People aged 65 or over
21.8%21 March 2021 · Canterbury
Show the workings
Published Census 2021 count; percentage uses the matching population denominator
All usual residents
34,250 out of 157,429.
Source and method →Canterbury · England
Community life
Canterbury council area. Every figure carries its own date.
A place is more than its average house price. The census shows who lives here and some of the pressures households face.
People reporting bad or very bad health
5.1%21 March 2021 · Canterbury
Show the workings
Published Census 2021 count; percentage uses the matching population denominator
All usual residents; self-reported, not age-standardised
8,036 out of 157,429.
Source and method →Households facing at least one measured disadvantage
52.7%21 March 2021 · Canterbury
The census checks education, employment, health and housing. This is not a measure of income or poverty.
Show the workings
Published Census 2021 count; percentage uses the matching population denominator
All households
33,622 out of 63,792.
Source and method →Households facing two or more measured disadvantages
17.8%21 March 2021 · Canterbury
The census checks education, employment, health and housing. This is not a measure of income or poverty.
Show the workings
Published Census 2021 count; percentage uses the matching population denominator
All households
11,328 out of 63,792.
Source and method →People aged 16+ with no qualifications
16.2%21 March 2021 · Canterbury
Show the workings
Published Census 2021 count; percentage uses the matching population denominator
Residents aged 16 and over
21,555 out of 132,775.
Source and method →People aged 16+ with a degree or equivalent
33.1%21 March 2021 · Canterbury
Show the workings
Published Census 2021 count; percentage uses the matching population denominator
Residents aged 16 and over
43,896 out of 132,775.
Source and method →Different needs within the area
People reporting bad or very bad health
2.9% to 8.2%
People reporting bad or very bad health ranged from 2.9% in Blean Forest to 8.2% in West Bay — a gap of 5.4 percentage points.
21 March 2021 · 21 of 21 current wards with comparable figures.
Residents described their own health. Differences in age matter, so this is a prompt to investigate needs, not a score for local health services.
See each ward and the workings
These are separate ward percentages, not an average of them. Boundaries: May 2026. Missing or differently defined figures are excluded from this range and stay visible on the ward pages.
| Ward | Share | Count | Population or households covered |
|---|---|---|---|
| Blean Forest | 2.9% | 289 | 10,127 |
| Barton | 3.9% | 503 | 12,745 |
| St Stephen's | 4.2% | 420 | 9,999 |
| Chartham & Stone Street | 4.3% | 322 | 7,570 |
| Tankerton | 4.3% | 151 | 3,525 |
| Westgate | 4.3% | 397 | 9,191 |
| Little Stour & Adisham | 4.3% | 182 | 4,185 |
| Nailbourne | 4.6% | 179 | 3,915 |
| Wincheap | 4.6% | 431 | 9,426 |
| Gorrell | 4.8% | 505 | 10,625 |
| Herne & Broomfield | 4.9% | 437 | 8,985 |
| Chestfield | 4.9% | 350 | 7,138 |
| Reculver | 5% | 217 | 4,383 |
| Seasalter | 5.3% | 415 | 7,813 |
| Beltinge | 5.8% | 405 | 7,018 |
| Sturry | 5.9% | 488 | 8,219 |
| Northgate | 6.8% | 479 | 7,044 |
| Heron | 6.9% | 921 | 13,272 |
| Greenhill | 7% | 293 | 4,200 |
| Swalecliffe | 8% | 317 | 3,963 |
| West Bay | 8.2% | 336 | 4,085 |
People aged 65 or over
10.4% to 37.2%
People aged 65 or over ranged from 10.4% in Northgate to 37.2% in Swalecliffe — a gap of 26.8 percentage points.
21 March 2021 · 21 of 21 current wards with comparable figures.
Age helps locate demand for accessible homes, transport and support. Being older does not itself mean someone needs care.
See each ward and the workings
These are separate ward percentages, not an average of them. Boundaries: May 2026. Missing or differently defined figures are excluded from this range and stay visible on the ward pages.
| Ward | Share | Count | Population or households covered |
|---|---|---|---|
| Northgate | 10.4% | 732 | 7,047 |
| St Stephen's | 12.3% | 1,227 | 10,000 |
| Westgate | 13.7% | 1,259 | 9,189 |
| Barton | 14.5% | 1,853 | 12,742 |
| Blean Forest | 14.7% | 1,486 | 10,128 |
| Wincheap | 14.9% | 1,405 | 9,426 |
| Chartham & Stone Street | 20.2% | 1,532 | 7,569 |
| Gorrell | 22.2% | 2,358 | 10,625 |
| Herne & Broomfield | 22.3% | 2,006 | 8,984 |
| Sturry | 22.6% | 1,855 | 8,217 |
| Little Stour & Adisham | 24.4% | 1,022 | 4,184 |
| Heron | 25% | 3,323 | 13,274 |
| Greenhill | 25.2% | 1,059 | 4,198 |
| West Bay | 28% | 1,143 | 4,088 |
| Reculver | 29.6% | 1,295 | 4,382 |
| Nailbourne | 30% | 1,177 | 3,917 |
| Chestfield | 30.6% | 2,187 | 7,139 |
| Seasalter | 30.7% | 2,399 | 7,813 |
| Tankerton | 31.5% | 1,111 | 3,528 |
| Beltinge | 33.5% | 2,350 | 7,019 |
| Swalecliffe | 37.2% | 1,472 | 3,961 |
People aged 16+ with no qualifications
6.9% to 24.4%
People aged 16+ with no qualifications ranged from 6.9% in Blean Forest to 24.4% in Greenhill — a gap of 17.5 percentage points.
