Postcode sector · Birmingham

B21 8 area guide

Who lives in B21 8, what homes sell for, and how it compares on crime, schools and transport.

Council: Birmingham
Region: West Midlands
Population: 17,334 (2024)

B21 8Postcode sector · Birmingham

At a glance

What B21 8 is like

The B21 8 postcode sector in Birmingham covers 111 live postcodes and is home to about 17,334 people across 10 census neighbourhoods. 47.4% of households own their home, 24.7% rent privately and 26% are in social housing. The biggest age group is 15–19, and 45.3% of adults are in work. It ranks among the more deprived parts of England. Higher-harm crime is in the top bands nationally. Homes in B21 8 sold for a median of £185,000 over the year to August 2026.

Scores

How B21 8 compares

Each figure is set against England as a whole. Follow a score for the detail behind it.

AffluenceMore

1.8/ 10

More deprived than most — decile 1 is the most deprived tenth of England, 10 the least.

CrimeMore

9/ 10

Higher than most — 66.0 higher-harm crimes per 1,000 people a year vs 31.1 nationally.

House pricesMore

£185,000

Median over 35 sales in B21 8, −7.5% on the year before.

TransportMore

8.0/ 10

Excellent — 5 stations within a mile, 37 bus stops within 800m.

SchoolsMore

100%

of 7 rated schools in B21 8 are good or better.

Household incomeMore

£40,028

Average a year, before tax — higher than 11% of neighbourhoods in England and Wales.

What stands out

Worth knowing before you invest

Only flagged where this area is materially different from the national picture.

01
A student area
12.4% of adults are full-time students, against 7.9% across England. Expect HMO demand and term-time turnover.
02
Higher crime than mostLook closer
66.0 higher-harm crimes per 1,000 people a year, against 31.1 across England and Wales.
03
More deprived than mostLook closer
On the English Indices of Deprivation 2025 it averages decile 1.8 of 10. Yields can be higher, but check tenant demand street by street.
04
A big private rental marketPositive
24.7% of households rent privately, against 20.5% across England. Tenant demand is established here.
05
A lot of social housingLook closer
26% of homes are social housing, against 17.1% across England.

Questions

B21 8 FAQs

Is B21 8 a good place to live?

Deprivation, crime, schools and transport at a glance.

On the English Indices of Deprivation 2025 it averages decile 1.8 of 10, where 10 is the least deprived tenth of England. Higher-harm crime runs at 66.0 per 1,000 people a year, band 9 of 10 nationally. 100% of the inspected schools nearby are rated good or better. Transport connectivity scores 8.0 out of 10 (excellent).

How much does a house cost in B21 8?

The median sale price over the last year was £185,000.

Homes in B21 8 sold for a median of £185,000 across 35 sales in the year to August 2026, −7.5% on the year before. Prices come from HM Land Registry's record of every residential sale.

Is B21 8 safe?

How crime here compares with the rest of the country.

Higher-harm crime — violence, robbery, burglary, vehicle crime and weapons offences — runs at 66.0 offences per 1,000 people a year around B21 8, more than double the 31.1 average across England and Wales, band 9 of 10.

Who lives in B21 8?

Age, home ownership and housing from the census.

The biggest age group is 15–19, at 7.6% of residents. 47.4% of households own their home. The most common home is semi-detached (34.6%).

Which council covers B21 8?

B21 8 is in Birmingham.

B21 8 is in Birmingham, in West Midlands. Council tax, planning applications and bin collections are handled there.

How well connected is B21 8?

Connectivity scores 8.0 out of 10.

There are 37 bus stops within 800m and 5 stations and tram stops within a mile, scoring 8.0 out of 10 (excellent). The nearest station is Handsworth Booth Street (West Midlands Metro), 0.6 miles away.

Sources: Census 2021 (ONS); ONS mid-year population estimates; police recorded crime; the English, Welsh and Scottish indices of deprivation; ONS small area income estimates; ONS private rents; DfE, Welsh and Scottish school registers and Ofsted; DfT NaPTAN; ORR estimates of station usage; HM Land Registry Price Paid Data. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Contains OS data © Crown copyright and database right.

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