The Shires is in Luton and in Luton district. LU2 7QA is located in the Central electoral ward, within the English Parliamentary constituency of Luton South. This postcode has been in use since 1980-01-01.
StreetScan combines information about The Shires, Luton, LU2 7QA and displays a report on the quality of life in this place and its surroundings.
Nearby postcodes are: LU2 7QF, LU2 7QB, LU2 7PF, LU2 7PX, LU2 7PD, LU3 1BX, LU3 1DE, LU3 1DH, LU3 1BU.
In the UK, the overall gender distribution is approximately 49% male and 51% female. The local area around LU2 7QA is generally consistent with those figures, having a male population of 49.3%.
| 2011 | 2021 | 10y change (pp) | UK Average | postcode vs UK (pp) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Female | 42.4% | 50.7% | 8.3% | 51.0% | -0.3% |
| Male | 57.6% | 49.3% | -8.3% | 49.0% | 0.3% |
Across the UK, the average relationship status breakdown is roughly 44% married, 38% single, 9% divorced, 6% widowed, and 2% separated.
| 2011 | 2021 | 10y change (pp) | UK Average | postcode vs UK (pp) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Single | 54.6% | 39.6% | -15.0% | 37.9% | 1.7% |
| Married: Opposite sex | 29.5% | 39.9% | 10.4% | 44.2% | -4.3% |
| Civil partnership: Same sex | 0% | 1.4% | 1.4% | 0.1% | 1.3% |
| Separated | 2% | 2% | 0.0% | 2.2% | -0.2% |
| Divorced | 7.2% | 9.2% | 2.0% | 9.1% | 0.1% |
| Widowed | 6.8% | 7.8% | 1.0% | 6.1% | 1.7% |
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.
| 2011 | 2021 | 10y change (pp) | UK Average | postcode vs UK (pp) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Very good health | 44.5% | 49.3% | 4.8% | 48.4% | 0.9% |
| Good health | 37.9% | 30.1% | -7.8% | 33.6% | -3.5% |
| Fair health | 14.5% | 18.1% | 3.6% | 12.7% | 5.4% |
| Bad health | 3.1% | 1.7% | -1.4% | 4.0% | -2.3% |
| Very bad health | 0% | 0.8% | 0.8% | 1.2% | -0.4% |
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 LU2 7QA this area, 29.5% of residents have no qualifications. This is significantly higher than the UK average of 18.2%.
| 2011 | 2021 | 10y change (pp) | UK Average | postcode vs UK (pp) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No qualifications | 15.5% | 29.5% | 14.0% | 18.2% | 11.3% |
| 1-4 GCSEs or Equivalent | 9.6% | 8.9% | -0.7% | 9.6% | -0.7% |
| 5 or more GCSEs, an A-Level or 1-2 AS Levels | 14.7% | 10.6% | -4.1% | 13.4% | -2.8% |
| Apprenticeship | 4.4% | 5.1% | 0.7% | 5.3% | -0.2% |
| HNC, HND or 2+ A Levels | 9.6% | 9.6% | 0.0% | 16.9% | -7.3% |
| Degree or Similar | 31.9% | 31.5% | -0.4% | 33.8% | -2.3% |
| Other | 14.3% | 4.8% | -9.5% | 2.8% | 2.0% |
In this area, the population is more ethnically diverse compared to the UK average. While 55.7% 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) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bangladeshi | 0.7% | 3.9% | 3.2% | 1.1% | 2.8% |
| Chinese | 4.8% | 0% | -4.8% | 0.7% | -0.7% |
| Indian | 7.2% | 3.6% | -3.6% | 3.1% | 0.5% |
| Pakistani | 1.7% | 4.5% | 2.8% | 2.7% | 1.8% |
| Other Asian | 2.1% | 5.3% | 3.2% | 1.6% | 3.7% |
| Black African | 10% | 11.7% | 1.7% | 2.5% | 9.2% |