21 March 2021 · 21 of 21 current wards with comparable figures.
Formal qualifications are only one part of someone's skills. Training decisions also need current vacancies, employment and residents' experience.
See each ward and the workings
These are separate ward percentages, not an average of them. Boundaries: May 2026. Missing or differently defined figures are excluded from this range and stay visible on the ward pages.
| Ward | Share | Count | Population or households covered |
|---|---|---|---|
| Blean Forest | 6.9% | 632 | 9,137 |
| St Stephen's | 10.5% | 907 | 8,626 |
| Westgate | 11.7% | 930 | 7,957 |
| Barton | 12.7% | 1,350 | 10,615 |
| Little Stour & Adisham | 13% | 450 | 3,459 |
| Chartham & Stone Street | 13.1% | 799 | 6,114 |
| Tankerton | 14.8% | 447 | 3,028 |
| Wincheap | 15% | 1,168 | 7,788 |
| Nailbourne | 15.2% | 508 | 3,340 |
| Gorrell | 16% | 1,407 | 8,798 |
| Chestfield | 16.4% | 987 | 6,035 |
| Herne & Broomfield | 17.6% | 1,277 | 7,271 |
| Northgate | 17.6% | 1,071 | 6,083 |
| Seasalter | 19.3% | 1,275 | 6,604 |
| Beltinge | 20.5% | 1,222 | 5,970 |
| Sturry | 20.7% | 1,385 | 6,690 |
| Reculver | 20.8% | 779 | 3,751 |
| Heron | 22% | 2,443 | 11,092 |
| West Bay | 23.8% | 817 | 3,440 |
| Swalecliffe | 24.4% | 853 | 3,502 |
| Greenhill | 24.4% | 848 | 3,473 |
Households facing two or more measured disadvantages
11.4% to 29.3%
Households facing two or more measured disadvantages ranged from 11.4% in Little Stour & Adisham to 29.3% in Northgate — a gap of 17.9 percentage points.
21 March 2021 · 21 of 21 current wards with comparable figures.
These households met at least two census conditions covering education, employment, health and housing. This is not an income or poverty measure.
See each ward and the workings
These are separate ward percentages, not an average of them. Boundaries: May 2026. Missing or differently defined figures are excluded from this range and stay visible on the ward pages.
| Ward | Share | Count | Population or households covered |
|---|---|---|---|
| Little Stour & Adisham | 11.4% | 192 | 1,679 |
| Nailbourne | 12.3% | 204 | 1,653 |
| Chestfield | 12.4% | 378 | 3,047 |
| Blean Forest | 12.8% | 295 | 2,312 |
| Chartham & Stone Street | 13.5% | 408 | 3,017 |
| Tankerton | 13.6% | 220 | 1,619 |
| Reculver | 15% | 278 | 1,852 |
| Herne & Broomfield | 15.5% | 557 | 3,600 |
| Seasalter | 16.1% | 547 | 3,406 |
| Westgate | 16.2% | 670 | 4,132 |
| Gorrell | 16.3% | 776 | 4,767 |
| Wincheap | 17% | 640 | 3,770 |
| Beltinge | 17.2% | 529 | 3,075 |
| St Stephen's | 18.3% | 690 | 3,780 |
| Sturry | 18.7% | 628 | 3,358 |
| Barton | 19.3% | 881 | 4,571 |
| Swalecliffe | 21.2% | 411 | 1,939 |
| Heron | 23.1% | 1,399 | 6,061 |
| West Bay | 23.3% | 423 | 1,815 |
| Greenhill | 25.2% | 442 | 1,754 |
| Northgate | 29.3% | 759 | 2,588 |
Local places and initiatives
Canterbury Castle, Castle Row and linked city-centre routes
Connected Canterbury: Castle and heritage routes
Repairs to the castle and better gardens, paths and signs aim to reconnect heritage sites with the city centre. Different parts of the programme finish at different times.
Castle stonework stabilised; landscaping completion unconfirmed · source does not state a status date
Responsible body: Canterbury City Council
What the source says: The council records castle stonework stabilisation completed in December 2025 and schedules the keep and grounds for late summer 2026. The reviewed page still uses future wording for reopening.
