Lower Essex Street is in Birmingham and in Birmingham district. B5 6SN is located in the Bordesley & Highgate electoral ward, within the English Parliamentary constituency of Birmingham, Ladywood. This postcode has been in use since 1980-01-01.
StreetScan combines information about Lower Essex Street, Birmingham, B5 6SN and displays a report on the quality of life in this place and its surroundings.
Nearby postcodes are: B5 6SU, B5 6RY, B5 6RD, B5 6QS, B5 6SE, B5 6QQ, B5 7DL, B5 6RJ, B5 6QN.
In the UK, the overall gender distribution is approximately 49% male and 51% female. However, the area surrounding B5 6SN is primarily male, with 53.8% of the population being male. Several factors can contribute to this, including areas with industries or sectors that predominantly employ men, proximity to universities or technical schools with a higher enrollment of male students, presence of all-male or predominantly male institutions (military academies, boarding schools).
| 2011 | 2021 | 10y change (pp) | UK Average | postcode vs UK (pp) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Female | 35.6% | 46.2% | 10.6% | 51.0% | -4.8% |
| Male | 64.4% | 53.8% | -10.6% | 49.0% | 4.8% |
Across the UK, the average relationship status breakdown is roughly 44% married, 38% single, 9% divorced, 6% widowed, and 2% separated.
In the immediate area around B5 6SN, a significant portion of the population is single, making up 70.5% of the residents. On average, approximately 38% of individuals who responded to the census in the UK were single. Areas with higher single populations are typically urban centers, university towns, regions with dynamic job markets, rich cultural offerings and entertainment facilities. These regions also tend to have a younger demographic.
| 2011 | 2021 | 10y change (pp) | UK Average | postcode vs UK (pp) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Single | 80.7% | 70.5% | -10.2% | 37.9% | 32.6% |
| Married: Opposite sex | 11.5% | 21% | 9.5% | 44.2% | -23.2% |
| Separated | 3.1% | 2% | -1.1% | 2.2% | -0.2% |
| Divorced | 4.7% | 5.1% | 0.4% | 9.1% | -4.0% |
| Widowed | 0% | 1.4% | 1.4% | 6.1% | -4.7% |
Across the UK, the average 48.4% rated their health as Very Good, 33.6% as Good, 12.7% as Fair, 4% as Bad, and 1.2% as Very Bad.
Population age significantly impacts residents' health. Additionally, socioeconomic status plays a crucial role: higher income levels and lower poverty rates are linked to better health outcomes. Affluent areas benefit from higher living standards, access to private healthcare, and healthier lifestyle choices.
This area has a high percentage of residents reporting their health as Good or Very Good (88.8%) compared to the average (82%). This typically indicates either a younger population or more affluent area.
| 2011 | 2021 | 10y change (pp) | UK Average | postcode vs UK (pp) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Very good health | 55.6% | 58% | 2.4% | 48.4% | 9.6% |
| Good health | 33.2% | 30.8% | -2.4% | 33.6% | -2.8% |
| Fair health | 8.3% | 9.2% | 0.9% | 12.7% | -3.5% |
| Bad health | 2% | 1.3% | -0.7% | 4.0% | -2.7% |
| Very bad health | 1% | 0.7% | -0.3% | 1.2% | -0.5% |
During the 2021 census, the educational qualifications of residents across the UK were as follows: 18.2% had no qualifications, 9.6% had 1-4 GCSEs, 13.4% had 5 or more GCSEs and 1-2 A/AS Levels, 16.9% had 2 or more A Levels, 33.8% held a degree (or equivalent), and 5.4% had completed an apprenticeship.
| 2011 | 2021 | 10y change (pp) | UK Average | postcode vs UK (pp) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No qualifications | 4.2% | 16% | 11.8% | 18.2% | -2.2% |
| 1-4 GCSEs or Equivalent | 5.7% | 10.3% | 4.6% | 9.6% | 0.7% |
| 5 or more GCSEs, an A-Level or 1-2 AS Levels | 10.9% | 8.9% | -2.0% | 13.4% | -4.5% |
| Apprenticeship | 0% | 2.6% | 2.6% | 5.3% | -2.7% |
| HNC, HND or 2+ A Levels | 14.1% | 19.4% | 5.3% | 16.9% | 2.5% |
| Degree or Similar | 55.7% | 40.9% | -14.8% | 33.8% | 7.1% |
| Other | 9.4% | 2% | -7.4% | 2.8% | -0.8% |
In this area, the population is more ethnically diverse compared to the UK average. While 31.6% of the residents identify as white, which is lower than the UK average of 81.4%, there are significant representations of other ethnic groups.
