Socio-economic statistics for Freston, Suffolk

Socio-economic statistics for Freston, Suffolk

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

Freston 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 Babergh.
AreaUnemployedYearly Change
Babergh2.2%-0.3%
East of England3%-0.3%
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 Freston 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 Freston.
Economic StatusProportion
In Employment52.81%
In Part-Time Work32.51%
Unemployed2.05%
67.49% of the people in work, are in full-time employment in Freston

Freston & Babergh 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 Freston in the Babergh local area district.

Freston has a lower rate of immigrants than Babergh, the East of England region and England as a whole.
AreaBorn in UKBorn outside UK
Orwell94.91%5.09%
Babergh94.27%5.73%
East85.09%14.91%
England82.65%17.35%

Freston compared to other wards in Babergh

#WardBorn in UKBorn outside UK
1Sudbury North East89.83%10.17%
2Sproughton & Pinewood91.44%8.56%
3Hadleigh North92.45%7.55%
4Sudbury North West92.79%7.21%
5Sudbury South West92.99%7.01%
6Sudbury South East93.05%6.95%
7Hadleigh South93.78%6.22%
8Stour93.95%6.05%
9East Bergholt94.24%5.76%
10Brett Vale94.45%5.55%
11Copdock & Washbrook94.52%5.48%
12Bures St Mary & Nayland94.67%5.33%
13Great Cornard94.89%5.11%
14Orwell94.91%5.09%
15Lavenham94.94%5.06%
16Ganges95.09%4.91%
17Box Vale95.12%4.88%
18South East Cosford95.15%4.85%
19Long Melford95.32%4.68%
20North West Cosford95.35%4.65%
21Assington95.4%4.6%
22Capel St Mary95.62%4.38%
23Chadacre96.22%3.78%
24Brantham96.43%3.57%
';Freston is ranked 14 out of 24 wards in Babergh for the number of residents born outside of the UK.

How many residents own or rent their home in Freston and Babergh

We have taken the raw data from the 2021 census and calculated what proportion of people in Freston either own or rent their home. All percentages have been rounded to two decimal places. 75.8 of residents own their home either outright or mortgaged. 24.2 of Freston residents rent their home either privately or through a social landlord.
AreaOwnedRented
Orwell75.8%24.2%
Babergh71.04%28.96%
East65.23%34.77%
England61.31%38.69%

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

Freston compared to other wards in Babergh

#WardOwnedRented
1Capel St Mary86.12%13.88%
2Assington84.47%15.53%
3Brett Vale80.36%19.64%
4South East Cosford78.98%21.02%
5Copdock & Washbrook78.78%21.22%
6Brantham78.56%21.44%
7East Bergholt78.55%21.45%
8Ganges78.36%21.64%
9Orwell75.8%24.2%
10Chadacre75.64%24.36%
11Box Vale75.41%24.59%
12Long Melford71.96%28.04%
13Lavenham71.85%28.15%
14Stour70.95%29.05%
15North West Cosford70.74%29.26%
16Bures St Mary & Nayland70.67%29.33%
17Sproughton & Pinewood70.35%29.65%
18Sudbury South West67.21%32.79%
19Great Cornard66.17%33.83%
20Hadleigh South64.57%35.43%
21Hadleigh North61.45%38.55%
22Sudbury North West60.88%39.12%
23Sudbury South East59.26%40.74%
24Sudbury North East49.89%50.11%
Freston is ranked 9 out of 24 wards in Babergh for the percentage of home owners.

Freston Age Distribution Statistics

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

What are the occupations of the residents of Freston?

The largest employment sector in Freston is Managers, Directors & Senior Officials. The smallest employment sector is Process Plant & Machine Operatives.
SectorProportion
Managers, Directors & Senior Officials19.1%
Professional Occupations18.84%
Associate Professional & Technical14.75%
Skilled Trades12.53%
Administrative & Secretarial9.63%
Caring, leisure & Other Services7.93%
Elementary Occupations7.59%
Process Plant & Machine Operatives4.6%

Freston Education Statistics

We have taken the raw data from the 2021 census to found of the level of education Freston 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 Freston to the national average for England.
LevelOrwellEngland
No Qualifications14.51%18.08%
Level 19.26%9.69%
Level 214.74%13.32%
Apprenticeship6.22%5.32%
Level 317.37%16.92%
Level 434.78%33.92%

Freston Health Statistics

Orwell has a lower proportion of residents (very_good_pc-$ward_health->very_good_pc, 2)%) describing their health as very good than the national average for England.
AreaVGGFBVB
Orwell44.97%36.7%12.64%4.69%0.99%
Babergh46.32%35.88%13.38%3.49%0.92%
East48.28%34.64%12.5%3.58%1%
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 Babergh changed since 2011?

Babergh residents who describe their health as either good or very good has decreased by 0.22% between the 2011 and 2021 census.
YearVGGFBVB
201146.59%35.83%13.25%3.45%0.89%
202146.32%35.88%13.38%3.49%0.92%
VG = Very Good, G = Good, F = Fair, B = Bad & VB = Very Bad

What is the population of Freston and Babergh?

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

WardPopulation
Assington2616
Box Vale2847
Brantham2542
Brett Vale3253
Bures St Mary & Nayland2790
Capel St Mary2976
Chadacre6180
Copdock & Washbrook3245
East Bergholt2970
Ganges2467
Great Cornard9795
Hadleigh North2904
Hadleigh South6070
Lavenham5227
Long Melford5908
North West Cosford2704
Orwell2552
South East Cosford2630
Sproughton & Pinewood5916
Stour3276
Sudbury North East3274
Sudbury North West5447
Sudbury South East2324
Sudbury South West2822
Babergh Total92735



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