Water Lane is in Exeter and in Exeter district. EX2 8BD is located in the St David's electoral ward, within the English Parliamentary constituency of Exeter. This postcode has been in use since 1994-05-01.
StreetScan combines information about Water Lane, Exeter, EX2 8BD and displays a report on the quality of life in this place and its surroundings.
In the UK, the overall gender distribution is approximately 49% male and 51% female. However, the area surrounding EX2 8BD is primarily male, with 55% 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 | 43.7% | 45% | 1.3% | 51.0% | -6.0% |
| Male | 56.3% | 55% | -1.3% | 49.0% | 6.0% |
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 EX2 8BD, a significant portion of the population is single, making up 63.7% 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 | 61.5% | 63.7% | 2.2% | 37.9% | 25.8% |
| Married: Opposite sex | 22% | 17.4% | -4.6% | 44.2% | -26.8% |
| Civil partnership: Same sex | 0% | 2.1% | 2.1% | 0.1% | 2.0% |
| Separated | 2% | 4.7% | 2.7% | 2.2% | 2.5% |
| Divorced | 12.5% | 9.5% | -3.0% | 9.1% | 0.4% |
| Widowed | 2% | 2.6% | 0.6% | 6.1% | -3.5% |
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 (89.1%) 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 | 51.6% | 49.3% | -2.3% | 48.4% | 0.9% |
| Good health | 40% | 39.8% | -0.2% | 33.6% | 6.2% |
| Fair health | 6% | 9% | 3.0% | 12.7% | -3.7% |
| Bad health | 1.4% | 2% | 0.6% | 4.0% | -2.0% |
| Very bad health | 0.9% | 0% | -0.9% | 1.2% | -1.2% |
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.
In the area around EX2 8BD this area, 9.9% of residents have no qualifications. This is significantly lower than the UK average of 18.2%. This area stands out for its high percentage of residents with higher education degree or similar. The UK average is 33.8%, while in this area it is 48.7%.
| 2011 | 2021 | 10y change (pp) | UK Average | postcode vs UK (pp) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No qualifications | 8.5% | 9.9% | 1.4% | 18.2% | -8.3% |
| 1-4 GCSEs or Equivalent | 15% | 3.7% | -11.3% | 9.6% | -5.9% |
| 5 or more GCSEs, an A-Level or 1-2 AS Levels | 14% | 11.5% | -2.5% | 13.4% | -1.9% |
| Apprenticeship | 3.5% | 3.1% | -0.4% | 5.3% | -2.2% |
| HNC, HND or 2+ A Levels | 14.5% | 21.5% | 7.0% | 16.9% | 4.6% |
| Degree or Similar | 39% | 48.7% | 9.7% | 33.8% | 14.9% |
| Other | 5.5% | 1.6% | -3.9% | 2.8% | -1.2% |
This area closely mirrors the overall ethnic composition of the UK, with 85.2% of the population identifying as white, with UK average of 81.4%.
| 2011 | 2021 | 10y change (pp) | UK Average | postcode vs UK (pp) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chinese | 0.5% | 3% | 2.5% | 0.7% | 2.3% |
| Other Asian | 0% | 1% | 1.0% | 1.6% | -0.6% |
| Black African | 0% | 3% | 3.0% | 2.5% | 0.5% |
| Black Caribbean | 0% | 1.5% | 1.5% | 1.0% | 0.5% |
| Mixed White and Asian | 0.5% | 1% | 0.5% | 0.8% | 0.2% |
| Mixed White and African | 0% | 1.5% | 1.5% | 0.4% | 1.1% |
| Mixed White and Caribbean | 0.5% | 0% | -0.5% | 0.9% | -0.9% |
| White | 97.7% | 85.2% | -12.5% | 81.4% | 3.8% |
| Other | 0.9% | 3.9% | 3.0% | 1.6% | 2.3% |
In this area, 80.2% of the population were born in the United Kingdom, which is similar to the UK average of 83.2%.