| Black Caribbean | 3.4% | 2.2% | -1.2% | 1.0% | 1.2% |
| Other Black | 1.7% | 2.8% | 1.1% | 0.5% | 2.3% |
| Mixed White and Asian | 2.8% | 0.8% | -2.0% | 0.8% | 0.0% |
| Mixed White and African | 1% | 1.7% | 0.7% | 0.4% | 1.3% |
| Mixed White and Caribbean | 1.4% | 2.2% | 0.8% | 0.9% | 1.3% |
| Mixed Other | 0% | 0.3% | 0.3% | 0.8% | -0.5% |
| White | 62.8% | 55.7% | -7.1% | 81.4% | -25.7% |
| Roma | 0% | 1.7% | 1.7% | 0.2% | 1.5% |
| Arab | 0% | 0.3% | 0.3% | 0.6% | -0.3% |
| Other | 0.3% | 3.3% | 3.0% | 1.6% | 1.7% |
In this area, 51.3% 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 | 57.9% | 51.3% | -6.6% | 83.2% | -31.9% |
| European Union | 18.3% | 22.7% | 4.4% | 6.1% | 16.6% |
| Rest of Europe | 2.1% | 3.4% | 1.3% | 0.8% | 2.6% |
| Africa | 7.6% | 9.2% | 1.6% | 2.7% | 6.5% |
| Middle East and Asia | 12.1% | 12% | -0.1% | 5.6% | 6.4% |
| The Americas and the Caribbean | 2.1% | 1.4% | -0.7% | 1.3% | 0.1% |
| 2011 | 2021 | 10y change (pp) | UK Average | postcode vs UK (pp) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Born in the UK | 55.9% | 50.8% | -5.1% | 83.2% | -32.4% |
| 10+ Years | 10.7% | 16.4% | 5.7% | 9.8% | 6.6% |
| 5-10 Years | 13.1% | 8.9% | -4.2% | 2.9% | 6.0% |
| 2-5 Years | 12.8% | 12.5% | -0.3% | 2.2% | 10.3% |
| Less than 2 years | 7.6% | 11.4% | 3.8% | 1.9% | 9.5% |
| 2021 | UK Average | postcode vs UK (pp) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom | 48.6% | 76.7% | -28.1% |
| Ireland | 0.3% | 0.6% | -0.3% |
| Italy | 0.3% | 0.6% | -0.3% |
| Portugal | 2.2% | 0.5% | 1.7% |
| Spain | 0.3% | 0.4% | -0.1% |
| Poland | 10.1% | 1.3% | 8.8% |
| Romania | 7.8% | 0.9% | 6.9% |
| Other EU countries | 6.4% | 1.5% | 4.9% |
| Other Europe | 1.4% | 0.2% | 1.2% |
| North Africa | 0.3% | 0.1% | 0.2% |
| Central and Western Africa | 4.5% | 0.3% | 4.2% |
| South and Eastern Africa | 0.3% | 0.2% | 0.1% |
| Southern Asia | 5.6% | 1.2% | 4.4% |
| South-East Asia | 0.6% | 0.2% | 0.4% |
| Central and South America | 0.3% | 0.2% | 0.1% |
| No passport held | 11.2% | 13.5% | -2.3% |
| 2021 | UK Average | postcode vs UK (pp) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| No religion | 16.4% | 37.2% | -20.8% |
| Christian | 54.9% | 46.2% | 8.7% |
| Buddhist | 1.4% | 0.5% | 0.9% |
| Hindu | 1.4% | 1.7% | -0.3% |
| Muslim | 19.8% | 6.5% | 13.3% |
| Sikh | 2.2% | 0.9% | 1.3% |
| Other religion | 0.3% | 0.6% | -0.3% |
| Not answered | 3.6% | 6.0% | -2.4% |
Over the last 12 months, the overall crime rate around The Shires was 199.4 per 1,000 residents, which is 48.3% lower than the Central average. The most reported crime type was Anti-social behaviour.
The Shires has the 32nd highest crime rate of 74 local areas in Central and the 63rd highest crime rate of 582 local areas in Luton .
Violent and sexual offences accounted for around 64.6 crimes per 1,000 residents and have been rising year on year. Over the last decade, overall crime has fallen by about -49.8%.

Households in this area have a lower level of wealth compared to the average household in England and Wales. 80% of analyzed areas in England and Wales have higher average household annual income than this area.

