Age profile of England’s towns and cities revealed

New ONS figures have revealed the oldest places in England. Overall, the over-65 populations in England’s towns has risen by nearly a third in the last two decades, while in smaller, non-coastal towns the older population has increased by over 40%.

Budleigh Salterton, Hunstanton and Seaton (East Devon) currently have the highest over-65 population – with 45%, 44% and 43% of residents respectively aged over 65. Overall, smaller seaside towns had the highest proportion of older residents, while cities had the lowest.

Experts at the Centre for Ageing Better say more needs to be done across society to respond to the population age shift and ensure that local places are able to support their residents to age healthily and enjoy later life. They say accessible housing, age-friendly employment practices and a preventative approach to health are crucial.

The Centre for Ageing Better is also calling for more local areas to consider becoming part of the UK Network of Age-friendly Communities, which already has over 40 members, including towns such as Banbury in Oxfordshire and Melksham in Wiltshire. Members of the network are committed to being places where people of all ages are able to live healthy and active later lives, and where older people are able to help shape the place where they live.  

Natalie Turner, Head of Localities at the Centre for Ageing Better, said: 

“There’s been a huge change in the population makeup of our towns in the last two decades when it comes to age. In England, towns have seen their over-65 population increase by almost a third on average, with some seeing the numbers increase by over 40%.

“With many of us set to live years longer than our parents or grandparents, it’s crucial that the places we live are able to help us to stay healthy and independent as we age – from the homes we live in, to the streets and communities around us.

“Some places are seeing their older population grow much faster than others, such as rural and coastal communities. Local areas interested in how they can better support people in later life can sign up to the UK Network of Age-Friendly Communities, a growing movement of more than 40 communities including towns like Banbury and Melksham committing to become great places to grow old in.”   

20 English towns and cities with the greatest percentage of people aged over 65  

Town  Percentage of over 65s

Budleigh Salterton, Devon 45%

Hunstanton, Norfolk 44%

Seaton, East Devon 43%

Sidmouth, Devon 43%

St Leonards, East Sussex 42%

Mablethorpe, Lincolnshire 42%

Sheringham, Norfolk 40%

Freshwater, Isle of Wight 40%

Ferndown, Dorset 39%

Preesall, Lancashire 38%

Walton-on-the-Naze, Essex 38%

Hemsby, Norfolk 38%

Selsey, West Sussex 37%

Filey, North Yorkshire 37%

West Mersea, Essex 37%

Garstang, Lancashire 37%

Northam, Devon 37%

Tenterden, Kent 36%

Cromer, Norfolk 36%

Hythe, Kent 36%

 

Cities  Percentage of over 65s

Stoke-on-Trent 18%

Havering 18%

Plymouth 18%

Bromley 17%

City of London 17%

Derby 16%

Kingston upon Hull 16%

Bexley 16%

Kensington and Chelsea 16%

Harrow 16%

Sutton 16%

Richmond upon Thames 16%

Sheffield 16%

Portsmouth 15%

Liverpool 15%

Barnet 15%

Leicester 14%

Bristol 14%

Newcastle upon Tyne 14%

Southampton 14%