| 2011 | 2021 | 10y change (pp) | UK Average | postcode vs UK (pp) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chinese | 14.6% | 3.3% | -11.3% | 0.7% | 2.6% |
| Indian | 8.3% | 2% | -6.3% | 3.1% | -1.1% |
| Pakistani | 0.5% | 5.1% | 4.6% | 2.7% | 2.4% |
| Other Asian | 4.9% | 8.7% | 3.8% | 1.6% | 7.1% |
| Black African | 5.4% | 30.4% | 25.0% | 2.5% | 27.9% |
| Black Caribbean | 3.4% | 6% | 2.6% | 1.0% | 5.0% |
| Other Black | 2.4% | 1.8% | -0.6% | 0.5% | 1.3% |
| Mixed White and Asian | 2.4% | 0.2% | -2.2% | 0.8% | -0.6% |
| Mixed White and African | 1% | 0.4% | -0.6% | 0.4% | 0.0% |
| Mixed White and Caribbean | 1.5% | 2% | 0.5% | 0.9% | 1.1% |
| Mixed Other | 1% | 2.9% | 1.9% | 0.8% | 2.1% |
| White | 51.2% | 31.6% | -19.6% | 81.4% | -49.8% |
| Gypsy or Irish Traveller | 0.5% | 0% | -0.5% | 0.1% | -0.1% |
| Arab | 1% | 3.3% | 2.3% | 0.6% | 2.7% |
| Other | 2% | 2.2% | 0.2% | 1.6% | 0.6% |
In this area, 51.8% of the population were born in the United Kingdom, which is lower than the UK average of 83.2%.
| 2011 | 2021 | 10y change (pp) | UK Average | postcode vs UK (pp) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom | 60.5% | 51.8% | -8.7% | 83.2% | -31.4% |
| European Union | 8.8% | 10.5% | 1.7% | 6.1% | 4.4% |
| Rest of Europe | 0.5% | 4.2% | 3.7% | 0.8% | 3.4% |
| Africa | 4.9% | 15.6% | 10.7% | 2.7% | 12.9% |
| Middle East and Asia | 22% | 15% | -7.0% | 5.6% | 9.4% |
| The Americas and the Caribbean | 2.9% | 2.9% | 0.0% | 1.3% | 1.6% |
| Oceania | 0.5% | 0% | -0.5% | 0.3% | -0.3% |
| 2011 | 2021 | 10y change (pp) | UK Average | postcode vs UK (pp) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Born in the UK | 59% | 51.9% | -7.1% | 83.2% | -31.3% |
| 10+ Years | 14.6% | 19.2% | 4.6% | 9.8% | 9.4% |
| 5-10 Years | 14.1% | 10.5% | -3.6% | 2.9% | 7.6% |
| 2-5 Years | 2.9% | 8.1% | 5.2% | 2.2% | 5.9% |
| Less than 2 years | 9.3% | 10.3% | 1.0% | 1.9% | 8.4% |
| 2021 | UK Average | postcode vs UK (pp) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom | 56.8% | 76.7% | -19.9% |
| Ireland | 0.7% | 0.6% | 0.1% |
| France | 2% | 0.3% | 1.7% |
| Italy | 1.3% | 0.6% | 0.7% |
| Portugal | 0.9% | 0.5% | 0.4% |
| Spain | 0.7% | 0.4% | 0.3% |
| Lithuania | 0.2% | 0.3% | -0.1% |
| Poland | 1.6% | 1.3% | 0.3% |
| Romania | 0.7% | 0.9% | -0.2% |
| Other EU countries | 5.4% | 1.5% | 3.9% |
| Other Europe | 3.4% | 0.2% | 3.2% |
| North Africa | 0.7% | 0.1% | 0.6% |
| Central and Western Africa | 3.1% | 0.3% | 2.8% |
| South and Eastern Africa | 2% | 0.2% | 1.8% |
| Middle East | 0.7% | 0.1% | 0.6% |
| Eastern Asia | 1.3% | 0.3% | 1.0% |
| Southern Asia | 3.1% | 1.2% | 1.9% |
| South-East Asia | 0.7% | 0.2% | 0.5% |
| North America and the Caribbean | 0.9% | 0.3% | 0.6% |
| No passport held | 13.9% | 13.5% | 0.4% |
| 2021 | UK Average | postcode vs UK (pp) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| No religion | 27.4% | 37.2% | -9.8% |
| Christian | 32.5% | 46.2% | -13.7% |
| Hindu | 1.8% | 1.7% | 0.1% |
| Muslim | 32.3% | 6.5% | 25.8% |
| Other religion | 0.2% | 0.6% | -0.4% |
| Not answered | 5.8% | 6.0% | -0.2% |
Over the last 12 months, the overall crime rate around Lower Essex Street was 331.7 per 1,000 residents, which is 143.6% higher than the Balsall Heath West average. The most reported crime type was Violence and sexual offences.
