Stevenage

High earnings meet high living costs in Stevenage, where a robust local economy is offset by significant pressure on household budgets. While weekly pay of £894.30 sits well above the regional median, residents face a house price to annual pay ratio of 7.3x and rent that consumes 36.6% of gross earnings. These housing costs are compounded by a crime rate of 90.6 per 1,000, which is notably higher than the regional median. The trade-off is clear: you gain access to the highest performing schools in the region, with 96.5% of pupils in Good or Outstanding settings, but you pay a premium in both rent and safety concerns to secure that advantage. This location suits professionals who prioritise educational infrastructure over low-cost living.

Written from the indicators on this page, 2026-10 data.

Colour shows quintile position against 361 UK Local Authorities. Green is the best position for someone moving here; red is the worst. Direction is set per indicator — higher pay, lower rent, less crime, less deprivation are all green.