We have collated a series of socio-economic statistics for Merry Oak in Southampton 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 Merry Oak older than the national average or younger? What is the population of Merry Oak and Southampton? Is Merry Oak an unemployment hotspot? This page should provide you with the answers.
Merry Oak Education Statistics
We have taken the raw data from the 2021 census to found of the level of education Merry Oak 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
| Level | Peartree | England |
|---|---|---|
| No Qualifications | 17.7% | 18.08% |
| Level 1 | 10.85% | 9.69% |
| Level 2 | 15.64% | 13.32% |
| Apprenticeship | 6.79% | 5.32% |
| Level 3 | 19.43% | 16.92% |
| Level 4 | 27.16% | 33.92% |
Source: Census 2021 (Nomis/ONS)
What are the occupations of the residents of Merry Oak?
The largest employment sector in Merry Oak is Professional Occupations. The smallest employment sector is Process Plant & Machine Operatives.| Sector | Proportion |
|---|---|
| Professional Occupations | 15.86% |
| Associate Professional & Technical | 13.25% |
| Skilled Trades | 12.44% |
| Caring, leisure & Other Services | 11.63% |
| Elementary Occupations | 10.81% |
| Managers, Directors & Senior Officials | 10.16% |
| Administrative & Secretarial | 9.64% |
| Process Plant & Machine Operatives | 8.33% |
Merry Oak Health Statistics
Peartree 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Peartree (Southampton) | 46.29% | 35.41% | 13.03% | 4.15% | 1.11% |
| Southampton | 47.69% | 35.09% | 12.25% | 3.83% | 1.14% |
| South East | 49.98% | 34.01% | 11.77% | 3.31% | 0.93% |
| England | 48.49% | 33.71% | 12.65% | 3.98% | 1.17% |
VG = Very Good, G = Good, F = Fair, B = Bad & VB = Very Bad
Source: Census 2021 (Nomis/ONS)
How has the health of residents in Southampton changed since 2011?
Southampton residents who describe their health as either good or very good has increased by 0.23% between the 2011 and 2021 census.| Year | VG | G | F | B | VB |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2011 | 47.56% | 34.99% | 12.36% | 3.89% | 1.2% |
| 2021 | 47.69% | 35.09% | 12.25% | 3.83% | 1.14% |
VG = Very Good, G = Good, F = Fair, B = Bad & VB = Very Bad
Source: Census 2011/2021 (Nomis/ONS)
Merry Oak & Southampton 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 Merry Oak in the Southampton local area district.
Merry Oak has a lower rate of immigrants than Southampton, the South East region and England as a whole.| Area | Born in UK | Born outside UK |
|---|---|---|
| Peartree (Southampton) | 86.6% | 13.4% |
| Southampton | 75.86% | 24.14% |
| South East | 84.24% | 15.76% |
| England | 82.65% | 17.35% |
Source: Census 2021 (Nomis/ONS)
Merry Oak compared to other wards in Southampton
| # | Ward | Born in UK | Born outside UK |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bevois | 54.62% | 45.38% |
| 2 | Bargate | 58.84% | 41.16% |
| 3 | Freemantle | 64.8% | 35.2% |
| 4 | Portswood | 69.87% | 30.13% |
| 5 | Swaythling | 70.64% | 29.36% |
| 6 | Bassett | 72.43% | 27.57% |
| 7 | Shirley | 73.51% | 26.49% |
| 8 | Millbrook | 79.03% | 20.97% |
| 9 | Coxford | 82.7% | 17.3% |
| 10 | Bitterne Park | 83.53% | 16.47% |
| 11 | Woolston | 84.22% | 15.78% |
| 12 | Redbridge | 84.65% | 15.35% |
| 13 | Harefield | 85.58% | 14.42% |
| 14 | Peartree | 86.6% | 13.4% |
| 15 | Bitterne | 88.6% | 11.4% |
| 16 | Sholing | 89.88% | 10.12% |
Source: Census 2021 (Nomis/ONS)
How many residents own or rent their home in Merry Oak and Southampton
We have taken the raw data from the 2021 census and calculated what proportion of people in Merry Oak either own or rent their home. All percentages have been rounded to two decimal places. 62.03 of residents own their home either outright or mortgaged. 37.97 of Merry Oak residents rent their home either privately or through a social landlord.| Area | Owned | Rented |
|---|---|---|
| Peartree (Southampton) | 62.03% | 37.97% |
| Southampton | 47.74% | 52.26% |
| South East | 65.66% | 34.34% |
| England | 61.31% | 38.69% |
Source: Census 2021 (Nomis/ONS)
Merry Oak has a higher level of home ownership than than the national average.
Merry Oak compared to other wards in Southampton
| # | Ward | Owned | Rented |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sholing | 69.85% | 30.15% |
| 2 | Bitterne Park | 63.31% | 36.69% |
| 3 | Peartree (Southampton) | 62.03% | 37.97% |
| 4 | Bassett | 61.11% | 38.89% |
| 5 | Harefield | 60.48% | 39.52% |
| 6 | Shirley | 55.24% | 44.76% |
| 7 | Coxford | 53.74% | 46.26% |
| 8 | Millbrook | 51.35% | 48.65% |
| 9 | Woolston | 46.97% | 53.03% |
| 10 | Redbridge | 46.47% | 53.53% |
| 11 | Bitterne | 43.18% | 56.82% |
| 12 | Portswood | 41.08% | 58.92% |
| 13 | Freemantle | 40.77% | 59.23% |
| 14 | Swaythling | 36.99% | 63.01% |
| 15 | Bargate | 23.93% | 76.08% |
| 16 | Bevois | 23.36% | 76.64% |
Source: Census 2021 (Nomis/ONS)
Merry Oak Age Distribution Statistics
We have taken the raw data from the 2021 Census and the calculated the proportion of age groups in Peartree.| 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 | |
Source: Census 2021 (Nomis/ONS)
Merry Oak 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 Southampton.| Area | Unemployed | Yearly Change |
|---|---|---|
| Southampton | 4.2% | -0.5% |
| South East | 2.9% | -0.3% |
| England | 3.8% | -0.3% |
| UK | 3.7% | -0.3% |
Source: Office for National Statistics (ONS), Last Retrieved: March 2023
| Economic Status | Proportion |
|---|---|
| In Employment | 62.02% |
| In Part-Time Work | 27.64% |
| Unemployed | 4% |
Source: Census 2021 (Nomis/ONS)
What is the population of Merry Oak and Southampton?
The table below contains the populations figures for each ward in Southampton including Merry Oak. These population ONS figures are estimated are dated Mid 2020.
| Ward | Population |
|---|---|
| Bargate | 25886 |
| Bassett | 15429 |
| Bevois | 19854 |
| Bitterne | 14071 |
| Bitterne Park | 14112 |
| Coxford | 13654 |
| Freemantle | 17072 |
| Harefield | 13797 |
| Millbrook | 15499 |
| Peartree | 14053 |
| Portswood | 15670 |
| Redbridge | 15611 |
| Shirley | 14879 |
| Sholing | 13231 |
| Swaythling | 14873 |
| Woolston | 15181 |
| Southampton Total | 252872 |
Source: Census 2021 (Nomis/ONS)
Last updated: 20/02/2024, Additional Sources: Office for National Statistics & Department for Work & Pensions.