Lower Essex Street has the 16th highest crime rate of 148 local areas in Balsall Heath West and the 188th highest crime rate of 3,083 local areas in Birmingham .
Violent and sexual offences accounted for around 122.9 crimes per 1,000 residents and have been rising year on year. Over the last decade, overall crime has fallen by about -69.0%.

Households in this area have a similar level of wealth to the average household in England and Wales. 57% of analyzed areas in England and Wales have higher average household annual income than this area.

| Address | Sale Price | Sale Date | Price Estimate 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 84 - 88 Lower Essex Street, Birmingham, West Midlands Other, an established residential building | £600,000 | 2020-03-06 | £718,392 |
| 77 Lower Essex Street, Birmingham, West Midlands Other, an established residential building | £600,000 | 2020-03-06 | £718,392 |
| 63 Lower Essex Street, Birmingham, West Midlands Other, an established residential building | £250,000 | 2018-03-28 | £303,395 |
| 72 - 75 Lower Essex Street, Birmingham, West Midlands Other, an established residential building | £575,000 | 2017-03-10 | £733,106 |
B5 6SN area has a very high unemployment rate. According to Census 2021, 14% residents of this area were unemployed, while the average in the UK was 4.83%. High levels of unemployment lead to more frequent crime and reduce the quality of life in this area.
The percentage of student residents living in B5 6SN area is much higher than the country's average. Usually places with high percentage of students are near Universities and near entertainment places.
| Full-Time Employee | 114 |
| Unemployed | 48 |
| Student (economically inactive) | 46 |
| Looking after home or family | 36 |
| Part-Time Employee | 26 |
| Self-Employed | 22 |
| Full-Time Student (with or without job) | 19 |
| Other | 16 |
| Retired | 13 |
| Long-Term Sick or disabled | 10 |
| Accommodation and food service activities | 26 |
| Wholesale and retail trade; repair of motor vehicles and motor cycles | 22 |
| Professional, scientific and technical activities | 20 |
| Financial and insurance activities | 13 |
| Human health and social work activities | 12 |
| Education | 10 |
| Administrative and support service activities | 9 |
| Information and communication | 8 |
| Other | 7 |
| Public administration and defence; compulsory social security | 5 |
| Transport and storage | 5 |
| Manufacturing | 2 |
| Real estate activities | 2 |
| Construction | 2 |
| Water supply; sewerage, waste management and remediation activities | 1 |
| Ofsted Overall Effectiveness | Distance | Establishment Type | Has Nursery Classes | Gender | More Info | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| St Thomas Centre Nursery School Bell Barn Road , Lee Bank B15 2AF | 4out of 4 | 806 yd | Local authority nursery school | Yes | Mixed | More About School |
| Lillian de Lissa Nursery School Bellevue , B5 7LX | 3out of 4 | 847 yd | Local authority nursery school | Yes | Mixed | More About School |
| Jakeman Nursery School Jakeman Road , Balsall Heath B12 9NX | 3out of 4 | 1,821 yd | Local authority nursery school | Yes | Mixed | More About School |
| Brearley Nursery School Brearley Street , Newtown B19 3XJ | 4out of 4 | 2,433 yd | Local authority nursery school | Yes | Mixed | More About School |
| Gracelands Nursery School Grace Road , Sparkbrook B11 1ED | 4out of 4 | 2,462 yd | Local authority nursery school | Yes | Mixed | More About School |
| Ofsted Overall Effectiveness | Distance | Establishment Type | Has Nursery Classes | Gender | More Info | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| St Catherine of Siena Catholic Primary School Great Colmore Street , Lee Bank B15 2AY | 4out of 4 | 364 yd | Voluntary aided school | Yes | Mixed | More About School |
| St Thomas CofE Academy Great Colmore Street , B15 2AT | 4out of 4 | 560 yd | Academy converter | Yes | Mixed | More About School |
