Living in Scots’ Gap, Northumberland - iLiveHere: Best & Worst UK Towns Reviewed

Is Scots' Gap in Northumberland a nice place to live or is it a bit rough? We have collated a series of socio-economic statistics and demographics from UK government sources such as the 2021 Census and the Index of Multiple Deprivation. They should give you a broad snapshot of the area and the surrounding locations. Are the residents of Scots' Gap older than the national average or younger? What is the population of Scots' Gap and Northumberland? What is the claimant count in Scots' Gap and how many residents are unemployed? This page should provide you with the answers.

Scots' Gap Unemployment Statistics

Since the introduction of Universal Credit, The Department for Work & Pensions have not issued any statistics (in our view) that can be used to ascertain the levels of unemployment or under employment in the UK, just meaningless geographic counts. However, the Office of National Statistics does publish claimant counts of people receiving out of work benefits, be that legacy Jobseeker’s Allowance or Universal Credit as a proportion of people over 16. These figures are usually updated once a month and are for Local Authority Districts and Unitary Authority Districts. So below are the figures of Northumberland.

Area	Unemployed	Yearly Change
Northumberland	3.4%	-0.4%
North East	4.3%	-0.5%
England	3.8%	-0.3%
UK	3.7%	-0.3%

Source: Office for National Statistics (ONS), Last Retrieved: March 2023

The 2021 census had data on people who were economically active (seeking work) yet unemployed on Census day (Sunday March 21st 2021). These statitics do cover Scots' Gap on a ward level. However, it has to be noted that the Census day was during the height of the Covid19 pandemic and therefore are not reflective of normal levels of unemployment. For example, between March 2020 and June 2020 people claiming Universal Credit doubled in most areas of the United Kingdom and then steadily declined up to the day of the Census and beyond. This data also contains the proportion of people in part-time work (working between 1-35 hours per week), which maybe an indicator of under employment in Scots' Gap.

Economic Status	Proportion
In Employment	55.78%
In Part-Time Work	28.71%
Unemployed	2.14%

Source: Census 2021 (Nomis/ONS)

71.29% of the people in work, are in full-time employment in Scots' Gap

Scots' Gap Education Statistics

We have taken the raw data from the 2021 census to found of the level of education Scots' Gap residents have in terms of formal qualifications as a percentage. The UK government breaks qualifications down into 7 levels. A detailed explanation of these levels can be found here. However, the Census groups these into just 4 \'levels\'. Here are some examples of the qualifications each census level represents when not stated;

Level 1 - GCSE grades D, E, F, or G & below
Level 2 - GCSE A*, A, B, C or O Level grades A, B or C
Level 3 - A or AS qualification at any grade
Level 4 - HNC, Bachelors Degree, Masters Degree or Phd

In this first table we have compared Scots' Gap to the national average for England.

Level	Longhorsley	England
No Qualifications	11.36%	18.08%
Level 1	6.9%	9.69%
Level 2	11.83%	13.32%
Apprenticeship	5.01%	5.32%
Level 3	16.29%	16.92%
Level 4	46.51%	33.92%

Source: Census 2021 (Nomis/ONS)

Scots' Gap & Northumberland Immigration Statistics

We have analysed the Census 2021 raw data on country of birth and compiled immigration statistics as percentages of the population. All percentages have been rounded to two decimal places. Below are the figures for Scots' Gap in the Northumberland local area district.

Area	Born in UK	Born outside UK
Longhorsley	95.78%	4.22%
Northumberland	96.49%	3.51%
North East	93.23%	6.77%
England	82.65%	17.35%

Source: Census 2021 (Nomis/ONS)

