Postcode district · Luton

LU1 area guide

Who lives in LU1, what homes sell for, and how it compares on crime, schools and transport.

Council: Luton
Region: East of England
Population: 65,868 (2024)

LU1Postcode district · Luton

At a glance

What LU1 is like

The LU1 postcode district in Luton covers 950 live postcodes and is home to about 65,868 people in 21,395 households. 39.6% of households own their home, 39.7% rent privately and 19.9% are in social housing. The largest age group is 30–34, and 51.4% of adults are in work. It ranks among the more deprived parts of England. Higher-harm crime is well above the England and Wales average. Homes in LU1 sold for a median of £300,000 over the year to August 2026.

Scores

How LU1 compares

Headline figures for LU1, set against England as a whole.

AffluenceMore

2.7/ 10

More deprived than most. Scored from 1 (most deprived in England) to 10 (least deprived).

CrimeMore

8/ 10

Higher than most: 48.1 higher-harm crimes per 1,000 people a year vs 31.1 nationally.

House pricesMore

£300,000

Median over 285 sales in LU1, −3.2% on the year before.

TransportMore

5.0/ 10

Good: 1 station within a mile, 51 bus stops within 800m.

SchoolsMore

90%

Rated good or better across 20 inspected schools in LU1.

Household incomeMore

£48,664

Average annual income before tax, higher than 38% of neighbourhoods in England and Wales.

What stands out

Worth knowing before you invest

Where LU1 differs most from the national average.

01
A big private rental marketPositive
39.7% of households rent privately, against 20.5% across England. Tenant demand is established here.
02
A student area
13.7% of adults are full-time students, against 7.9% across England. Expect HMO demand and term-time turnover.
03
Higher crime than mostLook closer
48.1 higher-harm crimes per 1,000 people a year, against 31.1 across England and Wales.
04
A young populationPositive
26% of residents are aged 20 to 34 (the peak renting age), against 19.6% across England.
05
More deprived than mostLook closer
Scores 2.7 out of 10 on the English Indices of Deprivation 2025 (where 1 is most deprived). Yields can be higher, but check tenant demand street by street.

Questions

LU1 FAQs

Is LU1 a good place to live?

Deprivation, crime, schools and transport at a glance.

It scores 2.7 out of 10 on the English Indices of Deprivation 2025, where 10 is the least deprived in England. Higher-harm crime runs at 48.1 per 1,000 people a year, band 8 of 10 nationally. 90% of the inspected schools nearby are rated good or better. Transport connectivity scores 5.0 out of 10 (good).

How much does a house cost in LU1?

The median sale price over the last year was £300,000.

Homes in LU1 sold for a median of £300,000 across 285 sales in the year to August 2026, −3.2% on the year before. Prices come from HM Land Registry’s record of every residential sale.

Is LU1 safe?

How recorded crime here compares with the national average.

Higher-harm crime (violence, robbery, burglary, vehicle crime and weapons offences) runs at 48.1 offences per 1,000 people a year around LU1, well above the 31.1 average across England and Wales, band 8 of 10.

Who lives in LU1?

Age, home ownership and housing from the census.

The largest age group is 30–34, at 8.8% of residents. 39.6% of households own their home. The most common property type is purpose-built flat (30%).

Which council covers LU1?

The local authority for LU1 is Luton.

LU1 comes under Luton in the East of England. Council tax, planning applications and bin collections are handled there.

How well connected is LU1?

Connectivity scores 5.0 out of 10.

There are 51 bus stops within 800m and 1 station or tram stop within a mile, scoring 5.0 out of 10 (good). The nearest station is Luton Rail Station, 0.8 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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