Dark Lane is in Tilehurst, Reading and in Newbury district. RG31 6RA 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 Dark Lane, Tilehurst, Reading, RG31 6RA and displays a report on the quality of life in this place and its surroundings.
Nearby postcodes are: RG31 6QT, RG31 6QL, RG31 6QZ, RG31 6QU, RG31 5WE, RG31 6PL, RG31 5WF, RG31 6QX, RG31 6QS.
In the UK, the overall gender distribution is approximately 49% male and 51% female. The local area around RG31 6RA is generally consistent with those figures, having a male population of 48.7%.
| 2011 | 2021 | 10y change (pp) | UK Average | postcode vs UK (pp) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Female | 50.1% | 51.3% | 1.2% | 51.0% | 0.3% |
| Male | 49.9% | 48.7% | -1.2% | 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.
In the immediate vicinity of RG31 6RA there is a very large concentration of residents that are married - 59.2% 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 | 21.3% | 25.9% | 4.6% | 37.9% | -12.0% |
| Married: Opposite sex | 66.4% | 59.2% | -7.2% | 44.2% | 15.0% |
| Separated | 0.4% | 1.4% | 1.0% | 2.2% | -0.8% |
| Divorced | 5.4% | 5.3% | -0.1% | 9.1% | -3.8% |
| Widowed | 6.5% | 8.2% | 1.7% | 6.1% | 2.1% |
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 (85.4%) 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 | 41.9% | 46% | 4.1% | 48.4% | -2.4% |
| Good health | 44.4% | 39.4% | -5.0% | 33.6% | 5.8% |
| Fair health | 10.8% | 11.5% | 0.7% | 12.7% | -1.2% |
| Bad health | 1.7% | 2.6% | 0.9% | 4.0% | -1.4% |
| Very bad health | 1.1% | 0.6% | -0.5% | 1.2% | -0.6% |
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 | 16.2% | 13.3% | -2.9% | 18.2% | -4.9% |
| 1-4 GCSEs or Equivalent | 15.9% | 12.3% | -3.6% | 9.6% | 2.7% |
| 5 or more GCSEs, an A-Level or 1-2 AS Levels | 20.2% | 12.6% | -7.6% | 13.4% | -0.8% |
| Apprenticeship | 7.9% | 6.7% | -1.2% | 5.3% | 1.4% |
| HNC, HND or 2+ A Levels | 9.7% | 15.4% | 5.7% | 16.9% | -1.5% |
| Degree or Similar | 24.9% | 34.7% | 9.8% | 33.8% | 0.9% |
| Other | 5.1% | 4.9% | -0.2% | 2.8% | 2.1% |
This area closely mirrors the overall ethnic composition of the UK, with 86.5% of the population identifying as white, with UK average of 81.4%.
| 2011 | 2021 | 10y change (pp) | UK Average | postcode vs UK (pp) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Indian | 0.9% | 3.2% | 2.3% | 3.1% | 0.1% |
| Pakistani | 0.3% | 4.3% | 4.0% | 2.7% | 1.6% |
| Other Asian | 0% | 0.9% | 0.9% | 1.6% | -0.7% |
| Black Caribbean | 1.7% | 1.2% | -0.5% | 1.0% | 0.2% |
| Mixed White and Caribbean | 0.6% | 1.7% | 1.1% | 0.9% | 0.8% |
| Mixed Other | 0% | 0.9% | 0.9% | 0.8% | 0.1% |
| White | 96% | 86.5% | -9.5% | 81.4% | 5.1% |
| Arab | 0.3% | 0.6% | 0.3% | 0.6% | 0.0% |
| Other | 0.3% | 0.9% | 0.6% | 1.6% | -0.7% |
In this area, 91.4% 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 | 92.9% | 91.4% | -1.5% | 83.2% | 8.2% |
| European Union | 2.6% | 2.9% | 0.3% | 6.1% | -3.2% |
| Rest of Europe | 0.3% | 0.3% | 0.0% | 0.8% | -0.5% |
| Africa | 0.9% | 1.1% | 0.2% | 2.7% | -1.6% |
| Middle East and Asia | 1.4% | 4.3% | 2.9% | 5.6% | -1.3% |
| The Americas and the Caribbean | 1.7% | 0% | -1.7% | 1.3% | -1.3% |
| Oceania | 0.3% | 0% | -0.3% | 0.3% | -0.3% |
| 2011 | 2021 | 10y change (pp) | UK Average | postcode vs UK (pp) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Born in the UK | 91.7% | 91.6% | -0.1% | 83.2% | 8.4% |
| 10+ Years | 0% | 5.8% | 5.8% | 9.8% | -4.0% |
| 5-10 Years | 0% | 2% | 2.0% | 2.9% | -0.9% |
| 2-5 Years | 3.1% | 0.3% | -2.8% | 2.2% | -1.9% |
| Less than 2 years | 5.1% | 0.3% | -4.8% | 1.9% | -1.6% |
| 2021 | UK Average | postcode vs UK (pp) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom | 87.7% | 76.7% | 11.0% |
| Ireland | 0.9% | 0.6% | 0.3% |
