
Family64%strong on family, weak on safety · range 53–75%
Retirement49%strong on air quality, weak on admin · range 35–63%
Population55,090 people31 Dec 2021Official source · Office for National Statistics
Employment rate44.9 %31 Dec 2021Official source · Office for National Statistics
Median gross salary (regional)2,929 EUR/month31 Dec 2024Official source · Office for National Statistics (ONS)
Unemployment rate3.3 %31 Dec 2023Official source · Office for National Statistics (ONS)
PM2.5 — annual mean6.73 µg/m³31 Dec 2024Official source · uk-air.defra.gov.uk
Median age27 years31 Dec 2021Official source · Office for National Statistics
Every value keeps its source, geographic scope and verification date · Last checked 2026-08-26

Additional context

MetricValuePeriodSource
G07 Bachelors Or Higher Share Pct36.1 %31 Dec 2021Office for National Statistics2Official
G09 Total Workers 16plus21,260 workers31 Dec 2021Office for National Statistics2Official
Median age27 years31 Dec 2021Office for National Statistics2Official
Universities2 count3 Aug 2026Office for Students6Official

Yes — migrants can receive medical care in Canterbury under the national coverage rules.

Healthcare access follows the country-wide insurance rules; local capacity facts remain city data and are not used as proof of eligibility.

Open the official coverage guide
Country rule verified 2026-08-03.

Common questions

Answered from the published values on this page, each with its source and date.

What is the typical salary around Canterbury?

The median gross salary is 2,929 EUR/month. Source: Office for National Statistics (ONS).

What is the unemployment rate in Canterbury?

The unemployment rate is 3.3 %. Source: Office for National Statistics (ONS).

Is the air quality good in Canterbury?

The annual PM2.5 mean is 6.73 µg/m³. The WHO 2021 guideline is 5 µg/m³ and the EU limit value is 25 µg/m³, so this reading is above the WHO guideline but within the EU limit. This is a supplemental estimate, not an official municipal measurement. Source: uk-air.defra.gov.uk.

How many people live in Canterbury?

The published population is 55,090 people. Source: Office for National Statistics.

Is Canterbury a good place to live?

Canterbury may suit different people for different reasons. The page's profile scores compare published cost, work, housing, safety, healthcare and other available factors; they are a decision aid, not a universal recommendation.

How many people born in Europe: EU countries live in Canterbury?

The official country of birth distribution records 5,555 people (10.1%) in the source-defined population for 2021 Census. This is a country of birth measure, not a general estimate of ethnicity or migration status.

Cite this page

Open a format to select or copy this ImmigrationDB compilation citation. The native disclosure and text fallback work without JavaScript.

APA citation
ImmigrationDB. (2026, September 14). Canterbury, United Kingdom: salary, jobs, air quality [ImmigrationDB compilation; snapshot approved-static-8975a8c3d87026ab; version approved-static-8975a8c3d87026ab]. ImmigrationDB. https://immigrationdb.com/cities/uk/canterbury/ Retrieved 2026-09-14. Compilation license: CC BY 4.0, https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
BibTeX citation
@misc{immigrationdb_immigrationdb_canterbury-united-kingdom-salary-jobs-air-quality_e5ec1178282f,
  author = {ImmigrationDB},
  title = {Canterbury, United Kingdom: salary, jobs, air quality},
  publisher = {ImmigrationDB},
  year = {2026},
  date = {2026-09-14},
  version = {approved-static-8975a8c3d87026ab},
  snapshot = {approved-static-8975a8c3d87026ab},
  url = {https://immigrationdb.com/cities/uk/canterbury/},
  note = {Retrieved 2026-09-14. ImmigrationDB compilation. Compilation license: CC BY 4.0, https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/},
}
Markdown citation
[Canterbury, United Kingdom: salary, jobs, air quality](https://immigrationdb.com/cities/uk/canterbury/) — ImmigrationDB; ImmigrationDB; snapshot approved-static-8975a8c3d87026ab; version approved-static-8975a8c3d87026ab; retrieved 2026-09-14; built 2026-09-14.

This citation identifies the ImmigrationDB compilation/page. Underlying source publishers and datasets retain their own terms; inspect the Sources section and cite those records separately. View the underlying source records.

Sources

JSON Markdown
  1. Department for Education (GIAS) get-information-schools.service.gov.uk · checked 2026-08-03
  2. Office for National Statistics ons.gov.uk · checked 2026-08-07
  3. Office for National Statistics ons.gov.uk · checked 2026-08-04
  4. Office for National Statistics (ONS) ons.gov.uk · checked 2026-08-06
  5. Office for National Statistics (ONS) ons.gov.uk · checked 2026-08-06
  6. Office for Students officeforstudents.org.uk · checked 2026-08-03
  7. ONS Census 2021 BUA row and ONS/OS BUA 2022 geometry for Abbots Langley and Kings Langley ons.gov.uk · checked 2026-07-06
  8. OpenFlights raw.githubusercontent.com · checked 2026-08-03
  9. OurAirports davidmegginson.github.io · checked 2026-08-03
  10. uk-air.defra.gov.uk uk-air.defra.gov.uk · checked 2026-08-26
Show 5 more sources
  1. World Meteorological Organization / NOAA NCEI nodc.noaa.gov · checked 2026-08-05
  2. World Meteorological Organization / NOAA NCEI nodc.noaa.gov · checked 2026-08-05
  3. World Meteorological Organization / NOAA NCEI nodc.noaa.gov · checked 2026-08-05
  4. World Meteorological Organization / NOAA NCEI nodc.noaa.gov · checked 2026-08-05
  5. World Meteorological Organization / NOAA NCEI nodc.noaa.gov · checked 2026-08-05

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