Bracken Close is in Tilehurst, Reading and in West Berkshire district. RG31 5WA is located in the Tilehurst & Purley electoral ward, within the English Parliamentary constituency of Reading West. This postcode has been in use since 1995-07-01.
StreetScan combines information about Bracken Close, Tilehurst, Reading, RG31 5WA and displays a report on the quality of life in this place and its surroundings.
Nearby postcodes are: RG31 5WD, RG31 5WE, RG31 6AA, RG31 6RD, RG31 5NL, RG31 5WF, RG31 5WG, RG31 5WB, RG31 6RA.
In the UK, the overall gender distribution is approximately 49% male and 51% female. The area surrounding RG31 5WA has a slightly higher male population, with 50% of residents 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 | 48.8% | 50% | 1.2% | 51.0% | -1.0% |
| Male | 51.2% | 50% | -1.2% | 49.0% | 1.0% |
Across the UK, the average relationship status breakdown is roughly 44% married, 38% single, 9% divorced, 6% widowed, and 2% separated.
In the immediate vicinity of RG31 5WA there is a very large concentration of residents that are married - 57.5% of the resident population. In contrast, the average marriage rate across the census is about 44%.
Areas with a high percentage of married residents are typically suburban neighborhoods, towns with good schools and family-friendly amenities, and regions with affordable, spacious housing options. Additionally, such areas can be popular among retirees.
| 2011 | 2021 | 10y change (pp) | UK Average | postcode vs UK (pp) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Single | 25% | 28.1% | 3.1% | 37.9% | -9.8% |
| Married: Opposite sex | 62.5% | 57.5% | -5.0% | 44.2% | 13.3% |
| Separated | 1.3% | 2.4% | 1.1% | 2.2% | 0.2% |
| Divorced | 9.4% | 9% | -0.4% | 9.1% | -0.1% |
| Widowed | 1.9% | 3% | 1.1% | 6.1% | -3.1% |
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 (92.2%) 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 | 55.9% | 60% | 4.1% | 48.4% | 11.6% |
| Good health | 37.4% | 32.2% | -5.2% | 33.6% | -1.4% |
| Fair health | 6.2% | 5.4% | -0.8% | 12.7% | -7.3% |
| Bad health | 0.5% | 2% | 1.5% | 4.0% | -2.0% |
| Very bad health | 0% | 0.5% | 0.5% | 1.2% | -0.7% |
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 RG31 5WA this area, 8.3% of residents have no qualifications. This is significantly lower than the UK average of 18.2%.
| 2011 | 2021 | 10y change (pp) | UK Average | postcode vs UK (pp) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No qualifications | 15.6% | 8.3% | -7.3% | 18.2% | -9.9% |
| 1-4 GCSEs or Equivalent | 23.1% | 14.9% | -8.2% | 9.6% | 5.3% |
| 5 or more GCSEs, an A-Level or 1-2 AS Levels | 10.6% | 14.9% | 4.3% | 13.4% | 1.5% |
| Apprenticeship | 3.1% | 7.7% | 4.6% | 5.3% | 2.4% |
| HNC, HND or 2+ A Levels | 14.4% | 28% | 13.6% | 16.9% | 11.1% |
| Degree or Similar | 28.1% | 23.2% | -4.9% | 33.8% | -10.6% |
| Other | 5% | 3% | -2.0% | 2.8% | 0.2% |
This area closely mirrors the overall ethnic composition of the UK, with 88.8% of the population identifying as white, with UK average of 81.4%.
| 2011 | 2021 | 10y change (pp) | UK Average | postcode vs UK (pp) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Indian | 3.3% | 6.8% | 3.5% | 3.1% | 3.7% |
| Pakistani | 0.5% | 1% | 0.5% | 2.7% | -1.7% |
| Other Asian | 0% | 2.4% | 2.4% | 1.6% | 0.8% |
| Black African | 0.5% | 0% | -0.5% | 2.5% | -2.5% |
| Black Caribbean | 0.5% | 0.5% | 0.0% | 1.0% | -0.5% |
| Other Black | 0.5% | 0% | -0.5% | 0.5% | -0.5% |
| Mixed White and African | 0.9% | 0% | -0.9% | 0.4% | -0.4% |
| Mixed White and Caribbean | 0.9% | 0% | -0.9% | 0.9% | -0.9% |
| White | 92.9% | 88.8% | -4.1% | 81.4% | 7.4% |
| Other | 0% | 0.5% | 0.5% | 1.6% | -1.1% |
In this area, 92.2% of the population were born in the United Kingdom, which is higher than the UK average of 83.2%.
