Socio-economic statistics for High Common, Norfolk

Socio-economic statistics for High Common, Norfolk

We have collated a series of socio-economic statistics for High Common in Breckland 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 High Common older than the national average or younger? What is the population of High Common and Breckland? Is High Common an unemployment hotspot? This page should provide you with the answers.

High Common 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 Breckland.
Area Unemployed Yearly Change
Breckland 2.2% -0.4%
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 High Common 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 High Common.
Economic Status Proportion
In Employment 58.49%
In Part-Time Work 31.85%
Unemployed 3.31%
68.15% of the people in work, are in full-time employment in High Common

What are the occupations of the residents of High Common?

The largest employment sector in High Common is Professional Occupations. The smallest employment sector is Process Plant & Machine Operatives.
Sector Proportion
Professional Occupations 13.85%
Skilled Trades 13.46%
Managers, Directors & Senior Officials 12.75%
Caring, leisure & Other Services 12.68%
Associate Professional & Technical 11.47%
Administrative & Secretarial 9.67%
Elementary Occupations 9.38%
Process Plant & Machine Operatives 7.86%

How many residents own or rent their home in High Common and Breckland

We have taken the raw data from the 2021 census and calculated what proportion of people in High Common either own or rent their home. All percentages have been rounded to two decimal places. 72.66 of residents own their home either outright or mortgaged. 27.34 of High Common residents rent their home either privately or through a social landlord.
Area Owned Rented
Shipdham-with-Scarning 72.66% 27.34%
Breckland 67.04% 32.97%
East 65.23% 34.77%
England 61.31% 38.69%

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

High Common compared to other wards in Breckland

# Ward Owned Rented
1 Mattishall 78.51% 21.49%
2 Necton 77.42% 22.58%
3 All Saints & Wayland 77.41% 22.59%
4 Guiltcross 76.55% 23.45%
5 Lincoln 75.85% 24.15%
6 Upper Wensum 75.41% 24.59%
7 Dereham Toftwood 73.53% 26.47%
8 Harling & Heathlands 72.86% 27.14%
9 Bedingfeld 72.74% 27.26%
10 Shipdham-with-Scarning 72.66% 27.34%
11 Hermitage (Breckland) 72.46% 27.54%
12 The Buckenhams & Banham 71.2% 28.8%
13 Forest (Breckland) 71.02% 28.98%
14 Nar Valley 70.31% 29.69%
15 Attleborough Burgh & Haverscroft 69.45% 30.55%
16 Watton 69.31% 30.69%
17 Ashill 69.3% 30.7%
18 Attleborough Queens & Besthorpe 69.15% 30.85%
19 Thetford Boudica 68% 32%
20 Launditch 65.93% 34.07%
21 Dereham Neatherd 65.75% 34.25%
22 Saham Toney 64.3% 35.7%
23 Swaffham 63.96% 36.04%
24 Thetford Castle 57.28% 42.72%
25 Dereham Withburga 50.83% 49.17%
26 Thetford Burrell 46.54% 53.46%
27 Thetford Priory 40.81% 59.19%
High Common is ranked 10 out of 27 wards in Breckland for the percentage of home owners.

High Common & Breckland 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 High Common in the Breckland local area district.

High Common has a lower rate of immigrants than Breckland, the East of England region and England as a whole.
Area Born in UK Born outside UK
Shipdham-with-Scarning 94.41% 5.59%
Breckland 89.18% 10.82%
East 85.09% 14.91%
England 82.65% 17.35%

High Common compared to other wards in Breckland

# Ward Born in UK Born outside UK
1 Thetford Priory 71.78% 28.22%
2 Thetford Castle 72.48% 27.52%
3 Thetford Burrell 75.35% 24.65%
4 Thetford Boudica 78.74% 21.26%
5 Watton 82.55% 17.45%
6 Forest 89.08% 10.92%
7 Attleborough Burgh & Haverscroft 89.7% 10.3%
8 Saham Toney 90% 10%
9 Attleborough Queens & Besthorpe 91.48% 8.52%
10 Swaffham 91.85% 8.15%
11 Dereham Neatherd 92.13% 7.87%
12 All Saints & Wayland 92.64% 7.36%
13 Dereham Withburga 92.82% 7.18%
14 Bedingfeld 93.3% 6.7%
15 Lincoln 93.36% 6.64%
16 Dereham Toftwood 93.63% 6.37%
17 Shipdham-with-Scarning 94.41% 5.59%
18 Harling & Heathlands 94.52% 5.48%
19 Ashill 94.73% 5.27%
20 Nar Valley 94.92% 5.08%
21 Guiltcross 95.05% 4.95%
22 Launditch 95.24% 4.76%
23 Hermitage 95.41% 4.59%
24 The Buckenhams & Banham 95.62% 4.38%
25 Upper Wensum 96.16% 3.84%
26 Necton 96.33% 3.67%
27 Mattishall 96.42% 3.58%
'; High Common is ranked 17 out of 27 wards in Breckland for the number of residents born outside of the UK.

High Common Age Distribution Statistics

We have taken the raw data from the 2021 Census and the calculated the proportion of age groups in Shipdham-with-Scarning.
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

High Common Education Statistics

We have taken the raw data from the 2021 census to found of the level of education High Common 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 High Common to the national average for England.
Level Shipdham-with-Scarning England
No Qualifications 18.04% 18.08%
Level 1 12.11% 9.69%
Level 2 16.41% 13.32%
Apprenticeship 7.15% 5.32%
Level 3 18.99% 16.92%
Level 4 24.3% 33.92%

High Common Health Statistics

Shipdham-with-Scarning 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.
Area VG G F B VB
Shipdham-with-Scarning 45.15% 36.3% 13.97% 3.71% 0.87%
Breckland 42.56% 37.05% 14.94% 4.32% 1.14%
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

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

Breckland residents who describe their health as either good or very good has increased by 0.1% between the 2011 and 2021 census.
Year VG G F B VB
2011 42.22% 37.29% 14.99% 4.31% 1.18%
2021 42.56% 37.05% 14.94% 4.32% 1.14%
VG = Very Good, G = Good, F = Fair, B = Bad & VB = Very Bad

What is the population of High Common and Breckland?

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

Ward Population
All Saints & Wayland 7223
Ashill 2631
Attleborough Burgh & Haverscroft 5716
Attleborough Queens & Besthorpe 6857
Bedingfeld 3337
Dereham Neatherd 7440
Dereham Toftwood 6042
Dereham Withburga 5978
Forest 3194
Guiltcross 3371
Harling & Heathlands 3101
Hermitage 2825
Launditch 2586
Lincoln 5365
Mattishall 5462
Nar Valley 2814
Necton 2667
Saham Toney 5439
Shipdham-with-Scarning 5564
Swaffham 8333
The Buckenhams & Banham 3184
Thetford Boudica 5193
Thetford Burrell 6444
Thetford Castle 6680
Thetford Priory 8693
Upper Wensum 6524
Watton 8592
Breckland Total 141255



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

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