Postcode district · London

SW1Y area guide

Who lives in SW1Y, what homes sell for, and how it compares on crime, schools and transport.

Council: Westminster
Region: London
Population: 5,409 (2024)

SW1YPostcode district · London

At a glance

What SW1Y is like

The SW1Y postcode district in Westminster covers 183 live postcodes and is home to about 5,409 people across 3 census neighbourhoods. 20.3% of households own their home, 51.1% rent privately and 26.7% are in social housing. The biggest age group is 25–29, and 60.6% of adults are in work. On deprivation it sits close to the middle of the range for England. Higher-harm crime is in the top bands nationally. Homes in SW1Y sold for a median of £900,000 over the year to August 2026.

Scores

How SW1Y compares

Each figure is set against England as a whole. Follow a score for the detail behind it.

AffluenceMore

6.0/ 10

Around the middle — decile 1 is the most deprived tenth of England, 10 the least.

CrimeMore

10/ 10

Higher than most — 102.1 higher-harm crimes per 1,000 people a year vs 31.1 nationally.

House pricesMore

£900,000

Median over 7 sales in SW1Y.

TransportMore

10.0/ 10

Excellent — 44 stations within a mile, 65 bus stops within 800m.

SchoolsMore

No schools found nearby.

Household incomeMore

£85,382

Average a year, before tax — higher than 96% of neighbourhoods in England and Wales.

What stands out

Worth knowing before you invest

Only flagged where this area is materially different from the national picture.

01
A big private rental marketPositive
51.1% of households rent privately, against 20.5% across England. Tenant demand is established here.
02
A student area
16% of adults are full-time students, against 7.9% across England. Expect HMO demand and term-time turnover.
03
Higher crime than mostLook closer
102.1 higher-harm crimes per 1,000 people a year, against 31.1 across England and Wales.
04
A young populationPositive
39.3% of residents are 20 to 34 — the age group that rents most — against 19.6% across England.
05
A lot of social housingLook closer
26.7% of homes are social housing, against 17.1% across England.

Questions

SW1Y FAQs

Is SW1Y a good place to live?

Deprivation, crime, schools and transport at a glance.

On the English Indices of Deprivation 2025 it averages decile 6.0 of 10, where 10 is the least deprived tenth of England. Higher-harm crime runs at 102.1 per 1,000 people a year, band 10 of 10 nationally. Transport connectivity scores 10.0 out of 10 (excellent).

How much does a house cost in SW1Y?

The median sale price over the last year was £900,000.

Homes in SW1Y sold for a median of £900,000 across 7 sales in the year to August 2026. Prices come from HM Land Registry's record of every residential sale.

Is SW1Y safe?

How crime here compares with the rest of the country.

Higher-harm crime — violence, robbery, burglary, vehicle crime and weapons offences — runs at 102.1 offences per 1,000 people a year around SW1Y, more than double the 31.1 average across England and Wales, band 10 of 10.

Who lives in SW1Y?

Age, home ownership and housing from the census.

The biggest age group is 25–29, at 15.2% of residents. 20.3% of households own their home. The most common home is purpose-built flat (80.5%).

Which council covers SW1Y?

SW1Y is in Westminster.

SW1Y is in Westminster, in London. Council tax, planning applications and bin collections are handled there.

How well connected is SW1Y?

Connectivity scores 10.0 out of 10.

There are 65 bus stops within 800m and 44 stations and tram stops within a mile, scoring 10.0 out of 10 (excellent). The nearest station is Piccadilly Circus Underground Station, 0.1 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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