| Germany | 0.6% | 0.2% | 0.4% |
| Spain | 0.3% | 0.4% | -0.1% |
| Poland | 0.3% | 1.3% | -1.0% |
| Other EU countries | 0.3% | 1.5% | -1.2% |
| Southern Asia | 0.3% | 1.2% | -0.9% |
| Central Asia | 0.9% | 0.0% | 0.9% |
| No passport held | 8.9% | 13.5% | -4.6% |
| 2021 | UK Average | postcode vs UK (pp) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| No religion | 39.1% | 37.2% | 1.9% |
| Christian | 47.1% | 46.2% | 0.9% |
| Hindu | 0.3% | 1.7% | -1.4% |
| Jewish | 0.3% | 0.5% | -0.2% |
| Muslim | 6.3% | 6.5% | -0.2% |
| Sikh | 1.7% | 0.9% | 0.8% |
| Not answered | 5.2% | 6.0% | -0.8% |
Over the last 12 months, the overall crime rate around Dark Lane was 22.8 per 1,000 residents, which is 46.4% lower than the Tilehurst & Purley average. The most reported crime type was Violence and sexual offences.
Dark Lane has the 7th highest crime rate of 18 local areas in Tilehurst & Purley and the 122nd lowest crime rate of 490 local areas in West Berkshire .
Violent and sexual offences accounted for around 11.4 crimes per 1,000 residents and have been rising year on year. Over the last decade, overall crime has risen by about 40.0%.

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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 Maybough Cottage Dark Lane, Reading, West Berkshire Semi-Detached, an established residential building | £400,000 | 2021-03-19 | £475,029 |
| 14 Dark Lane, Reading, West Berkshire Semi-Detached, an established residential building | £517,500 | 2020-11-20 | £603,949 |
| 22 Dark Lane, Reading, West Berkshire Detached, an established residential building | £545,000 | 2019-11-25 | £648,903 |
| 1 Maybough Cottage Dark Lane, Reading, West Berkshire Semi-Detached, an established residential building | £276,000 | 2015-04-02 | £395,457 |
| 10 Dark Lane, Reading, West Berkshire Detached, an established residential building | £490,000 | 2013-08-16 | £773,561 |
| Full-Time Employee | 104 |
| Retired | 81 |
| Part-Time Employee | 35 |
| Self-Employed | 21 |
| Unemployed | 12 |
| Student (economically inactive) | 7 |
| Looking after home or family | 6 |
| Other | 5 |
| Full-Time Student (with or without job) | 5 |
| Long-Term Sick or disabled | 5 |
| Wholesale and retail trade; repair of motor vehicles and motor cycles | 38 |
| Education | 23 |
| Construction | 20 |
| Human health and social work activities | 16 |
| Manufacturing | 15 |
| Information and communication | 12 |
| Professional, scientific and technical activities | 11 |
| Public administration and defence; compulsory social security | 9 |
| Financial and insurance activities | 8 |
| Other | 7 |
| Transport and storage | 7 |
| Accommodation and food service activities | 5 |
| Water supply; sewerage, waste management and remediation activities | 4 |
| Real estate activities | 3 |
| Administrative and support service activities | 2 |
| Electricity, gas, steam and air conditioning supply | 1 |
| Mining and quarrying | 1 |
| Ofsted Overall Effectiveness | Distance | Establishment Type | Has Nursery Classes | Gender | More Info | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Blagrave Nursery School Recreation Road , Tilehurst RG30 4UA | 4out of 4 | 1,461 yd | Local authority nursery school | Yes | Mixed | More About School |
| Norcot Early Years Centre 82 Lyndhurst Road , Tilehurst RG30 6UB | 4out of 4 | 2,134 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 | 614 yd | Community school | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Westwood Farm Junior School Fullbrook Crescent , Tilehurst RG31 6RY | 3out of 4 | 1,060 yd | Community school | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Westwood Farm Infant School Fullbrook Crescent , Tilehurst RG31 6RY | 4out of 4 | 1,060 yd | Community school | Yes | Mixed | More About School |
