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Affluence in Durham

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

Council
County Durham
Region
North East
Population
52,352 (2024)
Deprivation

How well off Durham is

On the English Indices of Deprivation 2025, Durham scores 7.6 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
7.6/ 10
Most deprivedLeast deprived
Its 27 neighbourhoods, from 1 to 10
12345678910
Most deprivedLeast deprived
By category, lowest first
  • Health and disability5.3
  • Crime6.6
  • Living environment7.0
  • Employment7.2
  • Older people in low-income households7.2
  • Children in low-income families7.6
  • Education and skills7.7
  • Income8.0
  • Barriers to housing and services8.9
Income

Household income

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

Annual income
£52,689
Before tax, all sources
England
£55,856
Below the national average
Higher than
50%
Of neighbourhoods in England and Wales
Work

Who is in work

34.2% of adults in Durham are in work, well below the England average of 55.7%. 20.3% are retired and 35.5% are full-time students.

DurhamEngland
Employee, full-time22.4%34.3%
Employee, part-time7.3%11.9%
Self-employed4.5%9.5%
Unemployed1.4%2.9%
Full-time student35.5%7.9%
Retired20.3%21.5%
Looking after home or family2.3%4.8%
Long-term sick or disabled2.7%4.1%
Other3.6%3.1%
Occupations

Social grade

28.5% of adults in Durham work in managerial or professional jobs, below the England average of 33.2%.

DurhamEngland
Higher managerial & professional12.4%13.2%
Lower managerial & professional16.1%19.9%
Intermediate8%11.4%
Small employers & self-employed4.9%10.6%
Lower supervisory & technical3.2%5.3%
Semi-routine6.7%11.3%
Routine7.4%12%
Never worked & long-term unemployed6.1%8.5%
Full-time students35.1%7.7%
Education

Highest qualification

35.8% of adults in Durham hold a degree or equivalent, broadly in line with the England average of 33.9%. 10.9% have no qualifications.

DurhamEngland
Degree level or above35.8%33.9%
A level or equivalent33.9%16.9%
GCSE grade 4/C or above8.9%13.3%
Below GCSE grade 4/C5.1%9.7%
Apprenticeship3.4%5.3%
Other qualifications2%2.8%
No qualifications10.9%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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