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Postcode district · Chatham

Affluence in ME4

How ME4 ranks on deprivation and income, and the work and qualifications behind it.

Council
Medway
Region
South East
Population
47,035 (2024)
Deprivation

How well off ME4 is

On the English Indices of Deprivation 2025, ME4 scores 3.6 out of 10, placing it more deprived than most of England. Its lowest-scoring category is crime (2.8 out of 10). Scores are ranked within England only, so they can’t be compared across UK nations.

Overall score
3.6/ 10
Most deprivedLeast deprived
Its 25 neighbourhoods, from 1 to 10
12345678910
Most deprivedLeast deprived
By category, lowest first
  • Crime2.8
  • Barriers to housing and services3.1
  • Employment3.4
  • Income3.5
  • Children in low-income families3.6
  • Health and disability3.8
  • Older people in low-income households3.8
  • Education and skills3.9
  • Living environment4.8
Income

Household income

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

Annual income
£52,179
Before tax, all sources
England
£55,856
Below the national average
Higher than
48%
Of neighbourhoods in England and Wales
Work

Who is in work

57.6% of adults in ME4 are in work, broadly in line with the England average of 55.7%. 14.5% are retired and 7.8% are full-time students.

ME4England
Employee, full-time36.5%34.3%
Employee, part-time11.6%11.9%
Self-employed9.5%9.5%
Unemployed4.1%2.9%
Full-time student7.8%7.9%
Retired14.5%21.5%
Looking after home or family6.5%4.8%
Long-term sick or disabled5.2%4.1%
Other4.4%3.1%
Occupations

Social grade

27.1% of adults in ME4 work in managerial or professional jobs, below the England average of 33.2%.

ME4England
Higher managerial & professional9.4%13.2%
Lower managerial & professional17.6%19.9%
Intermediate12%11.4%
Small employers & self-employed10.5%10.6%
Lower supervisory & technical5.5%5.3%
Semi-routine12.3%11.3%
Routine14.6%12%
Never worked & long-term unemployed10.6%8.5%
Full-time students7.5%7.7%
Education

Highest qualification

28% of adults in ME4 hold a degree or equivalent, below the England average of 33.9%. 20.4% have no qualifications.

ME4England
Degree level or above28%33.9%
A level or equivalent16.3%16.9%
GCSE grade 4/C or above15.1%13.3%
Below GCSE grade 4/C11.6%9.7%
Apprenticeship5.4%5.3%
Other qualifications3.2%2.8%
No qualifications20.4%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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