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Affluence in Chelmsford

How Chelmsford ranks on deprivation and income, and the work and qualifications behind it.

Council
Chelmsford
Region
East of England
Population
115,909 (2024)
Deprivation

How well off Chelmsford is

On the English Indices of Deprivation 2025, Chelmsford scores 7.4 out of 10, placing it more affluent than most of England. Scores are ranked within England only, so they can’t be compared across UK nations.

Overall score
7.4/ 10
Most deprivedLeast deprived
Its 70 neighbourhoods, from 1 to 10
12345678910
Most deprivedLeast deprived
By category, lowest first
  • Crime5.4
  • Children in low-income families6.8
  • Income6.8
  • Employment7.0
  • Older people in low-income households7.0
  • Health and disability7.1
  • Education and skills7.2
  • Living environment7.2
  • Barriers to housing and services7.7
Income

Household income

Average yearly household income before tax (2022/23), estimated for local neighbourhoods.

Annual income
£67,100
Before tax, all sources
England
£55,856
Above the national average
Higher than
80%
Of neighbourhoods in England and Wales
Work

Who is in work

61.4% of adults in Chelmsford are in work, broadly in line with the England average of 55.7%. 20.4% are retired and 6.3% are full-time students.

ChelmsfordEngland
Employee, full-time39.8%34.3%
Employee, part-time12.3%11.9%
Self-employed9.3%9.5%
Unemployed2.4%2.9%
Full-time student6.3%7.9%
Retired20.4%21.5%
Looking after home or family4.2%4.8%
Long-term sick or disabled2.6%4.1%
Other2.7%3.1%
Occupations

Social grade

40.4% of adults in Chelmsford work in managerial or professional jobs, above the England average of 33.2%.

ChelmsfordEngland
Higher managerial & professional17.2%13.2%
Lower managerial & professional23.2%19.9%
Intermediate13.4%11.4%
Small employers & self-employed9.6%10.6%
Lower supervisory & technical4.7%5.3%
Semi-routine10.2%11.3%
Routine9.6%12%
Never worked & long-term unemployed6%8.5%
Full-time students6.1%7.7%
Education

Highest qualification

36.3% of adults in Chelmsford hold a degree or equivalent, broadly in line with the England average of 33.9%. 14.4% have no qualifications.

ChelmsfordEngland
Degree level or above36.3%33.9%
A level or equivalent17.2%16.9%
GCSE grade 4/C or above14.5%13.3%
Below GCSE grade 4/C9.9%9.7%
Apprenticeship4.9%5.3%
Other qualifications2.7%2.8%
No qualifications14.4%18.1%

Sources: English Indices of Deprivation 2025; ONS small area income estimates; Census 2021 (ONS). Open Government Licence v3.0.

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