West Kent Local News
Revealed: The West Kent parishes paying the highest and lowest council tax in 2026/27
Households across West Kent can face council tax bills that differ by more than £330 a year, depending on where they live.
We analysed the official 2026/27 Band D council tax rates published by Sevenoaks District Council, Tonbridge & Malling Borough Council, Tunbridge Wells Borough Council and Maidstone Borough Council to find out which parishes pay the most and the least.
Band D is the standard measure used by councils across England when comparing council tax levels, making it the fairest way to compare charges between different areas.
The five highest council tax bills
The highest Band D council tax bill in West Kent is found in Bredhurst, in Maidstone borough, where residents will pay £2,673.12 this year.
The five highest charging parishes are:
| Rank | Parish | Borough | Band D |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bredhurst | Maidstone | £2,673.12 |
| 2 | Headcorn | Maidstone | £2,635.50 |
| 3 | Edenbridge | Sevenoaks | £2,614.68 |
| 4 | Lenham | Maidstone | £2,599.94 |
| 5 | Harrietsham | Maidstone | £2,591.63 |
Maidstone Borough accounts for four of the five highest council tax bills across West Kent, with Edenbridge the only Sevenoaks District parish to feature in the top five.
The five lowest council tax bills
At the other end of the table, Frittenden has the lowest Band D council tax bill in West Kent at £2,336.32.
The five lowest council tax bills are:
| Rank | Parish | Borough | Band D |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Frittenden | Tunbridge Wells | £2,336.32 |
| 2 | Benenden | Tunbridge Wells | £2,352.63 |
| 3 | Lamberhurst | Tunbridge Wells | £2,384.79 |
| 4 | Brenchley & Matfield | Tunbridge Wells | £2,391.96 |
| 5 | Speldhurst | Tunbridge Wells | £2,403.01 |
All five of the lowest council tax bills are found within Tunbridge Wells Borough.
How the biggest West Kent towns compare
While parish council charges vary across each district, here's how the main towns compare for a Band D property:
| Town | Borough | Band D |
|---|---|---|
| Edenbridge | Sevenoaks | £2,614.68 |
| Sevenoaks | Sevenoaks | £2,563.23 |
| Paddock Wood | Tunbridge Wells | £2,544.10 |
| Swanley | Sevenoaks | £2,529.03 |
| Maidstone* | Maidstone | £2,454.24 |
| Tonbridge | Tonbridge & Malling | £2,448.53 |
| Royal Tunbridge Wells | Tunbridge Wells | £2,437.55 |
*Maidstone figure relates to the borough's unparished area (Basic Level of Tax). Properties within parish council areas may pay different amounts due to additional parish precepts.
More than £330 separates the highest and lowest
The difference between the highest and lowest Band D council tax bill across West Kent is £336.80 per year.
Although a large proportion of council tax funds services provided by the local authority, Kent Police and Kent Fire and Rescue Service, each parish or town council also sets its own parish precept.
This local element helps pay for facilities and services such as parks, village halls, allotments, cemeteries, community centres, public open spaces, Christmas lights and other local projects.
As a result, residents living only a few miles apart can receive noticeably different council tax bills, even if their homes fall into the same valuation band.
Why does this article compare Band D?
Band D is the standard benchmark used by councils, government and the media when reporting council tax across England. While every property is placed into one of eight valuation bands (A to H), comparing Band D provides a consistent way of measuring council tax levels between different areas.
Sources
This analysis is based on the official 2026/27 council tax schedules published by:
Spotted something we've missed? We've compiled this comparison using official council tax data published by local authorities. If you believe we've made an error or notice something that needs updating, please get in touch and we'll be happy to review it.
