UK Income Map Small Area

Small-Area Income Data in the UK: See What’s Happening in Your Neighbourhood with Geolocet

Quick summary:
Geolocet’s small-area income data gives you a detailed look at household incomes right down to neighbourhood level. Using LSOAs in England & Wales, Super Data Zones in Scotland, and SOAs in Northern Ireland, you can explore who’s earning what, where wealth and deprivation sit side by side, and how income shapes local communities. This post walks you through why small-area income matters, how it varies across the UK, why these patterns exist, and how you can use the data.

Geographic location data can be found on the Geolocet website.

Contents

1. What we mean by “small-area” income data

Small-area income data looks beyond city or council averages — down to just a few hundred or a couple thousand people per area. Geolocet provides data for:

UK: Income map - small area level
  • LSOAs – England & Wales
  • Super Data Zones – Scotland
  • SOAs – Northern Ireland

Each area has roughly 1,700 residents, revealing hidden pockets of wealth or deprivation that large averages miss. It’s perfect for seeing what’s really going on in towns, cities, and rural areas. By zooming in to this level of detail, analysts can uncover patterns that national or regional statistics tend to obscure — such as contrasting neighbourhoods within the same city or inequalities within commuter belts. This granularity makes the data invaluable for understanding local economies, planning services, and guiding investment decisions.

2. Why small-area income is so useful

Here’s why having income data at this neighbourhood level is a game-changer:

  • See the details up close: Spot which areas are thriving and which are struggling — right down to lower levels.
  • Target help where it’s needed: Plan interventions that actually reach the people who need them — whether it’s fuel-poverty support, free school meals, or debt advice.
  • Make sense of patterns: Map clusters of wealth and deprivation and see how income links to health, education, and even crime.
  • Boost business decisions: From picking store locations to planning deliveries or tailoring local marketing, small-area income insights give you the edge.
  • Mix and match data: Combine income with demographics, housing type, or social stats to create custom indicators for your analysis.

3. Why the LSOA / Data Zone / SOA scale works so well

  • Balanced and reliable: Big enough for solid stats, small enough to show local differences.
  • Standardised boundaries: Works smoothly with census data, deprivation indices, and other official stats.
  • Easy comparisons: Track trends over time or compare neighbourhoods without the numbers getting muddled.

4. What UK neighbourhood income looks like

Income Distribution Across Major UK Cities and Regions

Understanding income distribution in the UK is essential for policymakers, businesses, and residents. Income varies widely across cities and regions, influenced by local economies, employment sectors, and cost of living. This section explores income by city: Belfast, Birmingham, Cardiff, Edinburgh, London, Hastings, Leeds, and South Oxfordshire.

Belfast Income Distribution

Belfast income distribution map

Belfast displays a mixed household income profile. Affluent suburbs report high incomes, while other areas show below-average earnings. The city’s historic industrial base and emerging service sectors contribute to a moderate but growing income distribution. Economic growth is increasingly driven by technology, education, and creative industries, particularly in the city centre. However, income disparities remain between long-established working-class districts and newer, more prosperous neighbourhoods.

Birmingham Income Distribution

Birmingham income distribution map

Birmingham has a broad range of household incomes. Central and northern districts with thriving finance, tech, and professional services attract higher-income residents. Some other neighbourhoods experience lower earnings, reflecting socio-economic diversity. The city’s regeneration projects and expanding business districts continue to boost average incomes in key areas. Yet, long-standing inequalities persist between prosperous urban centres and post-industrial suburbs, where employment opportunities and investment remain uneven.

Cardiff Income Distribution


Cardiff income distribution map

Cardiff shows a balanced income distribution supported by public sector and professional services. Central and new development zones report higher earnings, while post-industrial districts show modest incomes. The city benefits from a strong knowledge economy, driven by universities and innovation hubs that attract skilled professionals. However, income variation remains noticeable between regenerated waterfront areas and older residential neighbourhoods, reflecting Cardiff’s evolving urban landscape.

Edinburgh Income Distribution

Edinburgh income distribution map

Edinburgh ranks among the wealthiest UK cities. High-income households concentrate in western, southern, and central districts, driven by strong financial services, tech, and tourism sectors. The city’s reputation as a hub for education, innovation, and culture attracts a highly skilled workforce with above-average earnings. Nonetheless, income contrasts remain between affluent central areas and certain peripheral estates, where economic opportunities and access to high-paying jobs are more limited.

London Income Distribution

London income distribution map

London exhibits the widest income disparities in the UK. Affluent neighbourhoods in central and south London report very high incomes, while some outer eastern and western boroughs have more modest earnings. The city’s role as a global financial and business centre drives high wages in professional and creative industries, particularly in the inner zones. However, the high cost of living and housing affordability issues accentuate economic divides across boroughs. These contrasts make London a prime example of how prosperity and deprivation can coexist within close proximity.

Hastings Income Distribution

Hastings income distribution map

Hastings has a modest income profile, with many lower-income households. Regeneration and tourism bring pockets of improvement. The town’s economy is shaped by seasonal employment and a mix of creative and service industries, contributing to varied income levels across neighbourhoods. While investment in the seafront and cultural sectors has revitalised parts of the area, economic challenges remain in older residential districts. These contrasts highlight the ongoing transition from a traditional seaside economy toward a more diversified local base.

Leeds Income Distribution

Leeds income distribution map

Leeds demonstrates diverse income levels across its neighbourhoods. Central and northern districts attract higher earnings, supported by thriving finance, digital, and professional service sectors. Meanwhile, older industrial areas and outer estates have more moderate or below-average incomes. The city’s ongoing regeneration and investment in business and infrastructure are gradually narrowing some income gaps. However, socio-economic contrasts remain evident, reflecting Leeds’s blend of urban prosperity and post-industrial legacy.

South Oxfordshire Income Distribution

South Oxfordshire income distribution map

South Oxfordshire is among the highest-income districts in the UK. Proximity to Oxford, a strong technology and research base, and links to London support consistently high earnings across the region. Many residents work in knowledge-intensive sectors, contributing to strong local spending power and low unemployment. The area’s attractive rural character and excellent transport connections also draw affluent commuters. 

Across these regions, income distribution is shaped by local industries, housing markets, and regional policies. Understanding these patterns helps inform investment, development, and public service planning.

5. How You Can Use This Data

Small-area income data isn’t just numbers on a map — it’s actionable insight. Here’s how different sectors use it:

  • Local authorities & public health: Identify poverty hotspots, plan targeted interventions, and design effective local programmes.
  • Retail & commercial planning: Tailor store locations, pricing, and marketing campaigns to neighbourhood income profiles. Explore our brand locations data.
  • Utilities & energy: Target fuel-poverty and energy-efficiency schemes precisely where they’re needed most.
  • Financial services: Map branch networks, assess risk, and target products based on neighbourhood income.
  • Research & NGOs: Study income links to education, health, or crime, and measure policy impact at the community level.

6. Quick Tips for Analysts

  1. Map: Use Geolocet’s small-area boundary layers (LSOA, Data Zone, SOA) to visualise local income variations. Aggregate to higher geographies when needed for a broader view.
  2. Look beyond income alone: Pair income data with demographic profiles like age, household size, or education to uncover underlying patterns.
  3. Enrich with brand and location intelligence: Overlay income data with brand location datasets to understand purchasing power and guide site planning and market targeting.

Get Geolocet UK POI data, Brand locations data, Admin boundaries, Census boundaries, and Demographic data.

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