| 2011 | 2021 | 10y change (pp) | UK Average | postcode vs UK (pp) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom | 87.4% | 80.2% | -7.2% | 83.2% | -3.0% |
| European Union | 7.9% | 9.4% | 1.5% | 6.1% | 3.3% |
| Rest of Europe | 0.9% | 0.5% | -0.4% | 0.8% | -0.3% |
| Africa | 0% | 3.5% | 3.5% | 2.7% | 0.8% |
| Middle East and Asia | 0.5% | 4.5% | 4.0% | 5.6% | -1.1% |
| The Americas and the Caribbean | 1.9% | 1.5% | -0.4% | 1.3% | 0.2% |
| Oceania | 1.4% | 0% | -1.4% | 0.3% | -0.3% |
| British Overseas | 0% | 0.5% | 0.5% | 0.0% | 0.5% |
| 2011 | 2021 | 10y change (pp) | UK Average | postcode vs UK (pp) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Born in the UK | 86.5% | 79.8% | -6.7% | 83.2% | -3.4% |
| 10+ Years | 2.3% | 10.8% | 8.5% | 9.8% | 1.0% |
| 5-10 Years | 3.3% | 2% | -1.3% | 2.9% | -0.9% |
| 2-5 Years | 4.7% | 4.9% | 0.2% | 2.2% | 2.7% |
| Less than 2 years | 3.3% | 2.5% | -0.8% | 1.9% | 0.6% |
| 2021 | UK Average | postcode vs UK (pp) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom | 78.1% | 76.7% | 1.4% |
| Ireland | 0.5% | 0.6% | -0.1% |
| France | 0.5% | 0.3% | 0.2% |
| Portugal | 0.5% | 0.5% | 0.0% |
| Spain | 1% | 0.4% | 0.6% |
| Poland | 4% | 1.3% | 2.7% |
| Romania | 0.5% | 0.9% | -0.4% |
| Other EU countries | 2% | 1.5% | 0.5% |
| North Africa | 1.5% | 0.1% | 1.4% |
| South and Eastern Africa | 1% | 0.2% | 0.8% |
| Eastern Asia | 1.5% | 0.3% | 1.2% |
| South-East Asia | 0.5% | 0.2% | 0.3% |
| North America and the Caribbean | 1% | 0.3% | 0.7% |
| No passport held | 7.5% | 13.5% | -6.0% |
| 2021 | UK Average | postcode vs UK (pp) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| No religion | 62.4% | 37.2% | 25.2% |
| Christian | 28.2% | 46.2% | -18.0% |
| Buddhist | 2.5% | 0.5% | 2.0% |
| Muslim | 2% | 6.5% | -4.5% |
| Not answered | 5% | 6.0% | -1.0% |
Over the last 12 months, the overall crime rate around Water Lane was 169.2 per 1,000 residents, which is 133.6% higher than the Alphington average. The most reported crime type was Anti-social behaviour.
Water Lane has the 11th highest crime rate of 73 local areas in Alphington and the 59th highest crime rate of 398 local areas in Exeter .
Violent and sexual offences accounted for around 25.6 crimes per 1,000 residents and have been rising year on year. Over the last decade, overall crime has fallen by about -30.6%.

Households in this area have a slightly higher level of wealth to the average household in England and Wales. 60% of analyzed areas in England and Wales have lower average household annual income than this area.

| Address | Sale Price | Sale Date | Price Estimate 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Flat 20 River Meadows Water Lane, Exeter, Devon Flats/Maisonettes, an established residential building | £219,000 | 2025-05-23 | £222,061 |
| Flat 58 River Meadows Water Lane, Exeter, Devon Flats/Maisonettes, an established residential building | £325,000 | 2024-12-20 | £328,483 |
| Flat 43 River Meadows Water Lane, Exeter, Devon Flats/Maisonettes, an established residential building | £180,000 | 2024-12-20 | £181,929 |
| Flat 50 River Meadows Water Lane, Exeter, Devon Flats/Maisonettes, an established residential building | £200,500 | 2024-06-19 | £203,084 |
| Flat 5 River Meadows Water Lane, Exeter, Devon Flats/Maisonettes, an established residential building | £178,500 | 2024-02-08 | £178,311 |
EX2 8BD area has a high level of entrepreneurship. Only 21% of streets have higher percent of entrepreneur residents. 12% of population in this area is self-employed, while the average in the UK is 9.7%. High number of entrepreneurs usually leads to relatively high economic growth, higher paid jobs and better quality of life in the area.
