Orwell, Cambridgeshire

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

Orwell Education Statistics

We have taken the raw data from the 2021 census to found of the level of education Orwell 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 Orwell to the national average for England.
Level Barrington England
No Qualifications 10.78% 18.08%
Level 1 7.58% 9.69%
Level 2 12.65% 13.32%
Apprenticeship 5.07% 5.32%
Level 3 13.81% 16.92%
Level 4 48.24% 33.92%

Orwell & South Cambridgeshire 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 Orwell in the South Cambridgeshire local area district.

Orwell has a lower rate of immigrants than South Cambridgeshire, the East of England region and England as a whole.
Area Born in UK Born outside UK
Barrington 92.37% 7.63%
South Cambridgeshire 83.84% 16.16%
East 85.09% 14.91%
England 82.65% 17.35%

Orwell compared to other wards in South Cambridgeshire

# Ward Born in UK Born outside UK
1 Fen Ditton & Fulbourn 75.11% 24.89%
2 Bar Hill 78% 22%
3 Histon & Impington 79.31% 20.69%
4 Girton 79.48% 20.52%
5 Milton & Waterbeach 79.63% 20.37%
6 Harston & Comberton 80.63% 19.37%
7 Shelford 81.56% 18.44%
8 Hardwick 84.89% 15.11%
9 Caldecote 86% 14%
10 Whittlesford 87.53% 12.47%
11 Cottenham 87.64% 12.36%
12 Swavesey 89.08% 10.92%
13 Linton 90.64% 9.36%
14 Foxton 91.44% 8.56%
15 Melbourn 91.64% 8.36%
16 Bassingbourn 91.79% 8.21%
17 Balsham 92.24% 7.76%
18 Barrington 92.37% 7.63%
19 The Mordens 92.73% 7.27%
20 Gamlingay 95.04% 4.96%
'; Orwell is ranked 18 out of 20 wards in South Cambridgeshire for the number of residents born outside of the UK.

How many residents own or rent their home in Orwell and South Cambridgeshire

We have taken the raw data from the 2021 census and calculated what proportion of people in Orwell either own or rent their home. All percentages have been rounded to two decimal places. 70.2 of residents own their home either outright or mortgaged. 29.8 of Orwell residents rent their home either privately or through a social landlord.
Area Owned Rented
Barrington 70.2% 29.8%
South Cambridgeshire 68.9% 31.1%
East 65.23% 34.77%
England 61.31% 38.69%

Orwell has a higher level of home ownership than than the national average.

Orwell compared to other wards in South Cambridgeshire

# Ward Owned Rented
1 Hardwick 78.92% 21.08%
2 Foxton 77.73% 22.27%
3 The Mordens 75.36% 24.64%
4 Bar Hill 75.19% 24.81%
5 Gamlingay 74.83% 25.17%
6 Cottenham 73.9% 26.1%
7 Balsham 73.87% 26.13%
8 Swavesey 73.45% 26.55%
9 Whittlesford 73.12% 26.88%
10 Caldecote 72.46% 27.54%
11 Girton 71.92% 28.08%
12 Harston & Comberton 71.26% 28.74%
13 Linton (South Cambridgeshire) 70.8% 29.2%
14 Barrington 70.2% 29.8%
15 Bassingbourn 70.05% 29.95%
16 Shelford 69.68% 30.32%
17 Melbourn 68.09% 31.91%
18 Milton & Waterbeach 65.65% 34.35%
19 Fen Ditton & Fulbourn 61.03% 38.97%
20 Histon & Impington 60.55% 39.45%
Orwell is ranked 14 out of 20 wards in South Cambridgeshire for the percentage of home owners.

Orwell Health Statistics

Barrington has more residents (very_good_pc-$country_health->very_good_pc, 2)%) describing their health as very good than the national average for England.
Area VG G F B VB
Barrington 51.26% 33.32% 11.5% 2.93% 0.99%
South Cambridgeshire 52.21% 33.62% 10.74% 2.66% 0.77%
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 South Cambridgeshire changed since 2011?

South Cambridgeshire residents who describe their health as either good or very good has decreased by 0.34% between the 2011 and 2021 census.
Year VG G F B VB
2011 52.46% 33.71% 10.62% 2.51% 0.7%
2021 52.21% 33.62% 10.74% 2.66% 0.77%
VG = Very Good, G = Good, F = Fair, B = Bad & VB = Very Bad

What are the occupations of the residents of Orwell?

The largest employment sector in Orwell is Professional Occupations. The smallest employment sector is Process Plant & Machine Operatives.
Sector Proportion
Professional Occupations 29.18%
Managers, Directors & Senior Officials 18.67%
Associate Professional & Technical 12.69%
Skilled Trades 9.21%
Administrative & Secretarial 8.65%
Caring, leisure & Other Services 6.91%
Elementary Occupations 6.35%
Process Plant & Machine Operatives 3.36%

Orwell 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 South Cambridgeshire.
Area Unemployed Yearly Change
South Cambridgeshire 1.8% -0.1%
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 Orwell 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 Orwell.
Economic Status Proportion
In Employment 55.67%
In Part-Time Work 29.39%
Unemployed 7.11%
70.61% of the people in work, are in full-time employment in Orwell

Orwell Age Distribution Statistics

We have taken the raw data from the 2021 Census and the calculated the proportion of age groups in Barrington.
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 Orwell and South Cambridgeshire?

The table below contains the populations figures for each ward in South Cambridgeshire including Orwell. These population ONS figures are estimated are dated Mid 2020.

Ward Population
Balsham 3558
Bar Hill 4045
Barrington 3237
Bassingbourn 3869
Caldecote 4831
Cambourne 10544
Caxton & Papworth 6166
Cottenham 6660
Duxford 3953
Fen Ditton & Fulbourn 10809
Foxton 3381
Gamlingay 3678
Girton 5981
Hardwick 3053
Harston & Comberton 10203
Histon & Impington 12066
Linton 7361
Longstanton 6129
Melbourn 8298
Milton & Waterbeach 11360
Over & Willingham 6958
Sawston 7260
Shelford 7546
Swavesey 3625
The Mordens 3257
Whittlesford 3076
South Cambridgeshire Total 160904



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

How grim is your Postcode?