Overview
Croydon is an outer London borough located in the south of London. It is one of the most affordable boroughs in which to live, with rents for an average one-bedroom property representing 37.4% of median pre-tax pay in London, significantly less than London as a whole (46.4%). Child poverty rates (38%) in Croydon are similar to the typical London borough (39%).
Croydon delivered more social, affordable and discounted housing between 2016/17 and 2018/19 than most other boroughs, with an average of 290 new units per year in Croydon compared to an average of 110. This should, however, be seen in the light both of the size and relative low density of Croydon and the fact that in the same period the borough saw an average of 1,820 new market-priced properties per year, the most in London.
The grid below shows how Croydon is performing on key poverty and inequality indicators, in comparison with all London boroughs. Better than average (green) means Croydon is in the top performing third, average (orange) means the middle third, and worse than average (red) the lowest performing third of all the London local authorities.
Croydon indicator rankings
People
Infant mortality
Infant mortality rate per 1,000 live births
Average compared to all London Boroughs (3.4)
Average compared to England (3.9)
Average compared to London Planning Area (South - 3.65)
Worse compared to nearest neighbours ( 3)
Premature mortality
Deaths of <75 year olds per 100,000
Average compared to all London Boroughs (316)
Average compared to England (336)
Average compared to London Planning Area (South - 302)
Average compared to nearest neighbours (315)
Qualifications at 19
19 year olds without level 3 qualifications
Average compared to all London Boroughs (24.4%)
Worse compared to England (27.8%)
Average compared to London Planning Area (South - 32.25%)
Worse compared to nearest neighbours (25.5%)
Living standards
Child poverty rate
Child poverty rate (AHC)
Average compared to all London Boroughs (35%)
Average compared to England (29.3%)
Average compared to London Planning Area (South - 27.5%)
Better compared to nearest neighbours (37%)
Income deprivation
Income deprivation (relative to London overall)
Average compared to all London Boroughs ( 1)
Average compared to England (0.8)
Worse compared to London Planning Area (South - 0.65)
Average compared to nearest neighbours (0.96)
Pay inequality
80:20 ratio of earnings
Average compared to all London Boroughs (2.64)
Worse compared to England (1.94)
Average compared to London Planning Area (South - 2.62)
Average compared to nearest neighbours (2.66)
Poverty rate
Poverty rate
Average compared to all London Boroughs (27%)
Average compared to England (22.1%)
Average compared to London Planning Area (South - 21%)
Better compared to nearest neighbours (29%)
Housing
Evictions
Repossessions per 1,000 households
Average compared to all London Boroughs (2.42)
Worse compared to England (1.51)
Worse compared to London Planning Area (South - 1.765)
Average compared to nearest neighbours (2.75)
Homeless acceptances
Main homelessness duty owed per 1,000 households
Average compared to all London Boroughs (0.74)
Average compared to England (0.42)
Average compared to London Planning Area (South - 0.52)
Average compared to nearest neighbours (0.62)
Housing affordability
Median rent as a percentage of median pay
Better compared to all London Boroughs (46.3%)
Worse compared to England (26.4%)
Better compared to London Planning Area (South - 40.35%)
Better compared to nearest neighbours (43.4%)
Housing delivery
Average net affordable, social and discounted housing completions
Better compared to all London Boroughs (132)
(Data not available)
Better compared to London Planning Area (South - 50)
Better compared to nearest neighbours (130)
Rough sleeping
People seen sleeping rough by outreach
Average compared to all London Boroughs (214)
(Data not available)
Worse compared to London Planning Area (South - 77)
Average compared to nearest neighbours (183)
Temporary accommodation
Households in temporary accommodation per 1,000
Average compared to all London Boroughs (16.4)
Average compared to England ( 4)
Average compared to London Planning Area (South - 11.05)
Better compared to nearest neighbours (21.95)
Work
Benefits
Out-of-work benefits
Average compared to all London Boroughs (12.7%)
Average compared to England (12.7%)
Worse compared to London Planning Area (South - 9.85%)
Average compared to nearest neighbours (14%)
Low pay (resident)
Proportion of borough residents' jobs that are low paid
Average compared to all London Boroughs (20.2%)
Worse compared to England (17.2%)
Average compared to London Planning Area (South - 19.8%)
Average compared to nearest neighbours (23.4%)
Unemployment rate
Unemployment rate
Average compared to all London Boroughs (5.3%)
Worse compared to England (4.3%)
Average compared to London Planning Area (South - 5.2%)
Average compared to nearest neighbours (5.9%)
Unemployment rate change
Unemployment rate 3 year change
Average compared to all London Boroughs (0.2pts)
Average compared to England (0.0pts)
Average compared to London Planning Area (South - 0.8pts)
Average compared to nearest neighbours (0.5pts)