I grew up in Northfleet from age 10, my parents had a pub there. About the only thing good to be said for it is that is isnt quite as bad as Gravesend. Cant help on the accomodation front as I very rarely go back and all my family have moved away.
When I moved to Maidstone I thought I had joined the middle class but that was 20 odd years ago and Maidstone is just as scummy now as Gravesend or Medway but with more Eastern Europeans.
Still if you are used to living near scousers you will consider it Heaven on Earth.