Socio-economic statistics for Christchurch, Cambridgeshire

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

Christchurch 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 Fenland.

Area	Unemployed	Yearly Change
Fenland	3.9%	-0.1%
East of England	3%	-0.3%
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 Christchurch 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 Christchurch.

Economic Status	Proportion
In Employment	52.83%
In Part-Time Work	27.94%
Unemployed	4.14%

Source: Census 2021 (Nomis/ONS)

72.06% of the people in work, are in full-time employment in Christchurch

Christchurch Education Statistics

We have taken the raw data from the 2021 census to found of the level of education Christchurch 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 Christchurch to the national average for England.

Level	Elm & Christchurch	England
No Qualifications	24.5%	18.08%
Level 1	12.32%	9.69%
Level 2	16.65%	13.32%
Apprenticeship	7.68%	5.32%
Level 3	17.04%	16.92%
Level 4	18.93%	33.92%

Source: Census 2021 (Nomis/ONS)

What are the occupations of the residents of Christchurch?

The largest employment sector in Christchurch is Skilled Trades. The smallest employment sector is Administrative & Secretarial.

Sector	Proportion
Skilled Trades	16.03%
Managers, Directors & Senior Officials	12.05%
Professional Occupations	11.87%
Associate Professional & Technical	11.69%
Process Plant & Machine Operatives	11.2%
Caring, leisure & Other Services	10.74%
Elementary Occupations	10.56%
Administrative & Secretarial	8.8%

Source: Office for National Statistics (30 June 2020)

Christchurch Age Distribution Statistics

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

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)

Christchurch & Fenland 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 Christchurch in the Fenland local area district.

Christchurch has a lower rate of immigrants than Fenland, the East of England region and England as a whole.

Area	Born in UK	Born outside UK
Elm & Christchurch	94.61%	5.39%
Fenland	87.54%	12.46%
East	85.09%	14.91%
England	82.65%	17.35%

Source: Census 2021 (Nomis/ONS)

Christchurch compared to other wards in Fenland

#	Ward	Born in UK	Born outside UK
1	Medworth	61.36%	38.64%
2	Clarkson	61.57%	38.43%
3	Waterlees Village	70.84%	29.16%
4	Octavia Hill	72.16%	27.84%
5	Kirkgate	79.05%	20.95%
6	Staithe	80.98%	19.02%
7	Peckover	82.75%	17.25%
8	Slade Lode	87.34%	12.66%
9	The Mills	89.8%	10.2%
10	Wenneye	90.02%	9.98%
11	March North	90.44%	9.56%
12	March East	90.67%	9.33%
13	Birch	90.98%	9.02%
14	March West	92.71%	7.29%
15	Roman Bank	93.31%	6.69%
16	Bassenhally	93.36%	6.64%
17	St Andrews	93.58%	6.42%
18	Stonald	93.72%	6.28%
19	Benwick, Coates & Eastrea	94.02%	5.98%
20	Parson Drove & Wisbech St Mary	94.19%	5.81%
21	Doddington & Wimblington	94.21%	5.79%
22	Lattersey	94.33%	5.67%
23	Elm & Christchurch	94.61%	5.39%
24	Manea	94.63%	5.37%

';Christchurch is ranked 23 out of 24 wards in Fenland for the number of residents born outside of the UK.

Source: Census 2021 (Nomis/ONS)

How many residents own or rent their home in Christchurch and Fenland

We have taken the raw data from the 2021 census and calculated what proportion of people in Christchurch either own or rent their home. All percentages have been rounded to two decimal places. 73.43 of residents own their home either outright or mortgaged. 26.57 of Christchurch residents rent their home either privately or through a social landlord.

Area	Owned	Rented
Elm & Christchurch	73.43%	26.57%
Fenland	66.81%	33.19%
East	65.23%	34.77%
England	61.31%	38.69%

Source: Census 2021 (Nomis/ONS)

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

Christchurch compared to other wards in Fenland

#	Ward	Owned	Rented
1	Stonald	78.76%	21.24%
2	Doddington & Wimblington	78.62%	21.38%
3	Roman Bank	78.14%	21.86%
4	Benwick, Coates & Eastrea	77.66%	22.34%
5	Manea	75.79%	24.21%
6	Parson Drove & Wisbech St Mary	75.18%	24.82%
7	St Andrews (Fenland)	74.36%	25.64%
8	Wenneye	73.86%	26.14%
9	Elm & Christchurch	73.43%	26.57%
10	March North	72.56%	27.44%
11	The Mills	70.86%	29.14%
12	March West	70.1%	29.9%
13	Bassenhally	68.21%	31.79%
14	Birch (Fenland)	68.09%	31.91%
15	Kirkgate	66%	34%
16	Lattersey	65.86%	34.14%
17	Peckover	63.33%	36.67%
18	Slade Lode	60.32%	39.68%
19	March East	59.16%	40.84%
20	Staithe	58.24%	41.76%
21	Octavia Hill	54.41%	45.59%
22	Waterlees Village	46.57%	53.43%
23	Medworth	42.5%	57.5%
24	Clarkson	38.41%	61.59%

Christchurch is ranked 9 out of 24 wards in Fenland for the percentage of home owners.

Source: Census 2021 (Nomis/ONS)

Christchurch Health Statistics

Elm & Christchurch has a significantly lower proportion of residents (>5%) describing their health as very good than the national average for England.

Area	VG	G	F	B	VB
Elm & Christchurch	41.33%	36.25%	15.71%	4.88%	1.83%
Fenland	40.27%	37.48%	15.87%	4.94%	1.44%
East	48.28%	34.64%	12.5%	3.58%	1%
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)

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

Fenland residents who describe their health as either good or very good has increased by 0.47% between the 2011 and 2021 census.

Year	VG	G	F	B	VB
2011	39.45%	37.83%	16.54%	4.82%	1.36%
2021	40.27%	37.48%	15.87%	4.94%	1.44%

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

Source: Census 2011/2021 (Nomis/ONS)

What is the population of Christchurch and Fenland?

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

Ward	Population
Bassenhally	5154
Benwick, Coates & Eastrea	4613
Birch	2368
Clarkson	2821
Doddington & Wimblington	4678
Elm & Christchurch	4931
Kirkgate	2529
Lattersey	2706
Manea	2593
March East	7792
March North	7690
March West	7396
Medworth	3114
Octavia Hill	6161
Parson Drove & Wisbech St Mary	5396
Peckover	2679
Roman Bank	6661
Slade Lode	2928
St Andrews	2886
Staithe	2449
Stonald	2744
The Mills	2675
Waterlees Village	6161
Wenneye	2955
Fenland Total	102080

Source: Census 2021 (Nomis/ONS)

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

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