ONS data show Britain’s income gaps by neighbourhood; London dominates top earners while northern towns sit at the bottom

Britain’s households are spread along a wide income spectrum, according to newly released Office for National Statistics data analyzed by Money Mail and This is Money. A calculator built from MSOA data lets readers see where their household sits in their local neighbourhood and compared with the rest of England and Wales. The analysis uses 2023 figures for more than 7,000 neighbourhoods, each housing between 5,000 and 15,000 people. The data measure total household income before tax, not take-home pay, and cover wages, pensions, investments and benefits.

The national picture shows an average household income of £58,641 in England and Wales. By comparison, the average earnings of a full-time employee stand at £39,039 a year. The difference matters: dual incomes can push families well above single-earner households with similar pre-tax incomes. For example, a household with a single earner on £100,000 would see only about £68,561 in take-home pay after income tax and National Insurance, while a couple each earning £50,000 would take home about £78,502 combined, thanks to different tax bands.

The Office for National Statistics data used for the analysis focus on Middle Layer Super Output Areas (MSOAs) in England and Wales. These neighbourhoods typically span 5,000 to 15,000 residents. The latest release covers all MSOAs in England and Wales, representing the total income received by households before tax. Across England and Wales, average household incomes in MSOAs range from around £25,000 to about £128,000, reflecting combined incomes from wages, pensions, investments and benefits. Importantly, the figures do not adjust for housing costs, debt, or pension contributions.

Across the top end of the spectrum, almost all of the country’s 50 wealthiest neighbourhoods are in London. Of the top 50 local areas by average household income, 49 are in London. The standout is Richmond Park, Sheen Gate & Petersham, where the average household income is £128,590. That area is followed by Herne Hill & Dulwich Park at £125,416, with South Kensington at £122,200, Kew Gardens at £119,800 and Alexandra Park at £118,663 rounding out the top five. Outside London, Hinchley Wood & Weston Green in Surrey is the highest-ranked area, at £102,719, placing 42nd. Harpenden North in Hertfordshire is the second-highest outside London at £101,130, and Sevenoaks West & Chevening (£100,432) and Thames Ditton (£99,750) also rank among the top 50.

Regionally, London posts the highest average household income, at about £79,962, followed by the broader South East at £68,036. The South West (£59,739) and the East (£59,384) are next, while all other English and Welsh regions fall below the national average. The North East has the lowest regional average at £45,640, with Yorkshire and the Humber (£47,748) and the North West (£49,175) also near the bottom.

In the middle of the distribution, households with incomes near £60,000 a year sit close to the national average. Examples include Walworth South in London (£58,614), Turkey Street in Enfield (£58,599), and Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole in the South West (£58,202). In Wales, Rhondda Cynon, a collection of valleys, has a typical income around £58,204.

At the low end of the spectrum, Grimsby East Marsh & Port in Lincolnshire reports an average household income of about £25,413, roughly 52% below the national average. Other low-income pockets include Central Blackpool (£27,072), South Promenade & Seasiders Way (£27,513) and North Shore (£27,953). North West and North East towns such as Southport Waterfront (£28,028) and Birkenhead Central (£28,606) also feature among the lowest incomes. The concentration of low-income areas is notably higher in the North West, North East and Yorkshire and the Humber.

Several areas saw large gains in income over the three-year period from 2020 to 2023. The top area for cash growth was Richmond Park, Sheen Gate & Petersham, where the average household income rose by £53,590. Belmont & South Cheam in Sutton followed with an increase of £48,919, and Langley Park in southeast London rose by £45,523. In percentage terms, Stamford Hill North in Hackney topped the risers list with an 86% increase, followed by Gascoigne Estate & Roding Riverside in Barking & Dagenham at 86% and South Tottenham in Haringey at 76%. Conversely, some areas saw declines: Oldbrook & Coffee Hall in Milton Keynes fell about 20% between 2020 and 2023, while parts of the Southport Waterfront and Langley Green & Gatwick Airport areas posted declines of around 17% and the Isles of Scilly fell about 16%. The Office for National Statistics cautions against making too many income-shift comparisons across MSOAs due to changing methodologies and boundary updates. Nevertheless, the data offer a granular look at Britain’s wealth geography and how it has evolved in recent years.