Acorn Categories

Type 16: Well-Off Town and City Areas (1.1 per cent of the population live in this ACORN Type)

Likely characteristics These are very high status, high spending urban neighbourhoods containing highly educated, affluent professional people. The greatest proportions are in Outer London - Richmond upon Thames, Barnet and Kingston upon Thames are typical areas. Concentrations are also found in Avon, Surrey, Cambridgeshire, Oxfordshire and Lothian region. The level of population mobility is high.

Demographics The age profile of the adult population in ACORN Type 16 is fairly flat, though these areas have below average levels of young children. The household structure of this ACORN Type is very mixed - families, couples without children, singles and multi-person households all existing side by side. Socio-Economic Profile One of the most striking features of this ACORN Type is its concentration of highly educated people - 3.7 times the national rate of people with degrees, 2.9 times the level of all academic qualifications. As might be expected from such a highly educated population, this ACORN Type contains almost 3 times the national level of professionals and very few blue collar workers.

Housing Just as ACORN Type 16 is mixed in terms of household composition, so it is also very mixed in terms of housing type and tenure. Although the single largest housing type is semi-detached (accounting for 24% of homes compared with 29% nationally), these neighbourhoods have well above average concentrations of converted flats and bedsits. Almost 15% of homes are converted flats - this is nearly 4 times the national rate. There are above average concentrations of very small homes (1 or 2 rooms) and of very large homes (7+ rooms). The tenure profile shows very low levels of council renting, only 6% of homes, but 3 times the national level of unfurnished rented accommodation.

Type 19: Apartments, Young Professional Singles and Couples (1.1 per cent of the population live in this ACORN Type)

Likely characteristics These neighbourhoods are populated by single professionals and couples, living mainly in apartments. They are heavily concentrated in London - 46% of the people living in the City of London are in this ACORN Type. Outside London these neighbourhoods are found in places such as Edinburgh, St Albans and Cambridge.

Demographics The age profile of ACORN Type 19 peaks in the 25-44 group, though there are 20% more 65+ year olds than average. There are relatively few children, particularly 5-14 year olds. The most common household type is the single person household, accounting for 40% of all households Socio-Economic Profile These areas have twice the national level of professionals and 3 times the national level of people with degrees. 75% of workers are employed in the service sector. The proportion of women with children who work full-time is 30% less than average, while the proportion working part-time is less than half the national average. 20% of travel to work journeys are by rail, which is 3.5 times the national average.

Housing The most common type of dwelling is the purpose built flat; these account for nearly 44% of homes in ACORN Type 19 compared with only 17% nationally. A further 30% of homes are terraced houses - this proportion is very similar to the national average. The level of converted flats is twice the average, accounting for 8% of dwellings. The proportions of homes owned outright and mortgaged are almost identical to the national levels. There is, however, 2.6 times the national level of furnished rented housing and 1.7 times the level of unfurnished rented accommodation.

Type 20: Gentrified Multi-Ethnic Areas (1 per cent of the population live in this ACORN Type)

Likely characteristics These neighbourhoods are concentrated almost exclusively in London, particularly Inner London. Typical locations would be Wandsworth, Hammersmith, Lewisham and Ealing. People in this ACORN Type are young, often single and cosmopolitan.

Demographics The age profile of ACORN Type 20 is dominated by the 25-44 age group, accounting for almost 40% of the population in these neighbourhoods. There is a broad cross-section of household types although single person households predominate. Ethnically, these are very cosmopolitan areas with 5.6 times the national percentage of people from the Afro-Caribbean ethnic group and over twice the national proportion of people from Asian ethnic groups. Socio-Economic Profile The unemployment rate is 10% above average in these neighbourhoods. The dominant employment sector is services. ACORN Type 20 has a high level of professionals (70% above average) and 3 times the national level of people with degrees. The proportion of people driving to work is about half the national average - the dominant mode of transportation to work is rail.

Housing These are areas with very few detached and semi detached houses. The most striking feature of the housing profile is the fact that 31% of homes are converted flats - this is almost 8 times higher than the national average. In terms of tenure, 21% of homes are privately rented (compared with 9% nationally). The majority of these are furnished. The proportion of homes owned outright is 40% below average but the proportion being purchased by mortgage is the same as the national level. The proportion of homes sharing amenities is 2.6 times the national average, while the proportion lacking basic amenities is about double the national average.

Type 21: Prosperous Enclaves, Highly Qualified Executives (0.7 per cent of the population live in this ACORN Type)

Likely characteristics Outside Inner London, and to a much less extent Outer London, this ACORN Type is rarely found outside university towns such as Oxford and Cambridge, and high status provincial centres such as Edinburgh, Brighton, Cheltenham and Tunbridge Wells. These are very affluent neighbourhoods containing well-educated, mobile, younger professionals living in flats.

Demographics These areas have below average levels of children and old people but above average levels of 15-24 year olds and, in particular, 25-44 year olds. There are over 3 times the national proportion of single, non-pensioner households Socio-Economic Profile 81% of those in employment work in the service sector. The population of ACORN Type 21 is highly educated - the proportion of people with degrees is over 4 times higher than average. There are also more than double the average level of students. The Socio-Economic Profile is very high status, with over twice the national level of professionals.

Housing These areas have the highest concentrations of converted flats in the country. 50% of homes are converted flats - this is almost 13 times the national average. The levels of privately rented and housing association rented accommodation are also much higher than average. There are over 8 times more bedsits than average, and the proportions of households sharing amenities is nearly 5 times higher than average.