Next thing to establish: What dated decision or progress report confirms the current stage?
Progress, funding and source
- Cost
- Not established by the evidence checked.
- Funding
- Not established by the evidence checked.
- Area covered
- Unmapped: a verified current ward boundary or council ward statement is still needed.
No verified ward footprint is assigned.
Levelling Up work and timescales →
Source checked 2026-10-17. A plan or announcement is not proof of completion.
Questions for the next progress report
- What is the approved cost, including ongoing maintenance?
- Which funding is committed, and what remains conditional?
- Which neighbourhoods are covered by an official project plan, and which benefits still need testing?
- What is the next published milestone, and what evidence will show residents benefit?
Turn Canterbury’s strategy into a small deliverable programme →
Target support where disadvantages overlap →
How to track delivery →Westgate Square, Dane John Gardens and story gardens
Connected Canterbury: squares and story gardens
Renewed squares and gardens give residents and visitors places to meet, move through and enjoy events. They form part of the wider heritage programme.
Transformed spaces reported; completion celebration announced · evidence dated 2026-03-27
Responsible body: Canterbury City Council
What the source says: The council describes newly revitalised spaces and announces a 24 May celebration of the squares and gardens projects. This record does not treat that announcement as completion of all Connected Canterbury work.
Next thing to establish: What is the approved cost, including ongoing maintenance?
Progress, funding and source
- Cost
- Not established by the evidence checked.
- Funding
- Not established by the evidence checked.
- Area covered
- Unmapped: a verified current ward boundary or council ward statement is still needed.
No verified ward footprint is assigned.
City festival celebrates completion of public spaces transformation →
Source checked 2026-10-17. A plan or announcement is not proof of completion.
Questions for the next progress report
- Which funding is committed, and what remains conditional?
- Which neighbourhoods are covered by an official project plan, and which benefits still need testing?
- What is the next published milestone, and what evidence will show residents benefit?
Target support where disadvantages overlap →
How to track delivery →Canterbury city centre
City Centre Strategy 2026–2043
The strategy tackles empty properties, difficult routes through the centre and the need to sustain shops, culture and learning. Individual projects still need selecting and costing.
Published strategic framework; project programme still to be developed · source does not state a status date
Responsible body: Canterbury City Council
What the source says: The strategy identifies the former Nason’s and Debenhams sites and fragmented connections. It explicitly says detailed costed projects are not set out, with an October 2026–April 2028 action plan to be developed.
Next thing to establish: What dated decision or progress report confirms the current stage?
Progress, funding and source
- Cost
- Not established by the evidence checked.
- Funding
- Not established by the evidence checked.
- Area covered
- Unmapped: a verified current ward boundary or council ward statement is still needed.
No verified ward footprint is assigned.
Canterbury City Centre Strategy 2026 to 2043 →
Source checked 2026-10-17. A plan or announcement is not proof of completion.
Questions for the next progress report
- What is the approved cost, including ongoing maintenance?
- Which funding is committed, and what remains conditional?
- Which neighbourhoods are covered by an official project plan, and which benefits still need testing?
- What is the next published milestone, and what evidence will show residents benefit?
Turn Canterbury’s strategy into a small deliverable programme →
Connect local skills to local opportunities →
Target support where disadvantages overlap →
How to track delivery →Canterbury district, including Canterbury city, Whitstable, Herne Bay and rural areas
More suitable homes and less temporary accommodation
The district’s adopted housing strategy aims to improve council homes and reduce temporary placements away from the area. It sets a direction, not a completed building programme.
Housing strategy adopted; separate homelessness consultation closed · evidence dated 2026-06-30
Responsible body: Canterbury City Council
What the source says: The strategy records 186 households in temporary accommodation on 22 May 2026, including 87 outside the district (printed page 20). The separate homelessness strategy remained a draft on the reviewed consultation page, which closed on 2 September.
Next thing to establish: What is the approved cost, including ongoing maintenance?
Progress, funding and source
- Cost
- Not established by the evidence checked.
- Funding
- Not established by the evidence checked.
- Area covered
- No verified current ward footprint is assigned. The named site or council-wide remit is not proof of benefits to every ward.
No verified ward footprint is assigned.
Housing Strategy 2026–2030, adopted 30 June 2026 →
Source checked 2026-10-17. A plan or announcement is not proof of completion.
Questions for the next progress report
- Which funding is committed, and what remains conditional?
- Which neighbourhoods are covered by an official project plan, and which benefits still need testing?
- What is the next published milestone, and what evidence will show residents benefit?
Help households stay closer to their support networks →
Make room for homes people can afford →
Plan homes and care around an older population →
Bring support closer to people in poor health →
Target support where disadvantages overlap →
How to track delivery →