| Full-Time Employee | 110 |
| Self-Employed | 23 |
| Retired | 16 |
| Part-Time Employee | 15 |
| Unemployed | 8 |
| Student (economically inactive) | 5 |
| Full-Time Student (with or without job) | 4 |
| Other | 3 |
| Looking after home or family | 3 |
| Long-Term Sick or disabled | 0 |
| Wholesale and retail trade; repair of motor vehicles and motor cycles | 23 |
| Human health and social work activities | 23 |
| Education | 19 |
| Public administration and defence; compulsory social security | 15 |
| Professional, scientific and technical activities | 14 |
| Transport and storage | 13 |
| Manufacturing | 12 |
| Accommodation and food service activities | 9 |
| Administrative and support service activities | 7 |
| Construction | 7 |
| Information and communication | 6 |
| Electricity, gas, steam and air conditioning supply | 5 |
| Other | 3 |
| Real estate activities | 3 |
| Financial and insurance activities | 3 |
| Water supply; sewerage, waste management and remediation activities | 1 |
| Ofsted Overall Effectiveness | Distance | Establishment Type | Has Nursery Classes | Gender | More Info | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| West Exe Nursery School Cowick Street , EX4 1HL | 4out of 4 | 1,482 yd | Local authority nursery school | Yes | Mixed | More About School |
| Chestnut Nursery Magnolia Avenue , EX2 6DJ | 3out of 4 | 2,034 yd | Local authority nursery school | Yes | Mixed | More About School |
| Ofsted Overall Effectiveness | Distance | Establishment Type | Has Nursery Classes | Gender | More Info | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| St Leonard's (CofE) Primary School (VC) St Leonard's Road , EX2 4NQ | 4out of 4 | 741 yd | Academy converter | No | Mixed | More About School |
| St Thomas Primary School Union Street , EX2 9BB | 3out of 4 | 1,006 yd | Academy converter | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Montgomery Primary School Redvers Road , St Thomas EX4 1BS | 3out of 4 | 1,561 yd | Foundation school | Yes | Mixed | More About School |
| Alphington Primary School Wheatsheaf Way , Alphington EX2 8RQ | 3out of 4 | 1,622 yd | Academy converter | No | Mixed | More About School |
| St David's CofE Primary School Dinham Road , EX4 4EE | 3out of 4 | 1,720 yd | Academy converter | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Ofsted Overall Effectiveness | Distance | Establishment Type | Has Nursery Classes | Gender | More Info | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| West Exe School Hatherleigh Road , EX2 9JU | 3out of 4 | 1,124 yd | Academy sponsor led | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Isca Earl Richards Road South , EX2 6AP | 3out of 4 | 1,393 yd | Academy sponsor led | No | Mixed | More About School |
| St Peter's Church of England Aided School Quarry Lane , Heavitree EX2 5AP | 3out of 4 | 3,469 yd | Voluntary aided school | No | Mixed | More About School |
| St James School Summer Lane , EX4 8NN | 3out of 4 | 4,063 yd | Academy converter | No | Mixed | More About School |
| St Luke's Church of England School Harts Lane , EX1 3RD | - not rated | 4,374 yd | Academy sponsor led | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Ofsted Overall Effectiveness | Distance | Establishment Type | Has Nursery Classes | Gender | More Info | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Exeter Mathematics School Rougemont House , EX4 3PU | - not rated | 1,699 yd | Free schools 16 to 19 | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Exeter College Hele Road , EX4 4JS | - not rated | 2,193 yd | Further education | Not Applicable | Mixed | More About School |
| Ofsted Overall Effectiveness | Distance | Establishment Type | Has Nursery Classes | Gender | More Info | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Avanti Hall School Cowley Bridge Road , EX4 5AD | - not rated | 4,018 yd | Free schools | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Ofsted Overall Effectiveness | Distance | Establishment Type | Has Nursery Classes | Gender | More Info | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Exeter Royal Academy for Deaf Education 1 Douglas Avenue , EX8 2AU | - not rated | 598 yd | Special post 16 institution | Not Applicable | Mixed | More About School |
| Atkinson Secure Children's Home Care of: Devon County Council , County Hall EX2 4QD | - not rated | 810 yd | Secure units | Not Applicable | Mixed | More About School |
| Magdalen Court School Victoria Park Road , EX2 4NU | - not rated | 1,119 yd | Other independent special school | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Exeter Cathedral School The Chantry , Palace Gate EX1 1HX | - not rated | 1,220 yd | Other independent school | Yes | Mixed | More About School |
| The Maynard School Denmark Road , EX1 1SJ | - not rated | 1,409 yd | Other independent school | No | Girls | More About School |
School statistics for this postcode are based on Ofsted rankings.
