Poverty and living standards in East of England, United Kingdom: official figures
23.4% of children under 16 in the East of England lived in relative low-income families after housing costs in 2024/25 (DWP), 3rd lowest rate of 9 English regions; before housing costs the figure was 16.1%. UK-wide rates were 26.0% and 19.3%.
How many households are in fuel poverty in the East of England?
9.3% of households in the East of England were in fuel poverty in 2024 under the Low Income Low Energy Efficiency measure, 3rd lowest rate of 9 English regions (England 9.9%).
Source: Office for National Statistics · saved copyHow many people claim benefits in the East of England?
3.2% of residents aged 16 to 64 in the East of England were claiming unemployment-related benefits in 2025, against 4.0% across England.
Source: Office for National Statistics · saved copyWhat is the average house price in the East of England?
The average home in the East of England cost £337,848 in August 2026 (UK House Price Index), 3rd most expensive of 9 English regions and 9.0% more than five years earlier; England's average was £293,525.
Source: Office for National Statistics · saved copyHow affordable is housing in the East of England?
A typical home in the East of England cost 8.5 times the median annual earnings of residents in 2025, up from 7.9 in 2015 (3rd least affordable of 9 regions; England 7.6).
Source: Office for National Statistics · saved copyWhat is the murder rate in the East of England?
Police recorded 7.8 homicides per million people a year in the East of England over the three years from April 2022 (England 9.1).
Source: Office for National Statistics · saved copyHow many new homes are built in the East of England?
The housing stock in the East of England grew by 9.0 net additional homes per 1,000 dwellings in 2024/25 (England 8.0).
Source: Office for National Statistics · saved copyHow East of England compares with other region of Englands
Children in relative low income after housing costs (2024/25)
East of England ranks 7 of 9, highest first. The 9 regions of England only; Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland are compared on their own pages.
| Rank | Region | Children in relative low income after housing costs |
|---|---|---|
| 3 | London | 30.7% |
| 4 | North West | 29.1% |
| 5 | North East | 28.9% |
| 6 | East Midlands | 26.5% |
| 7 | East of England | 23.4% |
| 8 | South West | 23.1% |
| 9 | South East | 20.8% |
Households in fuel poverty (LILEE) (2024)
East of England ranks 7 of 9, highest first. The 9 regions of England only; Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland are compared on their own pages.
| Rank | Region | Households in fuel poverty (LILEE) |
|---|---|---|
| 3 | East Midlands | 10.6% |
| 4 | North West | 10.2% |
| 5 | South West | 9.9% |
| 6 | London | 9.6% |
| 7 | East of England | 9.3% |
| 8 | North East | 9.2% |
| 9 | South East | 8.2% |
House price to residence-based earnings ratio (2025)
East of England ranks 3 of 9, highest first. The 9 regions of England only; Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland are compared on their own pages.
| Rank | Region | House price to residence-based earnings ratio |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | London | 11.3 |
| 2 | South East | 9.2 |
| 3 | East of England | 8.5 |
| 4 | South West | 8.3 |
| 5 | East Midlands | 6.9 |
| 6 | West Midlands | 6.8 |
| 7 | Yorkshire and the Humber | 6.0 |
Average house price (August 2026)
East of England ranks 3 of 9, highest first. The 9 regions of England only; Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland are compared on their own pages.
| Rank | Region | Average house price |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | London | £554,430 |
| 2 | South East | £379,953 |
| 3 | East of England | £337,848 |
| 4 | South West | £304,139 |
| 5 | West Midlands | £250,731 |
| 6 | East Midlands | £241,955 |
| 7 | North West | £220,393 |
Children under 16 in relative low income, after housing costs (%) (2024-25)
East of England ranks 8 of 12, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Children under 16 in relative low income, after housing costs (%) |
|---|---|---|
| 5 | North East | 28.9% |
| 6 | East Midlands | 26.5% |
| 7 | Wales | 26.1% |
| 8 | East of England | 23.4% |
| 9 | South West | 23.1% |
| 10 | South East | 20.8% |
| 11 | Northern Ireland | 20.5% |
Children under 16 in relative low income, before housing costs (%) (2024-25)
East of England ranks 9 of 12, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Children under 16 in relative low income, before housing costs (%) |
|---|---|---|
| 6 | Wales | 21.2% |
| 7 | Northern Ireland | 18.9% |
| 8 | South West | 16.3% |
| 9 | East of England | 16.1% |
| 10 | London | 15.6% |
| 11 | South East | 13.0% |
| 12 | Scotland | 12.3% |
People aged 16 to 64 claiming unemployment-related benefits (%) (2025)
East of England ranks 8 of 12, highest first.
| Rank | Region | People aged 16 to 64 claiming unemployment-related benefits (%) |
|---|---|---|
| 5 | North East | 3.7% |
| 6 | East Midlands | 3.5% |
| 7 | Wales | 3.3% |
| 8 | East of England | 3.2% |
| 9 | South East | 3.1% |
| 10 | Northern Ireland | 3.1% |
| 11 | Scotland | 3.0% |
Average house price (£) (August 2026)
East of England ranks 3 of 12, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Average house price (£) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | London | £554,430 |
| 2 | South East | £379,953 |
| 3 | East of England | £337,848 |
| 4 | South West | £304,139 |
| 5 | West Midlands | £250,731 |
| 6 | East Midlands | £241,955 |
| 7 | North West | £220,393 |
Public spending on social protection per head (£) (2024-25)
East of England ranks 11 of 12, highest first. Pensions, benefits and social care, Country and Regional Analysis
| Rank | Region | Public spending on social protection per head (£) |
|---|---|---|
| 6 | West Midlands | £5,507 |
| 7 | Yorkshire and the Humber | £5,458 |
| 8 | South West | £5,417 |
| 9 | East Midlands | £5,249 |
| 10 | London | £5,138 |
| 11 | East of England | £5,027 |
| 12 | South East | £4,957 |
More on East of England: overview · economy and jobs · health · education and schools · government budget · government and politics · the United Kingdom
Sources
- Office for National Statistics: Explore Local Statistics: all datasets (116 indicators for UK local areas, regions and nations), spreadsheet generated 22 October 2026, read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 ae2f3a7b3960…)
Each saved copy is the file exactly as downloaded, kept so the figures can be checked even if the source changes. Report an error.