Portmill Lane is in Hitchin and in North Hertfordshire district. SG5 1DJ is located in the Hitchin Priory electoral ward, within the English Parliamentary constituency of Hitchin and Harpenden. This postcode has been in use since 1980-01-01.
StreetScan combines information about Portmill Lane, Hitchin, SG5 1DJ and displays a report on the quality of life in this place and its surroundings.
Nearby postcodes are: SG5 1EU, SG5 1DB, SG4 9TL, SG4 0ZL, SG5 1AA, SG5 1EN, SG5 1DG, SG4 9SB, SG5 1BS.
In the UK, the overall gender distribution is approximately 49% male and 51% female. The local area around SG5 1DJ is generally consistent with those figures, having a male population of 49%.
| 2011 | 2021 | 10y change (pp) | UK Average | postcode vs UK (pp) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Female | 59.1% | 51% | -8.1% | 51.0% | 0.0% |
| Male | 40.9% | 49% | 8.1% | 49.0% | 0.0% |
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 SG5 1DJ, a significant portion of the population is single, making up 47.7% 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 | 35% | 47.7% | 12.7% | 37.9% | 9.8% |
| Married: Opposite sex | 24.4% | 23.7% | -0.7% | 44.2% | -20.5% |
| Civil partnership: Same sex | 0% | 0.5% | 0.5% | 0.1% | 0.4% |
| Separated | 5.1% | 2.5% | -2.6% | 2.2% | 0.3% |
| Divorced | 4.6% | 9.3% | 4.7% | 9.1% | 0.2% |
| Widowed | 30.9% | 16.3% | -14.6% | 6.1% | 10.2% |
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 | 31.7% | 46.2% | 14.5% | 48.4% | -2.2% |
| Good health | 36.5% | 30.3% | -6.2% | 33.6% | -3.3% |
| Fair health | 25.2% | 16.4% | -8.8% | 12.7% | 3.7% |
| Bad health | 5.7% | 6.1% | 0.4% | 4.0% | 2.1% |
| Very bad health | 0.9% | 1% | 0.1% | 1.2% | -0.2% |
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.
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 50.4%.
| 2011 | 2021 | 10y change (pp) | UK Average | postcode vs UK (pp) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No qualifications | 19.8% | 10.3% | -9.5% | 18.2% | -7.9% |
| 1-4 GCSEs or Equivalent | 11.5% | 6% | -5.5% | 9.6% | -3.6% |
| 5 or more GCSEs, an A-Level or 1-2 AS Levels | 13.8% | 11.4% | -2.4% | 13.4% | -2.0% |
| Apprenticeship | 1.8% | 3.5% | 1.7% | 5.3% | -1.8% |
| HNC, HND or 2+ A Levels | 10.1% | 12.5% | 2.4% | 16.9% | -4.4% |
| Degree or Similar | 35.9% | 50.4% | 14.5% | 33.8% | 16.6% |
| Other | 6.9% | 6% | -0.9% | 2.8% | 3.2% |
This area closely mirrors the overall ethnic composition of the UK, with 85.1% of the population identifying as white, with UK average of 81.4%.