| Chandos Primary School Vaughton Street South , Highgate B12 0YN | 3out of 4 | 693 yd | Academy sponsor led | Yes | Mixed | More About School |
| Oasis Academy Woodview Woodview Drive , Edgbaston B15 2HU | 2out of 4 | 906 yd | Academy sponsor led | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Percy Shurmer Academy Longmore Street , Balsall Heath B12 9ED | 3out of 4 | 1,076 yd | Academy sponsor led | Yes | Mixed | More About School |
| Ofsted Overall Effectiveness | Distance | Establishment Type | Has Nursery Classes | Gender | More Info | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| City Academy 23 Langley Walk , B15 2EF | - not rated | 736 yd | Free schools | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Ark St Alban's Academy Conybere Street , B12 0YH | 4out of 4 | 877 yd | Academy sponsor led | Not Applicable | Mixed | More About School |
| Birmingham Ormiston Academy 1 Grosvenor Street , B4 7QD | 3out of 4 | 1,462 yd | Academy sponsor led | Not Applicable | Mixed | More About School |
| Jewellery Quarter Academy St George's Court , 1 Albion Street B1 3AA | 2out of 4 | 2,005 yd | Free schools | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Aston University Engineering Academy 1 Lister Street , B7 4AG | 2out of 4 | 2,183 yd | University technical college | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Ofsted Overall Effectiveness | Distance | Establishment Type | Has Nursery Classes | Gender | More Info | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| South and City College Birmingham 129 Floodgate Street , B5 5SU | - not rated | 909 yd | Further education | Not Applicable | Mixed | More About School |
| Birmingham Metropolitan College Jennens Road , B4 7PS | - not rated | 1,453 yd | Further education | Not Applicable | Mixed | More About School |
| Joseph Chamberlain Sixth Form College Belgrave Road , Highgate B12 9FF | - not rated | 1,463 yd | Further education | Not Applicable | Mixed | More About School |
| The National College for Advanced Transport and Infrastructure 2 Lister Street , B7 4AG | - not rated | 2,145 yd | Further education | Not Applicable | Mixed | More About School |
| BOA Stage and Screen Production Academy 49 Stour Street , B18 7AJ | - not rated | 2,517 yd | Free schools 16 to 19 | No | More About School |
| Ofsted Overall Effectiveness | Distance | Establishment Type | Has Nursery Classes | Gender | More Info | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| King Solomon International Business School Lord Street , B7 4AA | 1out of 4 | 2,933 yd | Free schools | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Ark Victoria Academy Talbot Way , Small Heath B10 0HJ | 3out of 4 | 3,909 yd | Free schools | Yes | Mixed | More About School |
| Starbank School Hob Moor Road , B10 9BT | - not rated | 4,466 yd | Academy sponsor led | Yes | Mixed | More About School |
| Waverley School Yardley Green Road , Bordesley Green B9 5QA | 2out of 4 | 4,964 yd | Academy converter | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Ofsted Overall Effectiveness | Distance | Establishment Type | Has Nursery Classes | Gender | More Info | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| James Brindley School Bell Barn Road , Edgbaston B15 2AF | 3out of 4 | 806 yd | Academy special converter | Yes | Mixed | More About School |
| Calthorpe Academy Darwin Street , Highgate B12 0TP | 3out of 4 | 1,182 yd | Academy special converter | Yes | Mixed | More About School |
| West House School 24 St James's Road , Edgbaston B15 2NX | - not rated | 1,215 yd | Other independent school | Yes | Boys | More About School |
| Birmingham City University University House , 15 Bartholomew Row B5 5JU | - not rated | 1,352 yd | Higher education institutions | Not Applicable | Mixed | More About School |
| University College Birmingham Summer Row , B3 1JB | - not rated | 1,355 yd | Higher education institutions | Not Applicable | Mixed | More About School |
School statistics for this postcode are based on Ofsted rankings.