Scots' Gap compared to other wards in Northumberland

#	Ward	Born in UK	Born outside UK
1	Ponteland West	92.76%	7.24%
2	Berwick North	92.98%	7.02%
3	Berwick East	93.57%	6.43%
4	Ponteland North	93.98%	6.02%
5	Croft	94.04%	5.96%
6	Ponteland South with Heddon	94.07%	5.93%
7	Hirst	94.08%	5.92%
8	Morpeth North	95.07%	4.93%
9	Hexham West	95.11%	4.89%
10	Hexham East	95.25%	4.75%
11	Bywell	95.62%	4.38%
12	Longhorsley	95.78%	4.22%
13	Alnwick	95.81%	4.19%
14	Hexham Central with Acomb	95.9%	4.1%
15	Prudhoe South	95.91%	4.09%
16	Morpeth Stobhill	95.95%	4.05%
17	Rothbury	96.01%	3.99%
18	Berwick West with Ord	96.06%	3.94%
19	Longhoughton	96.07%	3.93%
20	Wensleydale	96.16%	3.84%
21	Ponteland East and Stannington	96.18%	3.82%
22	Morpeth Kirkhill	96.2%	3.8%
23	Cramlington East	96.29%	3.71%
24	Druridge Bay	96.37%	3.63%
25	Humshaugh	96.45%	3.55%
26	Kitty Brewster	96.49%	3.51%
27	Corbridge	96.59%	3.41%
28	Sleekburn	96.62%	3.38%
29	Ashington Central	96.64%	3.36%
30	Bellingham	96.65%	3.35%
31	Stocksfield and Broomhaugh	96.67%	3.33%
32	Isabella	96.73%	3.27%
33	Bedlington East	96.76%	3.24%
34	South Tynedale	96.76%	3.24%
35	Wooler	96.85%	3.15%
36	Cramlington Village	96.87%	3.13%
37	Cramlington Eastfield	96.92%	3.08%
38	College	96.99%	3.01%
39	Norham and Islandshires	97.02%	2.98%
40	Seaton with Newbiggin West	97.04%	2.96%
41	Prudhoe North	97.04%	2.96%
42	Shilbottle	97.16%	2.84%
43	Newbiggin Central and East	97.18%	2.82%
44	Amble West with Warkworth	97.21%	2.79%
45	Cowpen	97.24%	2.76%
46	Bedlington Central	97.36%	2.64%
47	Hartley	97.37%	2.63%
48	Cramlington West	97.38%	2.62%
49	Bedlington West	97.4%	2.6%
50	Haydon and Hadrian	97.46%	2.55%
51	Holywell	97.51%	2.49%
52	Haydon	97.7%	2.3%
53	Choppington	97.72%	2.28%
54	Cramlington South East	97.76%	2.24%
55	Bamburgh	97.83%	2.17%
56	Lynemouth	97.86%	2.14%
57	Amble	97.89%	2.11%
58	Stakeford	97.93%	2.07%
59	Plessey	97.96%	2.04%
60	Cramlington North	98.04%	1.96%
61	South Blyth	98.17%	1.83%
62	Haltwhistle	98.17%	1.83%

';Scots' Gap is ranked 12 out of 62 wards in Northumberland for the number of residents born outside of the UK.

Source: Census 2021 (Nomis/ONS)

Scots' Gap Health Statistics

Longhorsley has more residents (very_good_pc-$country_health->very_good_pc, 2)%) describing their health as very good than the national average for England.

Area	VG	G	F	B	VB
Longhorsley	50.89%	34.44%	10.67%	3.24%	0.75%
Northumberland	43.76%	34.59%	15.42%	4.88%	1.34%
North East	44.58%	33.46%	14.95%	5.41%	1.61%
England	48.49%	33.71%	12.65%	3.98%	1.17%

VG = Very Good, G = Good, F = Fair, B = Bad & VB = Very Bad

Source: Census 2021 (Nomis/ONS)

Scots' Gap Age Distribution Statistics

We have taken the raw data from the 2021 Census and the calculated the proportion of age groups in Longhorsley.

Age Band	Proportion
4 & under
5 - 9 years
10 - 15 years
16 - 19 years
20 - 24 years
25 - 34 years
35 - 49 years
50 - 64 years
65 - 74 years
75 - 84 years
85 years & over

Source: Census 2021 (Nomis/ONS)

What are the occupations of the residents of Scots' Gap?

The largest employment sector in Scots' Gap is Professional Occupations. The smallest employment sector is Process Plant & Machine Operatives.

Sector	Proportion
Professional Occupations	25.51%
Managers, Directors & Senior Officials	18.79%
Associate Professional & Technical	13.81%
Skilled Trades	12.25%
Administrative & Secretarial	8.41%
Caring, leisure & Other Services	7.86%
Elementary Occupations	5.81%
Process Plant & Machine Operatives	3.16%

Source: Office for National Statistics (30 June 2020)

How many residents own or rent their home in Scots' Gap and Northumberland

We have taken the raw data from the 2021 census and calculated what proportion of people in Scots' Gap either own or rent their home. All percentages have been rounded to two decimal places. 72.49 of residents own their home either outright or mortgaged. 27.51 of Scots' Gap residents rent their home either privately or through a social landlord.

Area	Owned	Rented
Longhorsley	72.49%	27.51%
Northumberland	65.2%	34.8%
North East	60.27%	39.73%
England	61.31%	38.69%

Source: Census 2021 (Nomis/ONS)

Scots' Gap has a significantly higher level of home ownership than the national average. This is indicative or an economically wealthy area.