| 2011 | 2021 | 10y change (pp) | UK Average | postcode vs UK (pp) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bangladeshi | 0% | 0.5% | 0.5% | 1.1% | -0.6% |
| Chinese | 0.9% | 0.8% | -0.1% | 0.7% | 0.1% |
| Indian | 2.6% | 3.3% | 0.7% | 3.1% | 0.2% |
| Pakistani | 0% | 0.5% | 0.5% | 2.7% | -2.2% |
| Other Asian | 0.9% | 2.8% | 1.9% | 1.6% | 1.2% |
| Black Caribbean | 2.6% | 1.3% | -1.3% | 1.0% | 0.3% |
| Other Black | 0.4% | 0.3% | -0.1% | 0.5% | -0.2% |
| Mixed White and Asian | 0.9% | 0.8% | -0.1% | 0.8% | 0.0% |
| Mixed White and African | 0% | 0.3% | 0.3% | 0.4% | -0.1% |
| Mixed White and Caribbean | 1.3% | 0.8% | -0.5% | 0.9% | -0.1% |
| Mixed Other | 0.9% | 2.5% | 1.6% | 0.8% | 1.7% |
| White | 86.5% | 85.1% | -1.4% | 81.4% | 3.7% |
| Arab | 1.7% | 0.8% | -0.9% | 0.6% | 0.2% |
| Other | 1.3% | 0.5% | -0.8% | 1.6% | -1.1% |
In this area, 79.5% 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 | 87.8% | 79.5% | -8.3% | 83.2% | -3.7% |
| European Union | 3.9% | 9.9% | 6.0% | 6.1% | 3.8% |
| Rest of Europe | 1.3% | 1% | -0.3% | 0.8% | 0.2% |
| Africa | 2.6% | 2.3% | -0.3% | 2.7% | -0.4% |
| Middle East and Asia | 2.2% | 4.8% | 2.6% | 5.6% | -0.8% |
| The Americas and the Caribbean | 2.2% | 1.3% | -0.9% | 1.3% | 0.0% |
| Oceania | 0% | 1.3% | 1.3% | 0.3% | 1.0% |
| 2011 | 2021 | 10y change (pp) | UK Average | postcode vs UK (pp) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Born in the UK | 86.5% | 79.3% | -7.2% | 83.2% | -3.9% |
| 10+ Years | 0.4% | 9.8% | 9.4% | 9.8% | 0.0% |
| 5-10 Years | 0.9% | 3.3% | 2.4% | 2.9% | 0.4% |
| 2-5 Years | 5.7% | 6.3% | 0.6% | 2.2% | 4.1% |
| Less than 2 years | 6.5% | 1.3% | -5.2% | 1.9% | -0.6% |
| 2021 | UK Average | postcode vs UK (pp) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom | 72.2% | 76.7% | -4.5% |
| Ireland | 0.5% | 0.6% | -0.1% |
| France | 1% | 0.3% | 0.7% |
| Italy | 2.3% | 0.6% | 1.7% |
| Portugal | 0.3% | 0.5% | -0.2% |
| Spain | 1% | 0.4% | 0.6% |
| Poland | 0.5% | 1.3% | -0.8% |
| Romania | 1.3% | 0.9% | 0.4% |
| Other EU countries | 4.5% | 1.5% | 3.0% |
| South and Eastern Africa | 1% | 0.2% | 0.8% |
| Middle East | 0.3% | 0.1% | 0.2% |
| Southern Asia | 0.5% | 1.2% | -0.7% |
| South-East Asia | 1.3% | 0.2% | 1.1% |
| Central and South America | 0.3% | 0.2% | 0.1% |
| Oceania | 0.8% | 0.1% | 0.7% |
| No passport held | 12.4% | 13.5% | -1.1% |
| 2021 | UK Average | postcode vs UK (pp) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| No religion | 45.5% | 37.2% | 8.3% |
| Christian | 43.9% | 46.2% | -2.3% |
| Buddhist | 1.3% | 0.5% | 0.8% |
| Hindu | 1.8% | 1.7% | 0.1% |
| Jewish | 0.3% | 0.5% | -0.2% |
| Muslim | 2.8% | 6.5% | -3.7% |
| Not answered | 4.5% | 6.0% | -1.5% |
Over the last 12 months, the overall crime rate around Portmill Lane was 733.5 per 1,000 residents, which is 1941.5% higher than the Hitchin Highbury average. The most reported crime type was Shoplifting.
Portmill Lane has the highest crime rate of 37 local areas in Hitchin Highbury and the 3rd highest crime rate of 413 local areas in North Hertfordshire .
