Paynes Park is in Hitchin and in North Hertfordshire district. SG5 1EJ is located in the Hitchin Priory electoral ward, within the English Parliamentary constituency of Hitchin and Harpenden. This postcode has been in use since 2006-03-01.
StreetScan combines information about Paynes Park, Hitchin, SG5 1EJ and displays a report on the quality of life in this place and its surroundings.
Nearby postcodes are: SG5 1AR, SG5 1AU, SG5 2DH, SG5 1EE, SG5 1ED, SG5 2DY, SG5 1EP, SG5 1EH, SG5 1BH.
In the UK, the overall gender distribution is approximately 49% male and 51% female. However, the area surrounding SG5 1EJ, has a female population slightly higher than UK average, with 52.5% of residents being female. Several factors can contribute to this. Women generally live longer than men, resulting in a higher proportion of women in neighborhoods with significant elderly populations. Typically, as people grow older, they tend to relocate from city center addresses to suburban areas, smaller towns, and rural locations. Consequently, these areas often have a higher number of females. A higher female population can also be found in areas with industries that employ more women, such as healthcare, education, and retail.
| 2011 | 2021 | 10y change (pp) | UK Average | postcode vs UK (pp) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Female | 49.4% | 52.5% | 3.1% | 51.0% | 1.5% |
| Male | 50.6% | 47.5% | -3.1% | 49.0% | -1.5% |
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 1EJ, a significant portion of the population is single, making up 47.5% 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 | 47.9% | 47.5% | -0.4% | 37.9% | 9.6% |
| Married: Opposite sex | 33.6% | 19% | -14.6% | 44.2% | -25.2% |
| Married: Same sex | 0.5% | 0% | -0.5% | 0.3% | -0.3% |
| Civil partnership: Same sex | 0% | 1.3% | 1.3% | 0.1% | 1.2% |
| Separated | 4.7% | 6.3% | 1.6% | 2.2% | 4.1% |
| Divorced | 9.6% | 12.7% | 3.1% | 9.1% | 3.6% |
| Widowed | 3.7% | 13.3% | 9.6% | 6.1% | 7.2% |
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 | 58.9% | 41.2% | -17.7% | 48.4% | -7.2% |
| Good health | 30.9% | 38.4% | 7.5% | 33.6% | 4.8% |
| Fair health | 8.7% | 16.9% | 8.2% | 12.7% | 4.2% |
| Bad health | 1.3% | 1.7% | 0.4% | 4.0% | -2.3% |
| Very bad health | 0.2% | 1.7% | 1.5% | 1.2% | 0.5% |
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 44.7%.
| 2011 | 2021 | 10y change (pp) | UK Average | postcode vs UK (pp) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No qualifications | 4.9% | 12.6% | 7.7% | 18.2% | -5.6% |
| 1-4 GCSEs or Equivalent | 12.1% | 7.5% | -4.6% | 9.6% | -2.1% |
| 5 or more GCSEs, an A-Level or 1-2 AS Levels | 14.3% | 13.2% | -1.1% | 13.4% | -0.2% |
| Apprenticeship | 2% | 3.1% | 1.1% | 5.3% | -2.2% |
| HNC, HND or 2+ A Levels | 12.3% | 13.2% | 0.9% | 16.9% | -3.7% |
| Degree or Similar | 49.1% | 44.7% | -4.4% | 33.8% | 10.9% |
| Other | 5.2% | 5.7% | 0.5% | 2.8% | 2.9% |
This area closely mirrors the overall ethnic composition of the UK, with 84.7% of the population identifying as white, with UK average of 81.4%.
