In 17th Century Britain, Royalist prisoners were sent to Coventry, the demeaning saying ‘sent to Coventry’ has remained with us ever since. Recent data has shown this is now very much redundant as Coventry is the number one place for people aged 18-34 to live.
Recently, the regulated property buyer Good Move conducted research using data from the Office of National Statistics, and this might come as a surprise to some, Coventry is the housing hot spot for people aged 18-34.
Coventry’s young, growing population is a great sign the city is on the up. In addition to more new people coming to the area, its economy is also trending upwards due in no small part to The National Battery Manufacturing Development Facility, which is expected to create up to 10,000 new jobs for the area.
The city also has a thriving social scene with many excellent eateries and bars in the city centre. If all of this wasn’t enough, in 2021, it will become the UK City of Culture which could result in a £1 billion increase to the economy due to increased tourism. This follows last year when Coventry held the distinction of being the European City of Sport.
All of this and more shows why the city is hitting the headlines and is witnessing an influx of young adults.
Young people (18-34 year olds) makes up 32% of Coventry’s population, an increase of 3.65% from 2012. No other city in the UK has come close to matching these numbers. This is likely down to the house and rental prices which are below the national average. The area also has excellent broadband speeds and 4G coverage, making it ideal for young professionals, entrepreneurs and those preferring to work from home.
Although Coventry is undoubtedly the most popular place for 18-34-year-olds to live, Bath and Somerset and Exeter also proved very popular due to the low unemployment rates in the regions.
The Top-Ten Hop Spots for 18-34-Year-Olds to live in the UK
- Coventry – 3.65%
- Bath and Somerset – 2.72%
- Exeter – 2.4%
- Canterbury – 2.24%
- West Lancashire – 2.04%
- Runnymede – 1.97%
- Guildford – 1.79%
- Newcastle-under-Lyme – 1.74%
- Bristol – 1.69%
- Welwyn Hatfield – 1.61%
London’s Woes
As expected, London does not fare well in the list and is losing its share of young adults faster than anywhere else in the country. The data showed that out of the top ten local authorities seeing the percentage of 18-34-year-olds decline, nine are London boroughs.
The only other placed in this top-ten not classified as London is Slough which is only 20 miles from the capital. Exactly why this is happening is down to numerous factors, but most people would likely attribute this to the cost of living, quality of life, pollution and increasing crime.
In London, Hammersmith and Fulham are the places experiencing the highest rate of departures, with their young population falling 5.39% since 2012. It’s not an isolated trend, only two of the thirty-three London boroughs saw an increase in their young people and even these were marginal.
Ross Counsell, director at Good Move, said: “Young people bring money, innovation and life to a city and our research has highlighted the places currently benefiting from their interest.
“Buying your first home is a huge deal, with so many factors to consider. This is why we created our new online tool, as it clearly shows how different regions compare in the areas most important to young people.”
To use the tool and see more details about the UK’s top 10 housing hotspots for young people, visit: https://goodmove.co.uk/first-home-hotspots.
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