Violent and sexual offences accounted for around 228.4 crimes per 1,000 residents and have been falling year on year. Over the last decade, overall crime has fallen by about -38.1%.

Households in this area have a higher level of wealth to the average household in England and Wales. 72% of analyzed areas in England and Wales have lower average household annual income than this area.

| Address | Sale Price | Sale Date | Price Estimate 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 41 - 42 Portmill Lane, Hitchin, Hertfordshire Flats/Maisonettes, an established residential building | £250,000 | 2008-04-24 | £358,633 |
SG5 1DJ area has a high level of entrepreneurship. Only 22% 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.
SG5 1DJ area has a low unemployment rate. According to Census 2021, 1% 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 | 157 |
| Retired | 89 |
| Self-Employed | 45 |
| Part-Time Employee | 22 |
| Student (economically inactive) | 20 |
| Long-Term Sick or disabled | 15 |
| Other | 12 |
| Looking after home or family | 4 |
| Unemployed | 4 |
| Full-Time Student (with or without job) | 3 |
| Wholesale and retail trade; repair of motor vehicles and motor cycles | 14 |
| Accommodation and food service activities | 12 |
| Professional, scientific and technical activities | 12 |
| Human health and social work activities | 10 |
| Education | 9 |
| Information and communication | 8 |
| Financial and insurance activities | 8 |
| Administrative and support service activities | 8 |
| Other | 6 |
| Manufacturing | 5 |
| Real estate activities | 4 |
| Water supply; sewerage, waste management and remediation activities | 3 |
| Construction | 2 |
| Public administration and defence; compulsory social security | 2 |
| Transport and storage | 2 |
| Ofsted Overall Effectiveness | Distance | Establishment Type | Has Nursery Classes | Gender | More Info | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| York Road Nursery School York Road , SG5 1XA | 4out of 4 | 702 yd | Local authority nursery school | Yes | Mixed | More About School |
| Ofsted Overall Effectiveness | Distance | Establishment Type | Has Nursery Classes | Gender | More Info | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Highbury Infant School and Nursery Standhill Road , SG4 9AG | 3out of 4 | 532 yd | Community school | Yes | Mixed | More About School |
| Wilshere-Dacre Junior Academy Fishponds Road , SG5 1NS | 3out of 4 | 643 yd | Academy sponsor led | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Samuel Lucas Junior Mixed and Infant School Gaping Lane , SG5 2JQ | 4out of 4 | 733 yd | Community school | No | Mixed | More About School |
| St Andrew's Church of England Voluntary Aided Primary School, Hitchin Benslow Lane , SG4 9RD | 4out of 4 | 913 yd | Voluntary aided school | Yes | Mixed | More About School |
| Whitehill Junior School Whitehill Road , SG4 9HT | 3out of 4 | 1,228 yd | Community school | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Ofsted Overall Effectiveness | Distance | Establishment Type | Has Nursery Classes | Gender | More Info | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hitchin Boys' School Grammar School Walk , SG5 1JB | 4out of 4 | 269 yd | Academy converter | No | Boys | More About School |
| Hitchin Girls' School Highbury Road , SG4 9RS | 4out of 4 | 591 yd | Academy converter | Not Applicable | Girls | More About School |
| The Priory School Bedford Road , SG5 2UR | 3out of 4 | 1,683 yd | Foundation school | No | Mixed | More About School |
| The Highfield School Highfield , SG6 3QA | 3out of 4 | 3,559 yd | Foundation school | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Fearnhill School Icknield Way West , SG6 4BA | 2out of 4 | 3,980 yd | Foundation school | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Ofsted Overall Effectiveness | Distance | Establishment Type | Has Nursery Classes | Gender | More Info | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kingshott School Stevenage Road , St Ippolyts SG4 7JX | - not rated | 1,935 yd | Other independent school | Yes | Mixed | More About School |
| North Herts Education Support Centre Briar Patch Lane , SG6 3LY | 4out of 4 | 3,500 yd | Pupil referral unit | Not Applicable | Mixed | More About School |
| St Francis College Broadway , SG6 3PJ | - not rated | 4,402 yd | Other independent school | Yes | Girls | More About School |
| St Christopher School Barrington Road , SG6 3JZ | - not rated | 4,427 yd | Other independent school | Yes | Mixed | More About School |
| Princess Helena College School Lane , Preston SG4 7RT | - not rated | 4,842 yd | Other independent school | No | Mixed | More About School |
School statistics for this postcode are based on Ofsted rankings.
