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Family-Friendly Score

A 0–100 score that tells you how family-friendly a postcode is — based on children %, family households, overcrowding, and education levels from Census 2021.

How the score is calculated

We combine four Census 2021 fields into a single weighted score: the proportion of children (30%), family households (30%), absence of overcrowding (20%), and the share of adults with a degree-level qualification (20%). Each axis is normalised to a 0–100 band before weighting, so the headline score is directly comparable across postcodes.

National averages for context: 18.5% children, 32.6% family households, 4.3% overcrowded, 33.8% degree-qualified. A score of 75+ means the postcode beats the national average on most axes.

Frequently asked questions

Does this include school quality?
Not directly. The score uses demographic proxies — most family-heavy areas track with good local schools, but you should always check Ofsted ratings and catchment areas separately. Try our School Catchment Checker for that.
Why does education level matter for families?
Adult education level is a strong predictor of school engagement, parental investment, and longer-term educational outcomes. It's not the only thing that matters — but it's one of the most reliable area-level signals.
Which postcodes are supported?
England and Wales only — Census 2021 MSOA data is not published for Scotland or Northern Ireland.

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