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Postcode area · Colchester

Affluence in CO

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

Council
Colchester
Region
East of England
Population
486,545 (2024)
Deprivation

How well off CO is

On the English Indices of Deprivation 2025, CO scores 5.3 out of 10, placing it close to the middle of the range for England. Its lowest-scoring category is barriers to housing and services (3.8 out of 10). Scores are ranked within England only, so they can’t be compared across UK nations.

Overall score
5.3/ 10
Most deprivedLeast deprived
Its 276 neighbourhoods, from 1 to 10
12345678910
Most deprivedLeast deprived
By category, lowest first
  • Barriers to housing and services3.8
  • Education and skills4.7
  • Health and disability5.2
  • Children in low-income families5.4
  • Employment5.5
  • Crime5.7
  • Income5.7
  • Older people in low-income households6.1
  • Living environment6.2
Income

Household income

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

Annual income
£54,399
Before tax, all sources
England
£55,856
Below the national average
Higher than
53%
Of neighbourhoods in England and Wales
Work

Who is in work

52.6% of adults in CO are in work, broadly in line with the England average of 55.7%. 27.3% are retired and 6.5% are full-time students.

COEngland
Employee, full-time30.3%34.3%
Employee, part-time12.2%11.9%
Self-employed10.1%9.5%
Unemployed2.5%2.9%
Full-time student6.5%7.9%
Retired27.3%21.5%
Looking after home or family4.5%4.8%
Long-term sick or disabled3.9%4.1%
Other2.7%3.1%
Occupations

Social grade

31.8% of adults in CO work in managerial or professional jobs, broadly in line with the England average of 33.2%.

COEngland
Higher managerial & professional11.6%13.2%
Lower managerial & professional20.2%19.9%
Intermediate11.9%11.4%
Small employers & self-employed12.5%10.6%
Lower supervisory & technical5.7%5.3%
Semi-routine13.1%11.3%
Routine11.2%12%
Never worked & long-term unemployed7.4%8.5%
Full-time students6.3%7.7%
Education

Highest qualification

27.2% of adults in CO hold a degree or equivalent, below the England average of 33.9%. 19.6% have no qualifications.

COEngland
Degree level or above27.2%33.9%
A level or equivalent17.6%16.9%
GCSE grade 4/C or above15.3%13.3%
Below GCSE grade 4/C11.5%9.7%
Apprenticeship6%5.3%
Other qualifications2.8%2.8%
No qualifications19.6%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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