| Address | Sale Price | Sale Date | Price Estimate 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 46 The Shires, Luton, Luton Flats/Maisonettes, an established residential building | £177,000 | 2022-08-01 | £165,649 |
| 43 The Shires, Luton, Luton Flats/Maisonettes, an established residential building | £180,000 | 2022-03-11 | £173,320 |
| 27 The Shires, Luton, Luton Flats/Maisonettes, an established residential building | £175,000 | 2022-01-28 | £167,813 |
| 33 The Shires, Luton, Luton Flats/Maisonettes, an established residential building | £187,500 | 2021-11-08 | £182,994 |
| 14 The Shires, Luton, Luton Flats/Maisonettes, an established residential building | £105,000 | 2021-10-11 | £104,330 |
| Full-Time Employee | 105 |
| Retired | 70 |
| Part-Time Employee | 31 |
| Self-Employed | 23 |
| Looking after home or family | 21 |
| Full-Time Student (with or without job) | 14 |
| Unemployed | 12 |
| Student (economically inactive) | 10 |
| Other | 6 |
| Long-Term Sick or disabled | 0 |
| Wholesale and retail trade; repair of motor vehicles and motor cycles | 38 |
| Transport and storage | 21 |
| Manufacturing | 15 |
| Education | 14 |
| Accommodation and food service activities | 11 |
| Human health and social work activities | 11 |
| Professional, scientific and technical activities | 10 |
| Administrative and support service activities | 9 |
| Construction | 8 |
| Public administration and defence; compulsory social security | 7 |
| Other | 7 |
| Financial and insurance activities | 7 |
| Information and communication | 7 |
| Real estate activities | 3 |
| Water supply; sewerage, waste management and remediation activities | 1 |
| Ofsted Overall Effectiveness | Distance | Establishment Type | Has Nursery Classes | Gender | More Info | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rothesay Nursery School 59 Rothesay Road , LU1 1RB | 3out of 4 | 1,110 yd | Local authority nursery school | Yes | Mixed | More About School |
| Hart Hill Nursery School Whitecroft Road , LU2 0JS | 3out of 4 | 1,345 yd | Local authority nursery school | Yes | Mixed | More About School |
| Chapel Street Nursery School Russell Street , LU1 5EA | 3out of 4 | 1,403 yd | Local authority nursery school | Yes | Mixed | More About School |
| Grasmere Nursery School Icknield Way , LU3 2BT | 3out of 4 | 4,005 yd | Local authority nursery school | Yes | Mixed | More About School |
| Lea Bank Nursery Wauluds Bank Drive , LU3 3LZ | - not rated | 4,344 yd | Local authority nursery school | Not Applicable | Mixed | More About School |
| Ofsted Overall Effectiveness | Distance | Establishment Type | Has Nursery Classes | Gender | More Info | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| St Matthew's Junior School Wenlock Street , LU2 0NJ | - not rated | 647 yd | Community school | No | Mixed | More About School |
| St Matthew's Primary School Wenlock Street , LU2 0NJ | 3out of 4 | 647 yd | Community school | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Dallow Infant School Dallow Road , LU1 1LZ | - not rated | 911 yd | Community school | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Dallow Primary School Dallow Road , LU1 1LZ | - not rated | 915 yd | Community school | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Dallow Primary School Dallow Road , LU1 1LZ | 3out of 4 | 915 yd | Academy sponsor led | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Ofsted Overall Effectiveness | Distance | Establishment Type | Has Nursery Classes | Gender | More Info | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Denbigh High School Alexandra Avenue , LU3 1HE | 4out of 4 | 789 yd | Academy converter | Not Applicable | Mixed | More About School |
| Denbigh High School Alexandra Avenue , LU3 1HE | - not rated | 789 yd | Foundation school | Not Applicable | Mixed | More About School |
| The Studio School Luton 1 - 9 York Street , LU2 0EZ | - not rated | 791 yd | Studio schools | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Barnfield Business and Enterprise Studio Academy 1-9 York Street , LU2 0EZ | - not rated | 791 yd | Academy sponsor led | Not Applicable | Mixed | More About School |
| Chiltern Academy Gipsy Lane , LU1 3GF | 3out of 4 | 2,108 yd | Free schools | Not Applicable | Mixed | More About School |
| Ofsted Overall Effectiveness | Distance | Establishment Type | Has Nursery Classes | Gender | More Info | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Luton Sixth Form College Bradgers Hill Road , LU2 7EW | - not rated | 2,030 yd | Further education | Not Applicable | Mixed | More About School |
| Barnfield College New Bedford Road , LU2 7BF | - not rated | 2,442 yd | Further education | Not Applicable | Mixed | More About School |
| Ofsted Overall Effectiveness | Distance | Establishment Type | Has Nursery Classes | Gender | More Info | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bury Park Educational Institute (Al - Hikmah Secondary School) 82 - 86 Dunstable Road , LU1 1EH | - not rated | 580 yd | Other independent school | No | Girls | More About School |
| Olive Tree Primary School 116 Bury Park Road (first floor) , Luton LU1 1HE | - not rated | 697 yd | Other independent school | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Richmond Hill School Sunridge Avenue , LU2 7JL | 3out of 4 | 798 yd | Community special school | Not Applicable | Mixed | More About School |
| Lime Academy Hartwell 1 York Street , LU2 0EZ | 1out of 4 | 828 yd | Free schools special | No | More About School | |
| Windmill Hill School York Street , LU2 0EZ | - not rated | 828 yd | Free schools special | No | Mixed | More About School |
School statistics for this postcode are based on Ofsted rankings.
