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Postcode area · Luton

Affluence in LU

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

Council
Luton
Region
East of England
Population
418,232 (2024)
Deprivation

How well off LU is

On the English Indices of Deprivation 2025, LU 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 (3.7 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 226 neighbourhoods, from 1 to 10
12345678910
Most deprivedLeast deprived
By category, lowest first
  • Barriers to housing and services3.7
  • Education and skills4.7
  • Children in low-income families4.7
  • Income4.8
  • Older people in low-income households5.3
  • Crime5.7
  • Employment5.7
  • Health and disability5.9
  • Living environment6.2
Income

Household income

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

Annual income
£57,614
Before tax, all sources
England
£55,856
Above the national average
Higher than
61%
Of neighbourhoods in England and Wales
Work

Who is in work

57.2% of adults in LU are in work, broadly in line with the England average of 55.7%. 17.6% are retired and 8.3% are full-time students.

LUEngland
Employee, full-time35%34.3%
Employee, part-time11.9%11.9%
Self-employed10.3%9.5%
Unemployed3.4%2.9%
Full-time student8.3%7.9%
Retired17.6%21.5%
Looking after home or family6.5%4.8%
Long-term sick or disabled3.4%4.1%
Other3.5%3.1%
Occupations

Social grade

29.4% of adults in LU work in managerial or professional jobs, below the England average of 33.2%.

LUEngland
Higher managerial & professional10.9%13.2%
Lower managerial & professional18.5%19.9%
Intermediate11.7%11.4%
Small employers & self-employed11.5%10.6%
Lower supervisory & technical5.4%5.3%
Semi-routine10.9%11.3%
Routine13.1%12%
Never worked & long-term unemployed9.9%8.5%
Full-time students8.1%7.7%
Education

Highest qualification

31.4% of adults in LU hold a degree or equivalent, broadly in line with the England average of 33.9%. 19.7% have no qualifications.

LUEngland
Degree level or above31.4%33.9%
A level or equivalent15.7%16.9%
GCSE grade 4/C or above13.5%13.3%
Below GCSE grade 4/C11%9.7%
Apprenticeship5.2%5.3%
Other qualifications3.4%2.8%
No qualifications19.7%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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