| Business Name | Address | Food hygiene rating | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hidden Coffee House | 16 Marsh Green Road East, Marsh Barton Trading Estate | 460 yd | |
| The Burger Box | Unit 2, Filmer Way | 521 yd | |
| Pit Stop Cafe | 25 Marsh Green Road East, Exeter | 560 yd | |
| Tenpin Ltd | Unit 3-4, Haven Banks | 651 yd | |
| St Leonards Church | Topsham Road, Exeter | 680 yd |
| Business Name | Address | Food hygiene rating | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Port Royal Inn | Weirfield Road, Exeter | 531 yd | |
| Exe Water Sports Club | 62 Haven Road, Exeter | 732 yd | |
| Coaver Club Bar | Devon County Council, County Hall | 761 yd | |
| On the Waterfront | On The Waterfront, 5-9 The Quay | 804 yd | |
| St Thomas Cricket Club | Grace Road West, Exeter | 853 yd |
| Business Name | Address | Food hygiene rating | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fika Exeter | 9 Welcome Street, Exeter | 605 yd | |
| Unit Burger | Unit 22, Exeter Business Centre | 756 yd | |
| Veg Box Cafe | 7 Piazza Terracina, Haven Road | 806 yd | |
| Fish & Chips on Alphington Road | 56 Alphington Road, Exeter | 940 yd |
| Business Name | Address | Food hygiene rating | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Iceland Foods Ltd | Retail Unit, Alphington Road | 854 yd | |
| Aldi | Alphington Road, Exeter | 854 yd | |
| Southern Co-op | Co-op (0350), The Southern Co-Operative Ltd | 894 yd | |
| Co-op | 1 Haven Road, Exeter | 933 yd | |
| Sainsbury's | Alphington Cross Store, Alphington Road | 955 yd |
| Facility Name | Sport Objects | Distance |
|---|---|---|
| Unit 7 Gym UNIT 7 UNIT 7 KENNFORD ROAD | health and fitness suite | 394 yd |
| The Gym (Exeter) RETAIL PARK CLOSE | health and fitness suite | 587 yd |
| Tunnels Tennis Club RIVERMEAD ROAD | tennis courts | 607 yd |
| Royal Academy For Deaf Education TOPSHAM ROAD | grass pitches, swimming pool | 622 yd |
| Exeter Sports Academy MARSH GREEN ROAD WEST | health and fitness suite | 684 yd |
| Bromhams Farm Playing Fields (Closed) Clapperbrook Lane East | grass pitches | 749 yd |
| Coaver Club MATFORD LANE | grass pitches, health and fitness suite | 784 yd |
| University Of Exeter (Duckes Meadow) Duckes Meadow Pavillion Duckes Meadow Pavillion Salmon Pool Lane | grass pitches | 969 yd |
| Riverside Leisure Centre (Exeter) COWICK STREET | health and fitness suite, squash courts, swimming pool | 1,042 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 | 100.0% |
| Percentage of premises that have Ultrafast Broadband (100Mbit/s or greater) coverage from fixed broadband | 100.0% |
| Percentage of premises that have Ultrafast Broadband (300Mbit/s or greater) coverage from fixed broadband | 100.0% |
| Percentage of premises that have coverage from a Gigabit capable service from fixed broadband | 100.0% |
| 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 | 0.0% |
| Median download speed | 67.6 Mbit/s |
| Average download speed | 69.7 Mbit/s |
| Minimum download speed | 200 Mbit/s |
| Maximum download speed | 200 Mbit/s |
| Median upload speed | 20 Mbit/s |
| Average upload speed | 16.9 Mbit/s |
| Maximum upload speed | 20 Mbit/s |
Broadband statistics are based on Ofcom's Communications Market Report (CMR) 2022.