Care homes in Swaffham
5 homes
There are 5 care homes in and around Swaffham on AskBart. 60% of those rated by the CQC are Good or Outstanding, against 79% nationally (CQC data, September 2026). The largest is The Paddocks Care Home, with 100 beds. The most recent inspection was at Holmwood House Care Centre in December 2020.
- care homes
- 5
- rated Good or Outstanding by CQC
- 60%
Free, independent advice from Janet, Claire and the AskBart teamHow we check our information

Care homes in Swaffham (5)
All within 3 miles · nearest first · updated October 2026
- Outstanding
- Good
- Requires improvement
- Inadequate
Top-rated in Swaffham
Rated Outstanding by the Care Quality Commission, its highest rating.
Distance from the town centre: 0.7 mi
Distance from the town centre: 0.8 miOverwhelmed by choice?
Ask Bart anything now, or leave your number and a person calls you back within one working day. Free.
Distance from the town centre: 0.8 mi
Distance from the town centre: 0.9 miCompare every home in Swaffham in one table
| Distance | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Holmwood House Care Centre | Good · Aug 2019 | On request | 62 | 12.9 mi | — | 0.8 mi |
| Meadow House Nursing Home | Outstanding · Apr 2019 | On request | 38 | 13.2 mi | — | 0.9 mi |
| Swaffham House Care Home | Requires improvement · Nov 2022 | On request | 75 | 12.3 mi | — | 0.1 mi |
| The Paddocks Care Home | Inadequate · Dec 2025 | On request | 100 | 12.6 mi | — | 0.7 mi |
| Westfields | Outstanding · Jan 2019 | On request | 51 | 12.7 mi | — | 0.8 mi |
Fees are the home’s published “from” figure, or an indicative one; “on request” where none is published. Ratings are the regulator’s. Click a heading to sort.
Run a care home or business in Swaffham that’s missing or out of date? Add or update a listing
Swaffham in numbers
60% of Swaffham’s CQC-rated care homes are rated Good or Outstanding, below the England average of 79%, with 2 rated Outstanding. Based on 5 rated homes; England figure from CQC State of Care (2024/25).
What Norfolk council pays care homes, and whether it will help with your fees
| Care homes listed | 5 |
|---|---|
| Rated Good or Outstanding | 3 of 5 (60%) |
| Rated Outstanding | 2 |
| Rated Requires improvement or Inadequate | 2 |
| Norfolk usual weekly rate (2025) | £1,015 |
| Largest | The Paddocks Care Home (100 beds) |
| Most recently inspected | Holmwood House Care Centre (December 2020) |
| Homes by care type | Residential 1 · Nursing 2 · Dementia 1 |
| Average house price, Breckland (HM Land Registry, June 2026) | £273,851 |
Fees: averages of the weekly fees published by the homes listed here and across Norfolk. UK average: published residential fees across all homes on AskBart. Actual costs vary with care needs and room.
See how care is funded or compare a care home with care at home.
Guides: Residential care homes · Nursing homes · Dementia care homes
Data: CQC register, updated September 2026. Figures are for the homes listed on this page.
House prices in Breckland
The average house price in Breckland is £273,851, based on HM Land Registry data. The graph shows sold-price trends by property type over the last 30 years.
Average price by property type
- All property types
- £273,851
- Detached
- £374,751
- Semi-detached
- £244,049
- Terraced
- £195,663
- Flats & maisonettes
- £110,304
Source: HM Land Registry UK House Price Index, to Jun 2026 (Open Government Licence v3.0). Figures are area averages for the wider local authority, not retirement properties specifically.
Living in Swaffham
Swaffham is a modest Norfolk market town with a good share of older residents and solid local services. It offers a quieter pace of life with decent amenities for daily living, though you'll want to check family proximity and explore the available care homes carefully.
- High Retirement Community
What do these badges mean?
- High Retirement Community — An above-average share of residents are aged 65 and over (ONS Census) — often a sign of established later-life communities and services.
Good — quieter than 48% of similar areas for anti-social behaviour & public disorder
Limited — parks, playing fields & outdoor space nearby
Limited — shops, supermarkets & places to eat nearby
Limited — libraries, galleries, museums & community venues nearby
48 crimes reported in July 2026, Police.uk.