| Business Name | Address | Food hygiene rating | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hitchin Cafe | 70 Hermitage Road | 53 yd | |
| HERMITAGE ROAD COFFEE & BAGEL BAR | 20 Hermitage Road | 108 yd | |
| Hermitage Rd Bar and Restaurant | 20 - 21 Hermitage Road | 117 yd | |
| Rajdouth tandoori Cuisine | 19A Hermitage Road | 117 yd | |
| Sukawatee | 88 Hermitage Road | 129 yd |
| Business Name | Address | Food hygiene rating | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Beer Shop | 31 Hermitage Road | 87 yd | |
| Bricklayers Arms PH | The Bricklayers Arms, 29 Queen Street | 207 yd | |
| Jilar Spa and Bar | 102C Bancroft | 208 yd | |
| The Block | 23 Churchgate | 241 yd | |
| The Brickyard | 24 Bancroft | 245 yd |
| Business Name | Address | Food hygiene rating | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Town Fryer | 34 Hermitage Road | 87 yd | |
| SUBWAY | 91 Hermitage Road | 129 yd | |
| Ali Baba Kebab House | 110 Bancroft | 203 yd | |
| Eat Well | 103 Bancroft | 203 yd | |
| Murphy's Fish & Chips Ltd | 31 Queen Street | 207 yd |
| Business Name | Address | Food hygiene rating | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Marks & Spencer Simply Foods | Unit 1, 121 - 123 Bancroft | 147 yd | |
| Iceland Frozen Foods Plc | 23 Churchgate | 241 yd | |
| Asda Supermarket | Asda Stores Ltd Queen Street | 310 yd | |
| Sainsbury's | Sainsburys Supermarket Whinbush Road | 331 yd | |
| Waitrose Store | The Lairage Bedford Road | 608 yd |
| Facility Name | Sport Objects | Distance |
|---|---|---|
| Xchange Fitness QUEEN STREET | health and fitness suite | 168 yd |
| Hitchin Boys School Sports Centre Grammar School Walk | artificial grass pitch, grass pitches | 381 yd |
| Fitness Connection (Hitchin) (Closed) Austin House Austin House Queen Street | health and fitness suite | 387 yd |
| Christchurch Methodist & United Reformed Church BEDFORD ROAD | 453 yd | |
| Hitchin Girls' School HIGHBURY ROAD | grass pitches | 461 yd |
| Bancroft Recreation Ground BANCROFT RECREATION GROUND BANCROFT RECREATION GROUND BANCROFT | tennis courts | 467 yd |
| Hbs Tennis Club FISHPONDS ROAD | tennis courts | 634 yd |
| Hitchin Swimming Centre & Fitness @ Archers Hitchin Fishponds Road | health and fitness suite, swimming pool | 640 yd |
| Samuel Lucas Jmi School GAPING LANE | grass pitches | 733 yd |
| Wilshere-Dacre Junior Academy FISHPONDS ROAD | grass pitches | 735 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 | 71.4% |
| Percentage of premises that have Ultrafast Broadband (300Mbit/s or greater) coverage from fixed broadband | 71.4% |
| Percentage of premises that have coverage from a Gigabit capable service from fixed broadband | 71.4% |
| 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% |
Broadband statistics are based on Ofcom's Communications Market Report (CMR) 2022.