Middle Britain revealed. Click image for full graphic. Illustration: Pete Guest for the Observer
Middle Britain now makes up 21% of the UK population according to new analysis to see what constitutes the much used term.
Experian, using a model, which uses over 400 social and economical variables, have created an analysis of the population to define the hot spots of Middle Britain.
Slough emerged as the local authority with the highest percentage of those classed as Middle Britain with Rushmoor, Bexley, Spelthorne and Harrow joining the top five. Over two thirds of those living in Slough fell into the Middle Britain band.
Kensington and Chelsea, City of London, Westminster, Camden and Hammersmith and Fulham all rank in the lowest of the rankings.
The comprehensive analysis goes into detail about religion, housing, consumer behavior and economic status amongst other characteristics.
According to the research, those defined as Middle Britain are more likely to live in newer homes with 14% living in new properties compared to the national average of 6%.
The household income is higher at 10% more than the national average of £47,300 per year although outgoings are also higher with high income tax and mortgage commitments. However disposable income was also found to be 8% higher than the national average.
Nigel Wilson, Managing Director of Experian Marketing Information Services, said: "Middle Britain is often discussed yet it has rarely been examined in a meaningful way, taking into account behaviours and consumer habits. We need to dispel the myth that Middle Britain is simply either those on average incomes or is somehow synonymous with being middle class – it takes in a much broader sweep of the population."
The analysis also shows Hindus and Sikhs are 1.6 and 1.8 times, respectively more likely to be in Middle Britain compared to the UK average. Nigel Wilson insists: "Unlike the traditional stereotypes, our analysis shows that Middle Britain encompasses a variety of ages, ethnic backgrounds, likes and dislikes, as well as being scattered across the country."
Below is a table showing the 50 ranking for Middle Britain by local authority. What can you do with this data?
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Data summary
FOR AID POSTS
• Get the data
• DATA: download the full spreadsheet
Development and aid data
• Search the world's world's global development data with our gateway
World government data
• Search the world's government with our gateway
Can you do something with this data?
Flickr Please post your visualisations and mash-ups on our Flickr group or mail us at datastore@guardian.co.uk
• Get the A-Z of data
• More at the Datastore directory
• Follow us on Twitter
Data summary
Top 50 Middle Britain percentages by local authority
Click headings to sort
Rank | LAUA | Population falling under Middle Britain (%) |
|
1 | Slough | 62.59 |
2 | Rushmoor | 56.01 |
3 | Bexley | 53.02 |
4 | Spelthorne | 51.43 |
5 | Harrow | 49.70 |
6 | Bracknell Forest | 49.28 |
7 | Broxbourne | 49.00 |
8 | Hillingdon | 48.90 |
9 | Dartford | 47.13 |
10 | Milton Keynes | 47.06 |
11 | Wokingham | 46.39 |
12 | Swindon | 46.34 |
13 | Redbridge | 46.17 |
14 | South Gloucestershire | 43.71 |
15 | Eastleigh | 43.55 |
16 | West Berkshire | 43.24 |
17 | Hart | 43.00 |
18 | Epsom and Ewell | 42.43 |
19 | Blaby | 42.09 |
20 | Watford | 41.66 |
21 | Woking | 40.94 |
22 | Central Bedfordshire | 40.36 |
23 | Havering | 40.23 |
24 | Trafford | 40.06 |
25 | Hounslow | 39.91 |
26 | Thurrock | 39.58 |
27 | Tonbridge and Malling | 39.21 |
28 | Sutton | 39.08 |
29 | Magherafelt | 38.95 |
30 | Hertsmere | 38.49 |
31 | Chelmsford | 38.21 |
32 | Surrey Heath | 38.05 |
33 | Gloucester | 37.74 |
34 | Reigate and Banstead | 37.67 |
35 | East Hertfordshire | 37.66 |
36 | Limavady | 37.59 |
37 | Cherwell | 37.53 |
38 | South Ribble | 37.48 |
39 | Fareham | 37.40 |
40 | Warrington | 37.20 |
41 | Crawley | 36.66 |
42 | Castlereagh | 36.18 |
43 | Runnymede | 36.11 |
44 | Basingstoke and Deane | 36.11 |
45 | Mid Sussex | 36.07 |
46 | Luton | 36.00 |
47 | Rochford | 35.88 |
48 | Antrim | 35.84 |
49 | Dacorum | 35.74 |
50 | Wycombe | 35.71 |
FAQs
The British lower middle class, when described historically, primarily consisted of office workers: when describing class segregation of housing in the Nottingham of 1901, clerks, bookkeepers, estate agents and teachers are described as having been lower middle class.