- Violent crime15
- Anti-social behaviour15
- Other theft7
- Shoplifting2
How we grade areas
Grades are relative, comparing this area against others of the same type across the UK. Amenity grades are based on OpenStreetMap counts within a fixed radius. The Safety & Peace grade ranks recorded anti-social behaviour and public-disorder incidents (the offences most relevant to a quiet neighbourhood) — per head of population where ONS figures are available, otherwise by count. Scottish towns are graded against other Scottish towns, from Police Scotland’s 12-month figures for the council wards they sit in, per head of those wards’ population (National Records of Scotland). Figures are estimates to aid research, not a substitute for visiting an area.
Sources — crime: Police.uk, Jul 2026; amenities: OpenStreetMap, updated October 2026.
Is Swaffham a good retirement location?
Read our guide to living in Swaffham
Swaffham suits those seeking a small-town retirement with room to walk and a strong over-65 population — one in four residents are pensioners, well above the national average. It has everyday shops, a range of cafes and pubs, and access to green space. It's not a large or cosmopolitan place, so suit yourself to quieter living and be prepared to travel for specialist services or family visits to larger towns.
Health & support
- Medical access: Check GP surgery and pharmacy locations with your chosen care home; the nearest major hospital will likely require a short drive or bus journey into Norfolk.
- Safety: Recorded crime is low at 32 offences in the latest period, though violent crime and anti-social behaviour were among the most common categories — worth asking locals about your specific neighbourhood.
- Family & connection: With a quarter of the population aged 65 or over, you'll find peers and established networks, but consider how far family members live and whether regular visits are realistic for them.
Finances & daily life
- Cost of care: No care-home fees were provided in the data; contact homes directly to compare weekly rates against the current national average and your own budget.
- Transport: Swaffham is a working market town with bus links; it's walkable for daily errands and close enough to larger centres for occasional trips, though a car or reliance on others for travel will broaden your options.
- Housing options: Check what care homes and retirement housing are available locally — the data does not specify the number or type of schemes in the area, so a direct search with the care home directory is essential.
Lifestyle & environment
- Green space & hobbies: Thirty-five parks offer plenty of walking and outdoor activities; sixty restaurants and cafes plus seventeen pubs provide social gathering spots and eating out without travelling far.
- Community: Look for memory cafés, luncheon clubs and social groups through the care home, local churches and community centres; established retirement populations often run active social calendars.
- Climate: Norfolk's climate is typical of East England — relatively dry, cool winters and mild summers, with wind exposure on open ground.
Things to weigh up
- Quieter pace: Swaffham is a small town, not a city; if you thrive on bustle, theatres, museums and varied nightlife, you may find it limiting.
- Care-home availability: No data on the number or type of homes in Swaffham itself; you may need to look across nearby towns, which could affect visiting ease for family.
Questions about care homes in Swaffham
How many care homes are there in Swaffham?
There are 5 care homes listed in and around Swaffham on AskBart. You can filter them by care type, CQC rating and facilities to find the right fit.
Which care homes in Swaffham are rated Outstanding or Good by the CQC?
3 of the 5 care homes in and around Swaffham are rated Good or Outstanding by the Care Quality Commission, including 2 rated Outstanding. Ratings are published by the CQC following regular inspections.
What types of care are available in Swaffham?
Homes in and around Swaffham offer nursing (2), dementia (1), residential (1). Availability varies by home — use the filters above to find homes offering the specific care type you need.
How many care homes in Swaffham offer dementia care?
1 care home in and around Swaffham offer specialist dementia care. Use the dementia filter above to see them, and check each home's CQC report for its record on caring for people living with dementia.
How safe is the Swaffham area?
Swaffham is graded B for safety & peace on AskBart — quieter than 48% of similar areas for anti-social behaviour & public disorder. This is drawn from police-recorded anti-social behaviour and public-order incidents, compared against similar areas.
Weighing up your options in Swaffham?
Care needs change over time. Compare the other kinds of later-life care in Swaffham:
Near Swaffham
- Care homes in Watton 5
- Care homes in Shipdham 2
- Care homes in Mundford 1
- Care homes in Dereham 9
- Care homes in Kings Lynn 8
- Care homes in Fakenham 4
- Care homes in Breckland 17
- Care homes in Bungay 6
- Care homes in Cromer 4
- Care homes in Downham Market 5
- Care homes in Gorleston 1
- Care homes in Great Yarmouth 24
Paying for care? See how care is funded and check what the council may pay.
Guides for families
- How to Choose a Care Home: A Step-by-Step Guide (2026)
- Residential vs Nursing Home: What’s the Difference? (2026)
- Care Home Contracts: What to Check Before You Sign
More in our choosing a care home guides.
Header photo: John Salmon, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons