Rochester, Kent

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

Rochester Education Statistics

We have taken the raw data from the 2021 census to found of the level of education Rochester 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 Rochester to the national average for England.
Level Strood South England
No Qualifications 22.3% 18.08%
Level 1 13.37% 9.69%
Level 2 16.95% 13.32%
Apprenticeship 5.85% 5.32%
Level 3 16.89% 16.92%
Level 4 21.71% 33.92%

Rochester Health Statistics

Strood South 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
Strood South 47.85% 34.14% 12.73% 4.09% 1.19%
Medway 47.48% 34.58% 12.83% 3.99% 1.11%
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

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

Medway residents who describe their health as either good or very good has increased by 0.09% between the 2011 and 2021 census.
Year VG G F B VB
2011 45.72% 36.25% 13% 3.94% 1.09%
2021 47.48% 34.58% 12.83% 3.99% 1.11%
VG = Very Good, G = Good, F = Fair, B = Bad & VB = Very Bad

Rochester 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 Medway.
Area Unemployed Yearly Change
Medway 3.8% -0.7%
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
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 Rochester 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 Rochester.
Economic Status Proportion
In Employment 59.1%
In Part-Time Work 25.45%
Unemployed 5.29%
74.55% of the people in work, are in full-time employment in Rochester

How many residents own or rent their home in Rochester and Medway

We have taken the raw data from the 2021 census and calculated what proportion of people in Rochester either own or rent their home. All percentages have been rounded to two decimal places. 62.23 of residents own their home either outright or mortgaged. 37.77 of Rochester residents rent their home either privately or through a social landlord.
Area Owned Rented
Strood South 62.23% 37.77%
Medway 64.71% 35.29%
South East 65.66% 34.34%
England 61.31% 38.69%

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

Rochester compared to other wards in Medway

# Ward Owned Rented
1 Hempstead and Wigmore 89.06% 10.94%
2 Rainham Central 84.81% 15.19%
3 Cuxton and Halling 81.53% 18.47%
4 Rochester South and Horsted 77.81% 22.19%
5 Peninsula 77.12% 22.88%
6 Watling (Medway) 77.05% 22.95%
7 Rainham South 76.48% 23.52%
8 Strood Rural 75.92% 24.08%
9 Lordswood and Capstone 73.96% 26.04%
10 Rainham North 72.59% 27.41%
11 Walderslade 72.01% 27.99%
12 Princes Park (Medway) 69.67% 30.33%
13 Strood North 68.54% 31.46%
14 Twydall 65.36% 34.64%
15 Strood South 62.23% 37.77%
16 Rochester West 57.43% 42.57%
17 Rochester East 54.95% 45.05%
18 Gillingham South 50.85% 49.15%
19 Luton and Wayfield 50.57% 49.43%
20 Chatham Central 44.95% 55.05%
21 Gillingham North 43.06% 56.94%
22 River (Medway) 40.79% 59.21%
Rochester is ranked 15 out of 22 wards in Medway for the percentage of home owners.

Rochester Age Distribution Statistics

We have taken the raw data from the 2021 Census and the calculated the proportion of age groups in Strood South.
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 are the occupations of the residents of Rochester?

The largest employment sector in Rochester is Professional Occupations. The smallest employment sector is Managers, Directors & Senior Officials.
Sector Proportion
Professional Occupations 13.48%
Skilled Trades 13.37%
Elementary Occupations 12.58%
Associate Professional & Technical 12.14%
Caring, leisure & Other Services 10.68%
Process Plant & Machine Operatives 9.75%
Administrative & Secretarial 9.73%
Managers, Directors & Senior Officials 9.06%

Rochester & Medway 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 Rochester in the Medway local area district.

Rochester has a lower rate of immigrants than Medway, the South East region and England as a whole.
Area Born in UK Born outside UK
Strood South 86.8% 13.2%
Medway 86.18% 13.82%
South East 84.24% 15.76%
England 82.65% 17.35%

Rochester compared to other wards in Medway

# Ward Born in UK Born outside UK
1 Chatham Central 74.24% 25.76%
2 Gillingham South 74.37% 25.63%
3 River 75.22% 24.78%
4 Gillingham North 79.27% 20.73%
5 Luton and Wayfield 80.84% 19.16%
6 Rochester East 84.37% 15.63%
7 Rochester South and Horsted 85.35% 14.65%
8 Strood North 86.11% 13.89%
9 Watling 86.24% 13.76%
10 Strood South 86.8% 13.2%
11 Rochester West 87.2% 12.8%
12 Princes Park 90.31% 9.69%
13 Hempstead and Wigmore 90.67% 9.33%
14 Walderslade 91.59% 8.41%
15 Twydall 91.81% 8.19%
16 Rainham North 92.43% 7.57%
17 Strood Rural 92.49% 7.51%
18 Lordswood and Capstone 92.85% 7.15%
19 Rainham Central 92.91% 7.09%
20 Rainham South 92.96% 7.04%
21 Peninsula 93.28% 6.72%
22 Cuxton and Halling 93.69% 6.31%
'; Rochester is ranked 10 out of 22 wards in Medway for the number of residents born outside of the UK.

What is the population of Rochester and Medway?

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

Ward Population
Chatham Central 17547
Cuxton and Halling 6683
Gillingham North 19872
Gillingham South 17932
Hempstead and Wigmore 7767
Lordswood and Capstone 9025
Luton and Wayfield 15402
Peninsula 14712
Princes Park 10225
Rainham Central 12088
Rainham North 8766
Rainham South 13388
River 12100
Rochester East 10670
Rochester South and Horsted 13752
Rochester West 10912
Strood North 14393
Strood Rural 15200
Strood South 16495
Twydall 13348
Walderslade 9421
Watling 9444
Medway Total 279142



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

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