| 2011 | 2021 | 10y change (pp) | UK Average | postcode vs UK (pp) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Indian | 1.1% | 2.8% | 1.7% | 3.1% | -0.3% |
| Other Asian | 0.8% | 0.6% | -0.2% | 1.6% | -1.0% |
| Black African | 1.5% | 2.3% | 0.8% | 2.5% | -0.2% |
| Black Caribbean | 2.8% | 1.7% | -1.1% | 1.0% | 0.7% |
| Other Black | 1.1% | 0.6% | -0.5% | 0.5% | 0.1% |
| Mixed White and Asian | 1.1% | 1.1% | 0.0% | 0.8% | 0.3% |
| Mixed White and African | 0.2% | 0.6% | 0.4% | 0.4% | 0.2% |
| Mixed White and Caribbean | 2.1% | 2.3% | 0.2% | 0.9% | 1.4% |
| Mixed Other | 1.5% | 1.1% | -0.4% | 0.8% | 0.3% |
| White | 87.7% | 84.7% | -3.0% | 81.4% | 3.3% |
| Arab | 0.2% | 0% | -0.2% | 0.6% | -0.6% |
| Other | 0% | 2.3% | 2.3% | 1.6% | 0.7% |
In this area, 86.4% 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 | 87.7% | 86.4% | -1.3% | 83.2% | 3.2% |
| European Union | 5.9% | 3.4% | -2.5% | 6.1% | -2.7% |
| Rest of Europe | 0.2% | 0% | -0.2% | 0.8% | -0.8% |
| Africa | 2.1% | 3.4% | 1.3% | 2.7% | 0.7% |
| Middle East and Asia | 1.1% | 2.3% | 1.2% | 5.6% | -3.3% |
| The Americas and the Caribbean | 1.9% | 2.3% | 0.4% | 1.3% | 1.0% |
| Oceania | 1.1% | 2.3% | 1.2% | 0.3% | 2.0% |
| 2011 | 2021 | 10y change (pp) | UK Average | postcode vs UK (pp) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Born in the UK | 86.7% | 86.9% | 0.2% | 83.2% | 3.7% |
| 10+ Years | 2.1% | 7.4% | 5.3% | 9.8% | -2.4% |
| 5-10 Years | 2.5% | 1.1% | -1.4% | 2.9% | -1.8% |
| 2-5 Years | 3% | 2.8% | -0.2% | 2.2% | 0.6% |
| Less than 2 years | 5.7% | 1.7% | -4.0% | 1.9% | -0.2% |
| 2021 | UK Average | postcode vs UK (pp) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom | 79.1% | 76.7% | 2.4% |
| Ireland | 0.6% | 0.6% | 0.0% |
| Italy | 0.6% | 0.6% | 0.0% |
| Lithuania | 0.6% | 0.3% | 0.3% |
| Other EU countries | 1.7% | 1.5% | 0.2% |
| South and Eastern Africa | 0.6% | 0.2% | 0.4% |
| Southern Asia | 1.1% | 1.2% | -0.1% |
| North America and the Caribbean | 0.6% | 0.3% | 0.3% |
| Oceania | 2.3% | 0.1% | 2.2% |
| No passport held | 13% | 13.5% | -0.5% |
| 2021 | UK Average | postcode vs UK (pp) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| No religion | 43.5% | 37.2% | 6.3% |
| Christian | 46.3% | 46.2% | 0.1% |
| Buddhist | 0.6% | 0.5% | 0.1% |
| Muslim | 2.3% | 6.5% | -4.2% |
| Sikh | 2.8% | 0.9% | 1.9% |
| Not answered | 4.5% | 6.0% | -1.5% |
Over the last 12 months, the overall crime rate around Paynes Park was 96.8 per 1,000 residents, which is 169.3% higher than the Hitchin Highbury average. The most reported crime type was Violence and sexual offences.
Paynes Park has the 10th highest crime rate of 37 local areas in Hitchin Highbury and the 73rd highest crime rate of 413 local areas in North Hertfordshire .
Violent and sexual offences accounted for around 56.4 crimes per 1,000 residents and have been falling year on year. Over the last decade, overall crime has fallen by about -72.6%.

