Socio-economic statistics for Bideford, Devon

Socio-economic statistics for Bideford, Devon

Is Bideford in Torridge 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 Bideford older than the national average or younger? What is the population of Bideford and Torridge? What is the claimant count in Bideford and how many residents are unemployed? This page should provide you with the answers.

Bideford Education Statistics

We have taken the raw data from the 2021 census to found of the level of education Bideford 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 Bideford to the national average for England.
LevelBideford WestEngland
No Qualifications20.35%18.08%
Level 112.29%9.69%
Level 217.34%13.32%
Apprenticeship7.37%5.32%
Level 317.94%16.92%
Level 422.51%33.92%

Bideford Age Distribution Statistics

We have taken the raw data from the 2021 Census and the calculated the proportion of age groups in Bideford West.
Age BandProportion
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

How many residents own or rent their home in Bideford and Torridge

We have taken the raw data from the 2021 census and calculated what proportion of people in Bideford either own or rent their home. All percentages have been rounded to two decimal places. 62.8 of residents own their home either outright or mortgaged. 37.2 of Bideford residents rent their home either privately or through a social landlord.
AreaOwnedRented
Bideford West62.8%37.2%
Torridge69.56%30.44%
South West65.88%34.12%
England61.31%38.69%

Bideford has a higher level of home ownership than than the national average.

Bideford compared to other wards in Torridge

#WardOwnedRented
1Two Rivers & Three Moors81.53%18.47%
2Monkleigh & Putford80.05%19.95%
3Milton & Tamarside79.93%20.07%
4Shebbear & Langtree77.97%22.03%
5Northam77.85%22.15%
6Broadheath (Torridge)76.81%23.19%
7Winkleigh70.62%29.38%
8Westward Ho!70.25%29.75%
9Appledore69.56%30.44%
10Hartland68.84%31.16%
11Bideford South65.94%34.06%
12Great Torrington64.78%35.22%
13Bideford West62.8%37.2%
14Bideford North59.91%40.09%
15Bideford East59.18%40.82%
16Holsworthy54.33%45.67%
Bideford is ranked 13 out of 16 wards in Torridge for the percentage of home owners.

What are the occupations of the residents of Bideford?

The largest employment sector in Bideford is Caring, leisure & Other Services. The smallest employment sector is Managers, Directors & Senior Officials.
SectorProportion
Caring, leisure & Other Services17.54%
Skilled Trades15.03%
Elementary Occupations12.98%
Professional Occupations12.91%
Associate Professional & Technical9.72%
Process Plant & Machine Operatives9.34%
Administrative & Secretarial7.74%
Managers, Directors & Senior Officials6.68%

Bideford & Torridge 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 Bideford in the Torridge local area district.

Bideford has a lower rate of immigrants than Torridge, the South West region and England as a whole.
AreaBorn in UKBorn outside UK
Bideford West96.09%3.91%
Torridge95.99%4.01%
South West89.8%10.2%
England82.65%17.35%

Bideford compared to other wards in Torridge

#WardBorn in UKBorn outside UK
1Hartland94.74%5.26%
2Bideford North95%5%
3Westward Ho!95.3%4.7%
4Two Rivers & Three Moors95.78%4.22%
5Bideford South95.84%4.16%
6Great Torrington95.91%4.09%
7Winkleigh95.94%4.06%
8Bideford West96.09%3.91%
9Northam96.23%3.77%
10Holsworthy96.34%3.66%
11Shebbear & Langtree96.42%3.58%
12Monkleigh & Putford96.45%3.55%
13Bideford East96.55%3.45%
14Broadheath96.67%3.33%
15Appledore96.74%3.26%
16Milton & Tamarside96.83%3.17%
';Bideford is ranked 8 out of 16 wards in Torridge for the number of residents born outside of the UK.

Bideford 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 Torridge.
AreaUnemployedYearly Change
Torridge2.3%-0.4%
South West2.5%-0.4%
England3.8%-0.3%
UK3.7%-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 Bideford 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 Bideford.
Economic StatusProportion
In Employment55.69%
In Part-Time Work35.04%
Unemployed4.3%
64.96% of the people in work, are in full-time employment in Bideford

Bideford Health Statistics

Bideford West has a significantly lower proportion of residents (>5%) describing their health as very good than the national average for England.
AreaVGGFBVB
Bideford West43.45%35.5%15.2%4.9%0.95%
Torridge43.83%34.81%15.35%4.72%1.29%
South West47.6%34.21%13.12%3.95%1.12%
England48.49%33.71%12.65%3.98%1.17%
VG = Very Good, G = Good, F = Fair, B = Bad & VB = Very Bad

How has the health of residents in Torridge changed since 2011?

Torridge residents who describe their health as either good or very good has increased by 0.27% between the 2011 and 2021 census.
YearVGGFBVB
201143.53%34.84%15.42%4.9%1.31%
202143.83%34.81%15.35%4.72%1.29%
VG = Very Good, G = Good, F = Fair, B = Bad & VB = Very Bad

What is the population of Bideford and Torridge?

The table below contains the populations figures for each ward in Torridge including Bideford. These population ONS figures are estimated are dated Mid 2020.

WardPopulation
Appledore3795
Bideford East5865
Bideford North5978
Bideford South3885
Bideford West2726
Broadheath4013
Great Torrington6053
Hartland6125
Holsworthy3312
Milton & Tamarside4193
Monkleigh & Putford3927
Northam5049
Shebbear & Langtree3917
Two Rivers & Three Moors3956
Westward Ho!3716
Winkleigh2209
Torridge Total68719



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