Scots' Gap compared to other wards in Northumberland

#	Ward	Owned	Rented
1	Cramlington North	93.66%	6.34%
2	Ponteland South with Heddon	90.39%	9.61%
3	South Blyth	89.48%	10.52%
4	Hexham West	85.81%	14.19%
5	Stocksfield and Broomhaugh	82.14%	17.86%
6	Ponteland East and Stannington	81.02%	18.98%
7	Amble West with Warkworth	79.16%	20.84%
8	Ponteland North	76.87%	23.13%
9	Ponteland West	76.75%	23.25%
10	Shilbottle	76.75%	23.25%
11	Bedlington West	76.6%	23.4%
12	Stakeford	76.51%	23.49%
13	Hartley	75.65%	24.35%
14	Cramlington South East	75.16%	24.84%
15	Morpeth North	75.1%	24.9%
16	Prudhoe North	75.06%	24.94%
17	Haydon	74.47%	25.53%
18	Morpeth Kirkhill	74.46%	25.54%
19	Morpeth Stobhill	73.36%	26.64%
20	Cramlington Eastfield	73.2%	26.8%
21	Bywell	72.95%	27.05%
22	Longhorsley	72.49%	27.51%
23	South Tynedale	72.22%	27.78%
24	Plessey	71.96%	28.04%
25	Corbridge	70.84%	29.16%
26	Berwick West with Ord	70.54%	29.46%
27	Cramlington Village	70.43%	29.57%
28	Lynemouth	69.88%	30.12%
29	Haydon and Hadrian	67.75%	32.25%
30	Rothbury	66.78%	33.22%
31	Seaton with Newbiggin West	66.55%	33.45%
32	Holywell (Northumberland)	66.01%	33.99%
33	Bedlington Central	65.4%	34.6%
34	Bamburgh	63.94%	36.06%
35	Bellingham (Northumberland)	63.27%	36.73%
36	Haltwhistle	62.66%	37.34%
37	Kitty Brewster	62.03%	37.97%
38	Humshaugh	61.91%	38.09%
39	Wensleydale	61.72%	38.28%
40	Druridge Bay	61.65%	38.35%
41	Hexham East	61.59%	38.41%
42	Cramlington West	61.02%	38.98%
43	Longhoughton	60.55%	39.45%
44	Amble	60.31%	39.69%
45	Alnwick	59.35%	40.65%
46	Berwick North	59.29%	40.71%
47	Norham and Islandshires	59.07%	40.93%
48	Prudhoe South	57.19%	42.81%
49	Newbiggin Central and East	56.91%	43.09%
50	Hexham Central with Acomb	56.82%	43.18%
51	Choppington	54.99%	45.01%
52	Wooler	53.22%	46.78%
53	Berwick East	52.95%	47.05%
54	Bedlington East	52.1%	47.9%
55	Sleekburn	52.03%	47.97%
56	Cramlington East	49.3%	50.7%
57	College (Northumberland)	48.36%	51.64%
58	Ashington Central	48.28%	51.72%
59	Cowpen	47.66%	52.34%
60	Croft (Northumberland)	42.22%	57.78%
61	Isabella	40.09%	59.91%
62	Hirst	38.64%	61.36%

Scots' Gap is ranked 22 out of 62 wards in Northumberland for the percentage of home owners.

Source: Census 2021 (Nomis/ONS)

What is the population of Scots' Gap and Northumberland?

The table below contains the populations figures for each ward in Northumberland including Scots' Gap. These population ONS figures are estimated are dated Mid 2020.

Ward	Population
Alnwick	10141
Amble	5351
Amble West with Warkworth	4113
Ashington Central	4982
Bamburgh	4472
Bedlington Central	5333
Bedlington East	4684
Bedlington West	4530
Bellingham	3877
Berwick East	4844
Berwick North	4576
Berwick West with Ord	4217
Bothal	4707
Bywell	4630
Choppington	4627
College	5020
Corbridge	4239
Cowpen	4580
Cramlington East	4363
Cramlington Eastfield	5168
Cramlington North	4863
Cramlington South East	4508
Cramlington Village	4341
Cramlington West	6194
Croft	4713
Druridge Bay	6546
Haltwhistle	4810
Hartley	4872
Haydon	4362
Haydon and Hadrian	4515
Hexham Central with Acomb	4534
Hexham East	4657
Hexham West	3846
Hirst	5535
Holywell	5023
Humshaugh	4360
Isabella	4766
Kitty Brewster	6752
Longhorsley	4328
Longhoughton	4610
Lynemouth	4500
Morpeth Kirkhill	5494
Morpeth North	4934
Morpeth Stobhill	4860
Newbiggin Central and East	4490
Newsham	5116
Norham and Islandshires	4186
Pegswood	5422
Plessey	3762
Ponteland East and Stannington	4806
Ponteland North	5013
Ponteland South with Heddon	4352
Ponteland West	4215
Prudhoe North	5375
Prudhoe South	5713
Rothbury	4962
Seaton with Newbiggin West	5470
Seghill with Seaton Delaval	6139
Shilbottle	5157
Sleekburn	4336
South Blyth	5274
South Tynedale	4917
Stakeford	4503
Stocksfield and Broomhaugh	4873
Wensleydale	4865
Wooler	4497
Northumberland Total	323820

Source: Census 2021 (Nomis/ONS)

Last updated: 20/02/2024, Additional Sources: Office for National Statistics & Department for Work & Pensions.

Top 20 most depressing towns in Britain 2024