| 2011 | 2021 | 10y change (pp) | UK Average | postcode vs UK (pp) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom | 94.8% | 92.2% | -2.6% | 83.2% | 9.0% |
| European Union | 0.9% | 1.5% | 0.6% | 6.1% | -4.6% |
| Africa | 0.9% | 0% | -0.9% | 2.7% | -2.7% |
| Middle East and Asia | 1.9% | 5.9% | 4.0% | 5.6% | 0.3% |
| The Americas and the Caribbean | 0.9% | 0.5% | -0.4% | 1.3% | -0.8% |
| 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 | 94.3% | 92.6% | -1.7% | 83.2% | 9.4% |
| 10+ Years | 0.5% | 6.9% | 6.4% | 9.8% | -2.9% |
| 5-10 Years | 0% | 0.5% | 0.5% | 2.9% | -2.4% |
| 2-5 Years | 0.5% | 0% | -0.5% | 2.2% | -2.2% |
| Less than 2 years | 4.7% | 0% | -4.7% | 1.9% | -1.9% |
| 2021 | UK Average | postcode vs UK (pp) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom | 92.2% | 76.7% | 15.5% |
| France | 0.5% | 0.3% | 0.2% |
| Portugal | 0.5% | 0.5% | 0.0% |
| Southern Asia | 0.5% | 1.2% | -0.7% |
| South-East Asia | 0.5% | 0.2% | 0.3% |
| No passport held | 5.9% | 13.5% | -7.6% |
| 2021 | UK Average | postcode vs UK (pp) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| No religion | 46.3% | 37.2% | 9.1% |
| Christian | 43.9% | 46.2% | -2.3% |
| Buddhist | 0.5% | 0.5% | 0.0% |
| Hindu | 4.9% | 1.7% | 3.2% |
| Jewish | 0.5% | 0.5% | 0.0% |
| Sikh | 0.5% | 0.9% | -0.4% |
| Not answered | 3.4% | 6.0% | -2.6% |
Over the last 12 months, the overall crime rate around Bracken Close was 52.9 per 1,000 residents, which is 24.3% higher than the Tilehurst & Purley average. The most reported crime type was Anti-social behaviour.
Bracken Close has the 4th highest crime rate of 18 local areas in Tilehurst & Purley and the 196th highest crime rate of 490 local areas in West Berkshire .
Violent and sexual offences accounted for around 21.2 crimes per 1,000 residents and have been rising year on year. Over the last decade, overall crime has stayed broadly stable by about 0.0%.

Households in this area have a higher level of wealth to the average household in England and Wales. 87% of analyzed areas in England and Wales have lower average household annual income than this area.

| Address | Sale Price | Sale Date | Price Estimate 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 7 Bracken Close, Reading, West Berkshire Semi-Detached, an established residential building | £410,000 | 2022-05-06 | £441,840 |
| 7 Bracken Close, Reading, West Berkshire Semi-Detached, an established residential building | £109,000 | 1998-08-07 | £458,162 |
| 5 Bracken Close, Reading, West Berkshire Semi-Detached, an established residential building | £103,000 | 1998-05-22 | £463,729 |
RG31 5WA area has a very high level of entrepreneurship. Only 15% of streets have higher percent of entrepreneur residents. 14% 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.
RG31 5WA area has a low unemployment rate. According to Census 2021, 3% residents of this area were unemployed, while the average in the UK was 4.83%. A low level of unemployment in an area indicates a strong job market, where most people who are seeking work can find employment. This generally reflects a healthy economy in the area.
| Full-Time Employee | 62 |
| Retired | 38 |
| Part-Time Employee | 29 |
| Self-Employed | 23 |
| Student (economically inactive) | 5 |
| Looking after home or family | 5 |
| Unemployed | 5 |
| Full-Time Student (with or without job) | 2 |
| Long-Term Sick or disabled | 1 |
| Other | 0 |
| Wholesale and retail trade; repair of motor vehicles and motor cycles | 24 |
| Education | 20 |
| Construction | 17 |
| Information and communication | 10 |
| Financial and insurance activities | 10 |
| Professional, scientific and technical activities | 9 |
| Human health and social work activities | 9 |
| Transport and storage | 7 |
| Manufacturing | 6 |
| Other | 4 |
| Administrative and support service activities | 4 |
| Electricity, gas, steam and air conditioning supply | 3 |
| Water supply; sewerage, waste management and remediation activities | 3 |
| Public administration and defence; compulsory social security | 2 |
| Ofsted Overall Effectiveness | Distance | Establishment Type | Has Nursery Classes | Gender | More Info | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Blagrave Nursery School Recreation Road , Tilehurst RG30 4UA | 4out of 4 | 1,267 yd | Local authority nursery school | Yes | Mixed | More About School |
| Norcot Early Years Centre 82 Lyndhurst Road , Tilehurst RG30 6UB | 4out of 4 | 2,036 yd | Local authority nursery school | Yes | Mixed | More About School |