| Birch Copse Primary School Wittenham Avenue , Tilehurst RG31 5LN | 4out of 4 | 1,076 yd | Community school | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Park Lane Primary School School Road , Tilehurst RG31 5BD | 3out of 4 | 1,232 yd | Community school | No | 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 | 745 yd | Academy converter | Not Applicable | Mixed | More About School |
| Little Heath School Little Heath Road , Tilehurst RG31 5TY | 3out of 4 | 1,434 yd | Voluntary aided school | No | Mixed | More About School |
| King's Academy Prospect Cockney Hill , Tilehurst RG30 4EX | 2out of 4 | 3,355 yd | Academy converter | Not Applicable | Mixed | More About School |
| Blessed Hugh Faringdon Catholic School Fawley Road , Southcote RG30 3EP | 3out of 4 | 4,417 yd | Voluntary aided school | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Theale Green School Church Street , RG7 5DA | 2out of 4 | 4,456 yd | Academy sponsor led | Not Applicable | 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 | 937 yd | Community special school | Yes | Mixed | More About School |
| Thames Valley School 2 Conwy Close , Tilehurst RG30 4BZ | 3out of 4 | 2,467 yd | Free schools special | No | Mixed | More About School |
| TLG Reading Empress Road , Calcot RG31 4XR | - not rated | 2,806 yd | Other independent school | No | Mixed | More About School |
| The Holy Brook School 145 Ashampstead Road , Southcote RG30 3LJ | 3out of 4 | 3,951 yd | Community special school | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Cranbury College Cranbury Road , RG30 2TS | - not rated | 4,310 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spoons Coffee Shop | 7, The Colonnade Overdown Road, Tilehurst | 667 yd | |
| The Snaffle Cafe | Hall Place Farm Sulham Hill, Tilehurst | 713 yd | |
| St Catherine's Cafe | Church Of St Catherine Wittenham Avenue, Tilehurst | 1,047 yd |
| Business Name | Address | Food hygiene rating | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Royal Oak | 69 Westwood Glen | 510 yd | |
| Tilehurst Bowls Club | Wardle Avenue | 673 yd | |
| Tilehurst Royal British Legion | Downing Road | 1,007 yd |
| Business Name | Address | Food hygiene rating | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| High Rise Fish Bar | 3, The Colonnade Overdown Road, Tilehurst | 642 yd | |
| Asian Spice | 3, The Colonnade Overdown Road, Tilehurst | 642 yd |
| Business Name | Address | Food hygiene rating | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Co-Operative Food, The | 1, The Colonnade Overdown Road, Tilehurst | 627 yd | |
| Tesco | Unit 3, The Parade Knowsley Road, Tilehurst | 961 yd |
| Facility Name | Sport Objects | Distance |
|---|---|---|
| Downsway Primary School WARBRECK DRIVE | grass pitches | 576 yd |
| Cotswold Sports Centre DOWNS WAY | health and fitness suite | 607 yd |
| Cotswold Recreation Ground Downs Way | grass pitches | 777 yd |
| Denefield School LONG LANE | grass pitches, tennis courts | 851 yd |
| Brookfields School SAGE ROAD | artificial grass pitch, grass pitches, swimming pool | 963 yd |
| Birch Copse Primary School WITTENHAM AVENUE | grass pitches | 1,012 yd |
| Westwood Farm Junior School FULLBROOK CRESCENT | grass pitches | 1,015 yd |
| St Catherine Of Siena Church Hall ST CATHERINES HALL ST CATHERINES HALL WITTENHAM AVENUE | 1,051 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 | 80 Mbit/s |
| Average download speed | 148 Mbit/s |
| Minimum download speed | 600 Mbit/s |
| Maximum download speed | 600 Mbit/s |
| Median upload speed | 20 Mbit/s |
| Average upload speed | 19 Mbit/s |
| Maximum upload speed | 40 Mbit/s |
Broadband statistics are based on Ofcom's Communications Market Report (CMR) 2022.