| Business Name | Address | Food hygiene rating | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Al Cafe | 77a Wrentham Street, Nechells | 115 yd | |
| Taste of Sichuan | 121 Hurst Street, Birmingham | 162 yd | |
| Formosa Izakaya | 117 Hurst Street, Birmingham | 177 yd | |
| Ayamias Coffee | 142 Hurst Street, Birmingham | 185 yd | |
| Chilli Kitchen | Unit 4, Southside | 187 yd |
| Business Name | Address | Food hygiene rating | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Fox | The Fox, 17 Lower Essex Street | 2 yd | |
| The Village Inn | Flat Above, The Village Inn, 152 Hurst Street | 110 yd | |
| Boltz Club | 16 Kent Street, Birmingham | 132 yd | |
| Nightingale Club | Essex House, Kent Street | 133 yd | |
| Eden | 116 Sherlock Street, Birmingham | 154 yd |
| Business Name | Address | Food hygiene rating | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| ONE OR TWO BERRIES LIMITED | Unit A, 76 Wrentham Street | 152 yd | |
| Hot Stuff Pizza | 76 Bristol Street, Birmingham | 296 yd | |
| Gyros Express | A204 To A206 And A208, The Arcadian, 70 Hurst Street | 353 yd | |
| Pho Yum | Unit A207 The Arcadian Bakery, 70 Hurst Street | 380 yd | |
| Sankara-Men | Unit 207a Arcadian Centre, 70 Hurst Street | 380 yd |
| Business Name | Address | Food hygiene rating | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sun Yip Ltd | 142-154 Sherlock Street, Birmingham | 154 yd | |
| Unit 3 Southside | Hurst Street, Birmingham | 338 yd | |
| Day In Supermarket | B11, The Arcadian, 70 Hurst Street | 345 yd | |
| Tu Quynh Supermarket | Bambu, 1 Wrottesley Street | 439 yd | |
| PandaFresh | 72-74 Smallbrook Queensway, Birmingham | 562 yd |
| Facility Name | Sport Objects | Distance |
|---|---|---|
| The Leisurebox (Closed) Pershore Street | 291 yd | |
| The Vault (Birmingham Lgbt Centre) 38-40 38-40 HOLLOWAY CIRCUS QUEENSWAY | 475 yd | |
| Rob Blakemans Bodyzone (Birmingham) (Closed) Suffolk Street Queensway | health and fitness suite | 620 yd |
| Flex 'N' Fitness Health Club (Closed) Birchall Street | health and fitness suite | 621 yd |
| St. Thomas Church Of England Va Primary School (Closed) Great Colmore Street | swimming pool | 652 yd |
| Ultimate Fitness Birmingham HOLLOWAY HEAD | health and fitness suite | 667 yd |
| Ark St Albans Academy CONYBERE STREET | artificial grass pitch | 705 yd |
| Holloway Head Playing Field (Closed) Holloway Head | grass pitches | 706 yd |
| Momentum Leisure Club (Opal 1 Birmingham) (Closed) Opal One Opal One Belgrave Middleway | health and fitness suite, swimming pool | 740 yd |
| Ultimate Fitness Birmingham (Closed) Upper Gough Street | health and fitness suite | 758 yd |
This statistics are based on Active Places Data - Contains Data © Sport England
| Percentage of premises that have Superfast Broadband (30Mbit/s or greater) coverage from fixed broadband | 0.0% |
| Percentage of premises that have Ultrafast Broadband (100Mbit/s or greater) coverage from fixed broadband | 0.0% |
| Percentage of premises that have Ultrafast Broadband (300Mbit/s or greater) coverage from fixed broadband | 0.0% |
| Percentage of premises that have coverage from a Gigabit capable service from fixed broadband | 0.0% |
| Percentage of premises unable to receive 2Mbit/s | 0.0% |
| Percentage of premises unable to receive 5Mbit/s | 0.0% |
| Percentage of premises unable to receive 10Mbit/s | 0.0% |
| Percentage of premises unable to receive 30Mbit/s | 100.0% |
| Median download speed | 23.3 Mbit/s |
| Average download speed | 22.9 Mbit/s |
| Minimum download speed | 24 Mbit/s |
| Maximum download speed | 24 Mbit/s |
| Median upload speed | 1.1 Mbit/s |
| Average upload speed | 1.2 Mbit/s |
| Maximum upload speed | 1.24 Mbit/s |
Broadband statistics are based on Ofcom's Communications Market Report (CMR) 2022.