You need a car
Well I live local'ish to Marham...............
There's good news and bad news:
Bad
It's isolated and the bus service is poor
Local shops - limited (within 5 miles)
No local pub
Winter can be bleak - those Easterlies (Brrr)
Not sure about local schools
Lots of Eastern Europeans - sometimes you can be the only English speaker in the bus queue...............
Local wages are not good - if your wife was thinking of a part time job.......
Long term prospects for kids are limited...............
You really do need a car
Good
MQ's now largely upgraded
Broadband as good as anywhere outside a major town
A47 means reasonable transit times to Kings Lynn and Norwich (20 mins to KL and 40 to Norwich)
Shops in KL much improved
Norwich Shopping very good now
Swaffham is Ok for a bit of local shopping
Norwich clubbing is OK now (if that is your thing)
Trains to London or the North from Downham Market
Norfolk Coast & Broads not far
Good Fishing at Pentney
Good Sea and Beach Fishing
Good Boating
Good golf (plenty of choice)
Lots of Country Fayres and stuff in the summer
Growing number of outdoor concerts and festivals in summer
Lots of National Trust Properties
Good place to have a dog
Great if you like walking
Multiple sports clubs (some small and friendly, some big and impersonal)
You will find the villages very friendly and the schools generally OK.
You need a car
East Anglia is family friendly
I brought my house from an Ex-Plumber (in Dereham) and my neighbour was a sparky on Tornadoes, they both chose to commute daily (approx. 25 mins e/w) as they felt it was easier to get to Norwich and other towns from here, and there are a better choice of schools in Dereham (6 x pre-schools, 4 x Primary and 2 x Secondary)
Most of the old perspective on East Anglia is out of date, the place is changing........
Hope this helps.
Did I say you need a car ????
Arc