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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 15 Whitings Court Paynes Park, Hitchin, Hertfordshire Flats/Maisonettes, an established residential building | £170,000 | 2025-01-06 | £167,978 |
| 31 Whitings Court Paynes Park, Hitchin, Hertfordshire Flats/Maisonettes, an established residential building | £153,000 | 2023-11-09 | £149,844 |
| 36 Whitings Court Paynes Park, Hitchin, Hertfordshire Flats/Maisonettes, an established residential building | £145,000 | 2023-09-01 | £146,321 |
| 24 Whitings Court Paynes Park, Hitchin, Hertfordshire Flats/Maisonettes, an established residential building | £250,000 | 2023-07-18 | £246,782 |
| 31 Whitings Court Paynes Park, Hitchin, Hertfordshire Flats/Maisonettes, an established residential building | £158,000 | 2023-02-24 | £155,198 |
SG5 1EJ area has a low unemployment rate. According to Census 2021, 0% 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 | 75 |
| Retired | 40 |
| Part-Time Employee | 14 |
| Self-Employed | 11 |
| Long-Term Sick or disabled | 8 |
| Looking after home or family | 5 |
| Student (economically inactive) | 4 |
| Other | 1 |
| Full-Time Student (with or without job) | 1 |
| Unemployed | 0 |
| Professional, scientific and technical activities | 42 |
| Education | 37 |
| Wholesale and retail trade; repair of motor vehicles and motor cycles | 35 |
| Human health and social work activities | 31 |
| Manufacturing | 26 |
| Construction | 24 |
| Information and communication | 20 |
| Other | 20 |
| Financial and insurance activities | 15 |
| Transport and storage | 13 |
| Public administration and defence; compulsory social security | 13 |
| Administrative and support service activities | 12 |
| Accommodation and food service activities | 12 |
| Real estate activities | 4 |
| Water supply; sewerage, waste management and remediation activities | 2 |
| Electricity, gas, steam and air conditioning supply | 1 |
| Ofsted Overall Effectiveness | Distance | Establishment Type | Has Nursery Classes | Gender | More Info | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| York Road Nursery School York Road , SG5 1XA | 4out of 4 | 856 yd | Local authority nursery school | Yes | Mixed | More About School |
| Ofsted Overall Effectiveness | Distance | Establishment Type | Has Nursery Classes | Gender | More Info | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Samuel Lucas Junior Mixed and Infant School Gaping Lane , SG5 2JQ | 4out of 4 | 433 yd | Community school | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Wilshere-Dacre Junior Academy Fishponds Road , SG5 1NS | 3out of 4 | 675 yd | Academy sponsor led | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Highbury Infant School and Nursery Standhill Road , SG4 9AG | 3out of 4 | 798 yd | Community school | Yes | Mixed | More About School |
| Oughton Primary and Nursery School Mattocke Road , SG5 2NZ | 3out of 4 | 1,167 yd | Community school | Yes | Mixed | More About School |
| St Andrew's Church of England Voluntary Aided Primary School, Hitchin Benslow Lane , SG4 9RD | 4out of 4 | 1,317 yd | Voluntary aided school | Yes | 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 | 450 yd | Academy converter | No | Boys | More About School |
| Hitchin Girls' School Highbury Road , SG4 9RS | 4out of 4 | 965 yd | Academy converter | Not Applicable | Girls | More About School |
| The Priory School Bedford Road , SG5 2UR | 3out of 4 | 1,728 yd | Foundation school | No | Mixed | More About School |
| The Highfield School Highfield , SG6 3QA | 3out of 4 | 3,923 yd | Foundation school | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Fearnhill School Icknield Way West , SG6 4BA | 2out of 4 | 4,292 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 | 2,178 yd | Other independent school | Yes | Mixed | More About School |
| North Herts Education Support Centre Briar Patch Lane , SG6 3LY | 4out of 4 | 3,870 yd | Pupil referral unit | Not Applicable | Mixed | More About School |
| Princess Helena College School Lane , Preston SG4 7RT | - not rated | 4,718 yd | Other independent school | No | Mixed | More About School |
| St Francis College Broadway , SG6 3PJ | - not rated | 4,769 yd | Other independent school | Yes | Girls | More About School |
| St Christopher School Barrington Road , SG6 3JZ | - not rated | 4,816 yd | Other independent school | Yes | Mixed | More About School |
School statistics for this postcode are based on Ofsted rankings.
