Socio-economic statistics for Bere Ferrers, Devon

Socio-economic statistics for Bere Ferrers, Devon

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

What are the occupations of the residents of Bere Ferrers?

The largest employment sector in Bere Ferrers is Skilled Trades. The smallest employment sector is Process Plant & Machine Operatives.
Sector Proportion
Skilled Trades 18.16%
Professional Occupations 17.47%
Managers, Directors & Senior Officials 11.85%
Associate Professional & Technical 11.66%
Caring, leisure & Other Services 11.1%
Elementary Occupations 9.08%
Administrative & Secretarial 7.76%
Process Plant & Machine Operatives 6.37%

Bere Ferrers & West Devon 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 Bere Ferrers in the West Devon local area district.

Bere Ferrers has a lower rate of immigrants than West Devon, the South West region and England as a whole.
Area Born in UK Born outside UK
Bere Ferrers 95.86% 4.14%
West Devon 94.55% 5.45%
South West 89.8% 10.2%
England 82.65% 17.35%

Bere Ferrers compared to other wards in West Devon

# Ward Born in UK Born outside UK
1 Chagford 91.04% 8.96%
2 Okehampton South 92.18% 7.83%
3 Drewsteignton 93.34% 6.66%
4 Tavistock North 93.66% 6.34%
5 Okehampton North 93.67% 6.33%
6 Buckland Monachorum 94.42% 5.58%
7 Dartmoor 94.44% 5.56%
8 Hatherleigh 94.86% 5.14%
9 Tavistock South East 94.94% 5.06%
10 Exbourne 95.1% 4.9%
11 Tavistock South West 95.3% 4.7%
12 Burrator 95.31% 4.69%
13 South Tawton 95.5% 4.5%
14 Mary Tavy 95.5% 4.5%
15 Bridestowe 95.84% 4.16%
16 Bere Ferrers 95.86% 4.14%
17 Milton Ford 95.94% 4.06%
18 Tamarside 96% 4%
'; Bere Ferrers is ranked 16 out of 18 wards in West Devon for the number of residents born outside of the UK.

Bere Ferrers Health Statistics

Bere Ferrers 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
Bere Ferrers 43.61% 34.4% 15.83% 5.04% 1.12%
West Devon 45.55% 34.68% 14.42% 4.17% 1.18%
South West 47.6% 34.21% 13.12% 3.95% 1.12%
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 West Devon changed since 2011?

West Devon residents who describe their health as either good or very good has decreased by 0.35% between the 2011 and 2021 census.
Year VG G F B VB
2011 45.85% 34.73% 14.28% 3.96% 1.18%
2021 45.55% 34.68% 14.42% 4.17% 1.18%
VG = Very Good, G = Good, F = Fair, B = Bad & VB = Very Bad

How many residents own or rent their home in Bere Ferrers and West Devon

We have taken the raw data from the 2021 census and calculated what proportion of people in Bere Ferrers either own or rent their home. All percentages have been rounded to two decimal places. 72.59 of residents own their home either outright or mortgaged. 27.41 of Bere Ferrers residents rent their home either privately or through a social landlord.
Area Owned Rented
Bere Ferrers 72.59% 27.41%
West Devon 70.96% 29.04%
South West 65.88% 34.12%
England 61.31% 38.69%

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

Bere Ferrers compared to other wards in West Devon

# Ward Owned Rented
1 Mary Tavy 82.45% 17.55%
2 Tavistock South East 79% 21%
3 Bridestowe 78.4% 21.6%
4 Burrator 77.36% 22.65%
5 Buckland Monachorum 76.82% 23.18%
6 South Tawton 76.41% 23.59%
7 Drewsteignton 75.8% 24.2%
8 Milton Ford 74.88% 25.12%
9 Exbourne 74.66% 25.34%
10 Bere Ferrers 72.59% 27.41%
11 Tamarside 72.12% 27.88%
12 Dartmoor 69.91% 30.09%
13 Hatherleigh 69% 31%
14 Tavistock North 67.66% 32.34%
15 Okehampton North 65.51% 34.49%
16 Chagford 64.79% 35.21%
17 Tavistock South West 60.96% 39.04%
18 Okehampton South 55.12% 44.88%
Bere Ferrers is ranked 10 out of 18 wards in West Devon for the percentage of home owners.

Bere Ferrers Education Statistics

We have taken the raw data from the 2021 census to found of the level of education Bere Ferrers 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 Bere Ferrers to the national average for England.
Level Bere Ferrers England
No Qualifications 15.61% 18.08%
Level 1 10.53% 9.69%
Level 2 14.28% 13.32%
Apprenticeship 7.55% 5.32%
Level 3 15.93% 16.92%
Level 4 33.19% 33.92%

Bere Ferrers 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 West Devon.
Area Unemployed Yearly Change
West Devon 1.9% -0.4%
South West 2.5% -0.4%
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 Bere Ferrers 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 Bere Ferrers.
Economic Status Proportion
In Employment 49.11%
In Part-Time Work 34.21%
Unemployed 2.82%
65.79% of the people in work, are in full-time employment in Bere Ferrers

Bere Ferrers Age Distribution Statistics

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

What is the population of Bere Ferrers and West Devon?

The table below contains the populations figures for each ward in West Devon including Bere Ferrers. These population ONS figures are estimated are dated Mid 2020.

Ward Population
Bere Ferrers 3504
Bridestowe 3207
Buckland Monachorum 3802
Burrator 3582
Chagford 1535
Dartmoor 2300
Drewsteignton 1667
Exbourne 4159
Hatherleigh 3245
Mary Tavy 1509
Milton Ford 1836
Okehampton North 5492
Okehampton South 3980
South Tawton 1907
Tamarside 1787
Tavistock North 5363
Tavistock South East 3937
Tavistock South West 3327
West Devon Total 56139



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

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