| Ofsted Overall Effectiveness | Distance | Establishment Type | Has Nursery Classes | Gender | More Info | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Downsway Primary School Warbreck Drive , Tilehurst RG31 6FE | 3out of 4 | 803 yd | Community school | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Birch Copse Primary School Wittenham Avenue , Tilehurst RG31 5LN | 4out of 4 | 893 yd | Community school | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Park Lane Primary School School Road , Tilehurst RG31 5BD | 3out of 4 | 1,017 yd | Community school | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Westwood Farm Junior School Fullbrook Crescent , Tilehurst RG31 6RY | 3out of 4 | 1,172 yd | Community school | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Westwood Farm Infant School Fullbrook Crescent , Tilehurst RG31 6RY | 4out of 4 | 1,172 yd | Community school | Yes | Mixed | More About School |
| Ofsted Overall Effectiveness | Distance | Establishment Type | Has Nursery Classes | Gender | More Info | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Denefield School Long Lane , Tilehurst RG31 6XY | 3out of 4 | 960 yd | Academy converter | Not Applicable | Mixed | More About School |
| Little Heath School Little Heath Road , Tilehurst RG31 5TY | 3out of 4 | 1,311 yd | Voluntary aided school | No | Mixed | More About School |
| King's Academy Prospect Cockney Hill , Tilehurst RG30 4EX | 2out of 4 | 3,151 yd | Academy converter | Not Applicable | Mixed | More About School |
| Blessed Hugh Faringdon Catholic School Fawley Road , Southcote RG30 3EP | 3out of 4 | 4,222 yd | Voluntary aided school | No | Mixed | More About School |
| The WREN School 61-63 Bath Road , RG30 2BB | 3out of 4 | 4,343 yd | Free schools | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Ofsted Overall Effectiveness | Distance | Establishment Type | Has Nursery Classes | Gender | More Info | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brookfields Special School Sage Road , Tilehurst RG31 6SW | 4out of 4 | 1,083 yd | Community special school | Yes | Mixed | More About School |
| Thames Valley School 2 Conwy Close , Tilehurst RG30 4BZ | 3out of 4 | 2,259 yd | Free schools special | No | Mixed | More About School |
| TLG Reading Empress Road , Calcot RG31 4XR | - not rated | 2,605 yd | Other independent school | No | Mixed | More About School |
| The Holy Brook School 145 Ashampstead Road , Southcote RG30 3LJ | 3out of 4 | 3,740 yd | Community special school | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Cranbury College Cranbury Road , RG30 2TS | - not rated | 4,142 yd | Academy alternative provision converter | Not Applicable | Mixed | More About School |
School statistics for this postcode are based on Ofsted rankings.
| Business Name | Address | Food hygiene rating | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Snaffle Cafe | Hall Place Farm Sulham Hill, Tilehurst | 636 yd | |
| Spoons Coffee Shop | 7, The Colonnade Overdown Road, Tilehurst | 769 yd | |
| Mad Hatters Pottery Painting Cafe | 114-116 School Road | 891 yd | |
| St Catherine's Cafe | Church Of St Catherine Wittenham Avenue, Tilehurst | 899 yd | |
| The Link Cafe | 28 School Road | 904 yd |
| Business Name | Address | Food hygiene rating | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Royal Oak | 69 Westwood Glen | 347 yd | |
| Tilehurst Bowls Club | Wardle Avenue | 553 yd | |
| Tilehurst Royal British Legion | Downing Road | 791 yd | |
| The Plough Inn | 78 School Road | 903 yd | |
| The Prince | 111 School Road | 952 yd |
| Business Name | Address | Food hygiene rating | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| High Rise Fish Bar | 3, The Colonnade Overdown Road, Tilehurst | 745 yd | |
| Asian Spice | 3, The Colonnade Overdown Road, Tilehurst | 745 yd | |
| Domino's Pizza | 76 School Road | 903 yd | |
| Oriental Gourmet | 15 School Road | 993 yd | |
| Dilraj | 23 School Road | 993 yd |
| Business Name | Address | Food hygiene rating | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Co-Operative Food, The | 1, The Colonnade Overdown Road, Tilehurst | 732 yd | |
| Co-operative Food | 21 The Triangle | 979 yd | |
| Co-operative Food | 29-35 School Road | 993 yd |
| Facility Name | Sport Objects | Distance |
|---|---|---|
| Downsway Primary School WARBRECK DRIVE | grass pitches | 780 yd |
| Cotswold Sports Centre DOWNS WAY | health and fitness suite | 796 yd |
| Birch Copse Primary School WITTENHAM AVENUE | grass pitches | 845 yd |
| St Catherine Of Siena Church Hall ST CATHERINES HALL ST CATHERINES HALL WITTENHAM AVENUE | 898 yd | |
| Tilehurst Methodist Church SCHOOL ROAD | 925 yd | |
| Cotswold Recreation Ground Downs Way | grass pitches | 964 yd |
| Victoria Recreation Ground KENTWOOD HILL | grass pitches | 964 yd |
| Denefield School LONG LANE | grass pitches, tennis courts | 1,066 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 | 78.6 Mbit/s |
| Average download speed | 75.8 Mbit/s |
| Minimum download speed | 100 Mbit/s |
| Maximum download speed | 100 Mbit/s |
| Median upload speed | 20 Mbit/s |
| Average upload speed | 17.1 Mbit/s |
| Maximum upload speed | 20 Mbit/s |
Broadband statistics are based on Ofcom's Communications Market Report (CMR) 2022.