Socio-economic statistics for Southwold, Suffolk

Socio-economic statistics for Southwold, Suffolk

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

How many residents own or rent their home in Southwold and East Suffolk

We have taken the raw data from the 2021 census and calculated what proportion of people in Southwold either own or rent their home. All percentages have been rounded to two decimal places. 71.98 of residents own their home either outright or mortgaged. 28.02 of Southwold residents rent their home either privately or through a social landlord.
AreaOwnedRented
Southwold71.98%28.02%
East Suffolk68.88%31.12%
East65.23%34.77%
England61.31%38.69%

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

Southwold compared to other wards in East Suffolk

#WardOwnedRented
1Rushmere St Andrew92.42%7.58%
2Carlford & Fynn Valley80.59%19.41%
3Martlesham & Purdis Farm80.3%19.7%
4Carlton Colville78.08%21.92%
5Orwell & Villages77.17%22.83%
6Kesgrave76.68%23.32%
7Oulton Broad76.65%23.35%
8Lothingland (East Suffolk)76.54%23.46%
9Southwold71.98%28.02%
10Wrentham, Wangford & Westleton71.66%28.34%
11Melton71.45%28.55%
12Eastern Felixstowe71.26%28.74%
13Framlingham71.11%28.89%
14Kessingland70.93%29.07%
15Carlton & Whitton70.43%29.57%
16Halesworth & Blything70.23%29.77%
17Kelsale & Yoxford70.19%29.81%
18Rendlesham & Orford69.83%30.17%
19Wickham Market69.07%30.93%
20Deben68.73%31.27%
21Bungay & Wainford68.13%31.87%
22Beccles & Worlingham67.82%32.18%
23Woodbridge67.76%32.24%
24Gunton & St Margarets67.19%32.81%
25Aldeburgh & Leiston66.59%33.41%
26Kirkley & Pakefield59.96%40.04%
27Saxmundham59.27%40.73%
28Western Felixstowe57.16%42.84%
29Harbour & Normanston43.31%56.69%
Southwold is ranked 9 out of 29 wards in East Suffolk for the percentage of home owners.

Southwold 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 East Suffolk.
AreaUnemployedYearly Change
East Suffolk2.7%-0.5%
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 Southwold 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 Southwold.
Economic StatusProportion
In Employment39.46%
In Part-Time Work38.11%
Unemployed4.58%
61.89% of the people in work, are in full-time employment in Southwold

Southwold Health Statistics

Southwold has a significantly lower proportion of residents (>5%) describing their health as very good than the national average for England.
AreaVGGFBVB
Southwold41.12%37.3%16.68%3.85%1.04%
East Suffolk43.33%35.97%14.98%4.53%1.2%
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

Southwold & East Suffolk 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 Southwold in the East Suffolk local area district.

Southwold has a lower rate of immigrants than East Suffolk, the East of England region and England as a whole.
AreaBorn in UKBorn outside UK
Southwold94.3%5.7%
East Suffolk94.04%5.96%
East85.09%14.91%
England82.65%17.35%

Southwold compared to other wards in East Suffolk

#WardBorn in UKBorn outside UK
1Eastern Felixstowe90.6%9.4%
2Kesgrave91.38%8.62%
3Western Felixstowe91.73%8.27%
4Rushmere St Andrew91.92%8.08%
5Deben91.95%8.05%
6Martlesham & Purdis Farm92.06%7.94%
7Rendlesham & Orford92.42%7.58%
8Woodbridge92.51%7.49%
9Harbour & Normanston93.05%6.95%
10Bungay & Wainford93.39%6.61%
11Aldeburgh & Leiston93.66%6.34%
12Framlingham93.76%6.24%
13Melton94.03%5.97%
14Saxmundham94.07%5.93%
15Kirkley & Pakefield94.13%5.87%
16Orwell & Villages94.29%5.71%
17Southwold94.3%5.7%
18Wrentham, Wangford & Westleton94.81%5.19%
19Carlford & Fynn Valley95.01%4.99%
20Kelsale & Yoxford95.17%4.83%
21Wickham Market95.2%4.8%
22Lothingland95.63%4.37%
23Halesworth & Blything95.9%4.1%
24Beccles & Worlingham95.98%4.02%
25Carlton & Whitton96.42%3.58%
26Gunton & St Margarets96.48%3.52%
27Oulton Broad96.49%3.51%
28Kessingland96.86%3.14%
29Carlton Colville96.88%3.12%
';Southwold is ranked 17 out of 29 wards in East Suffolk for the number of residents born outside of the UK.

What are the occupations of the residents of Southwold?

The largest employment sector in Southwold is Managers, Directors & Senior Officials. The smallest employment sector is Process Plant & Machine Operatives.
SectorProportion
Managers, Directors & Senior Officials17.87%
Professional Occupations15.21%
Skilled Trades15.07%
Associate Professional & Technical13.15%
Elementary Occupations10.56%
Caring, leisure & Other Services8.94%
Administrative & Secretarial6.57%
Process Plant & Machine Operatives4.43%

Southwold Education Statistics

We have taken the raw data from the 2021 census to found of the level of education Southwold 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 Southwold to the national average for England.
LevelSouthwoldEngland
No Qualifications18.75%18.08%
Level 19.3%9.69%
Level 214.07%13.32%
Apprenticeship6.81%5.32%
Level 314.1%16.92%
Level 433.83%33.92%

Southwold Age Distribution Statistics

We have taken the raw data from the 2021 Census and the calculated the proportion of age groups in Southwold.
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 is the population of Southwold and East Suffolk?

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

WardPopulation
East Suffolk Total0



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