What value did the middle class in Great Britain have? ›
Thrift, responsibility and self-reliance were important aspects of Victorian middle-class culture. These middle class 'virtues' could be used to define a society in which success was contingent on individual perseverance and energy.
Where does middle class live? ›
Three out of the top five cities with the highest income thresholds for the middle class are located in the San Francisco Bay Area in California. These middle income residents need to make at least $81,623 in San Francisco, $84,673 in San Jose and $104,499 in Fremont.
Where do middle class live in England? ›
Slough emerged as the local authority with the highest percentage of those classed as Middle Britain with Rushmoor, Bexley, Spelthorne and Harrow joining the top five.
What was the middle class known for? ›
In Western cultures, persons in the middle class tend to have a higher proportion of college degrees than those in the working class, have more income available for consumption, and may own property. Those in the middle class often are employed as professionals, managers, and civil servants.
Who were the members of the middle class? ›
The middle class includes: professionals, managers, and senior civil servants. The chief defining characteristic of membership in the middle-class is control of significant human capital while still being under the dominion of the elite upper class, who control much of the financial and legal capital in the world.
What led to the growth of the middle class in Great Britain? ›
The growth of towns, and especially of London, the expansion of inland and foreign trade, of industry and the professions, had rapidly increased the numbers of those belonging to the urban middle station and made a nonsense of systems of social classification based on a purely rural and agricultural society.
How did the middle class start? ›
origins of the middle class
Eighteenth-century American society was marked by rank and deference. The middling rank, which formed a rough precursor to the middle class, included artisans and small proprietors along with professionals and semiprofessionals, who took their places in a strictly ordered social hierarchy.
How many types of middle class are there? ›
Based on these parameters there are actually five middle classes in India: Rural Middle Class, Public Sector Middle Class, Urban Private Sector Middle Class, Trader Middle Class and Rising Middle Class.
How much money is middle class? ›
The Pew Research Center defines the middle class as households that earn between two-thirds and double the median U.S. household income, which was $65,000 in 2021, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.
One way some researchers divide individuals into economic classes is by looking at their incomes. From that data, they split earners into different classes: poor, lower-middle class, middle class, upper-middle class and wealthy.
How old is middle class? ›
Age Groups
The oldest adults are more likely to identify themselves as middle class than are adults younger than age 65. Among adults ages 65 and older, 63% describe themselves as middle class, compared with 48% of adults ages 30 to 49 and 50 to 64. Among young adults, ages 18 to 29, 42% call themselves middle class.
What income is working class? ›
A Working Class in your area makes on average $1,555 per week, or $76 (46.621%) less than the national average weekly salary of $1,631. California ranks number 12 out of 50 states nationwide for Working Class salaries.
Is London middle class? ›
Around 36% of London households are now classified as poor (up from 20% in 1980), while 37% are middle income (down from 65%).
Where do Americans live in London? ›
Notting Hill and Holland Park
Notting Hill, famous for its massive summer carnival, is a very colourful part of West London. This bohemian area is full of young American and Australian expats. There are plenty of large green spaces in the area, such as Kensington Gardens and Holland Park.
Who were the middle class colonists? ›
The middle class included farmers who worked their own land, skilled craft workers, and some tradespeople. Nearly three quarters of all white colonists belonged to the middle class. They prospered because land in the colonies was plentiful and easy to buy.
What was considered middle class in 1800s? ›
In the 19th century, the members of the middle class were the wealthy factory owners, the foremen, the stockbrokers, the bank employees; anything that involved managing the capital of the nation.
Who were the middle class in medieval times? ›
During the height of the feudal age there were three main social classes: the clergy – church officials, the nobles – the wealthy, and the peasants – poor farmers and workers. With the rise of towns, however, came a fourth class: the burgesses, or townspeople. This is comparable to the 'middle class.
Who made up the middle class in Victorian England? ›
The middle class was defined as those members of society who held white-collar jobs, such as factory managers, doctors, or small business owners. Like the upper class, the Victorian era middle class had access to education for themselves and future generations.