| Business Name | Address | Food hygiene rating | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wakelin & Son | Coopers Yard Paynes Park | 32 yd | |
| Hatter's Cafe | 6A Arcade Walk | 86 yd | |
| The Angel's Share | 2 Arcade Walk | 86 yd | |
| Ziba | 30 Market Place | 99 yd | |
| Cafe Air Limited | Market Square Market Place | 99 yd |
| Business Name | Address | Food hygiene rating | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Twisted Fabric | 6 - 8 The Arcade | 97 yd | |
| Pitcher & Piano | 31 Market Place | 99 yd | |
| Coopers Arms | Coopers Arms, 81 Tilehouse Street | 113 yd | |
| The George | The George, 33 Bucklersbury | 156 yd | |
| Kite at The Red Hart | The Red Hart, 28 - 29 Bucklersbury | 156 yd |
| Business Name | Address | Food hygiene rating | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bodillys Oriental Cuisine | 25 Bucklersbury | 156 yd | |
| Bodrum Take Away | 22 Bucklersbury | 156 yd | |
| Chilli Banana | 32 Bucklersbury | 156 yd | |
| Cornish Hearts | 5 Market Place | 166 yd | |
| Southern Fried Chicken | 6A Brand Street | 174 yd |
| Business Name | Address | Food hygiene rating | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Iceland Frozen Foods Plc | 23 Churchgate | 228 yd | |
| Marks & Spencer Simply Foods | Unit 1, 121 - 123 Bancroft | 315 yd | |
| Waitrose Store | The Lairage Bedford Road | 367 yd | |
| Asda Supermarket | Asda Stores Ltd Queen Street | 422 yd | |
| Sainsbury's | Sainsburys Supermarket Whinbush Road | 594 yd |
| Facility Name | Sport Objects | Distance |
|---|---|---|
| Christchurch Methodist & United Reformed Church BEDFORD ROAD | 301 yd | |
| Fitness Connection (Hitchin) (Closed) Austin House Austin House Queen Street | health and fitness suite | 400 yd |
| Xchange Fitness QUEEN STREET | health and fitness suite | 402 yd |
| Samuel Lucas Jmi School GAPING LANE | grass pitches | 436 yd |
| Hitchin Boys School Sports Centre Grammar School Walk | artificial grass pitch, grass pitches | 441 yd |
| Hitchin Swimming Centre & Fitness @ Archers Hitchin Fishponds Road | health and fitness suite, swimming pool | 570 yd |
| Hbs Tennis Club FISHPONDS ROAD | tennis courts | 724 yd |
| Bancroft Recreation Ground BANCROFT RECREATION GROUND BANCROFT RECREATION GROUND BANCROFT | tennis courts | 724 yd |
| Wilshere-Dacre Junior Academy FISHPONDS ROAD | grass pitches | 765 yd |
| Hitchin Girls' School HIGHBURY ROAD | grass pitches | 842 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 | 0.0% |
| Percentage of premises that have Ultrafast Broadband (300Mbit/s or greater) coverage from fixed broadband | 0.0% |
| Percentage of premises that have coverage from a Gigabit capable service from fixed broadband | 0.0% |
| 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 | 39.9 Mbit/s |
| Average download speed | 43.7 Mbit/s |
| Minimum download speed | 80 Mbit/s |
| Maximum download speed | 80 Mbit/s |
| Median upload speed | 10 Mbit/s |
| Average upload speed | 9.4 Mbit/s |
| Maximum upload speed | 20 Mbit/s |
Broadband statistics are based on Ofcom's Communications Market Report (CMR) 2022.