| Business Name | Address | Food hygiene rating | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hope Church Open House Lounge | Polish Club, Villa Road | 234 yd | |
| Koala | 39-41 New Bedford Road | 401 yd | |
| Subway | 45 New Bedford Road | 401 yd | |
| Al-Quds | 27 New Bedford Road | 401 yd | |
| Victoria's Kitchen | 7 Dudley Street | 413 yd |
| Business Name | Address | Food hygiene rating | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Greenhouse | 23 Crawley Road | 377 yd | |
| The White House | The Galaxy Centre, Bridge Street | 546 yd | |
| Painters Arms | The Painters Arms, 79 High Town Road | 552 yd | |
| The Bricklayers Arms | The Bricklayers Arms, 16-18 High Town Road | 559 yd | |
| The Hat Factory (Culture Trust Luton) | The Hat Factory, 65-67 Bute Street | 684 yd |
| Business Name | Address | Food hygiene rating | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lemon Crispy Chicken and Pizza | 22 Old Bedford Road | 303 yd | |
| Domino's Pizza | Shop 4, Crystal House, New Bedford Road | 367 yd | |
| La Mama Shawarma&Grill | 56 New Bedford Road | 369 yd | |
| Jimmy’s takeaway | 17 Crawley Road | 377 yd | |
| Jasmyne’s takeaway | 39 Mill Street | 379 yd |
| Business Name | Address | Food hygiene rating | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lidl Great Britain Limited | Lidl Food Store, Francis Street | 421 yd | |
| Sainsbury's | J Sainsbury Plc, West Side Centre, Dunstable Road | 565 yd | |
| LUTONSTAR SUPERMARKET LTD | 248 North Street | 798 yd | |
| Farmfoods Ltd | 54 The Mall | 1,016 yd |
| Facility Name | Sport Objects | Distance |
|---|---|---|
| High Town Recreation Centre (Closed) Recreation Drill Hall 34-38 Recreation Drill Hall 34-38 Old Bedford Road | health and fitness suite | 285 yd |
| Steps Fitness Centre (Closed) 114-134 114-134 Midland Road | health and fitness suite | 413 yd |
| The Gym (Luton) The Galaxy The Galaxy Bridge Street | health and fitness suite | 512 yd |
| Bells Close Recreation Ground NORTH STREET | grass pitches | 627 yd |
| Waves Health & Leisure Club (Strathmore) (Closed) The Mall | health and fitness suite, swimming pool | 643 yd |
| Bodylines (Closed) 6-8 6-8 Gordon Street | health and fitness suite | 645 yd |
| All Womens Gym (Closed) Guildford Street | health and fitness suite | 667 yd |
| Anytime Fitness (Luton) 133-135 133-135 THE MALL | health and fitness suite | 745 yd |
| La Phyzz (Closed) 16-18 16-18 Taylor Street | health and fitness suite | 747 yd |
| Power Craft Gym (Closed) Guildford Street | health and fitness suite | 748 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 | 100 Mbit/s |
| Average download speed | 157.2 Mbit/s |
| Minimum download speed | 500 Mbit/s |
| Maximum download speed | 500 Mbit/s |
| Median upload speed | 20 Mbit/s |
| Average upload speed | 17.6 Mbit/s |
| Maximum upload speed | 35 Mbit/s |
Broadband statistics are based on Ofcom's Communications Market Report (CMR) 2022.