The Birches is in Southampton and in Southampton district. SO18 5SR is located in the Harefield electoral ward, within the English Parliamentary constituency of Southampton, Itchen. This postcode has been in use since 1994-12-01.
StreetScan combines information about The Birches, Southampton, SO18 5SR and displays a report on the quality of life in this place and its surroundings.
Nearby postcodes are: SO18 6PP, SO18 5PR, SO18 5TB, SO18 5PQ, SO18 5ED, SO18 5EB, SO18 6RW, SO18 5PS, SO18 3BX.
In the UK, the overall gender distribution is approximately 49% male and 51% female. However, the area surrounding SO18 5SR, has a female population slightly higher than UK average, with 52.4% 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 | 54.7% | 52.4% | -2.3% | 51.0% | 1.4% |
| Male | 45.3% | 47.6% | 2.3% | 49.0% | -1.4% |
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 | 38.4% | 40.1% | 1.7% | 37.9% | 2.2% |
| Married: Opposite sex | 44.7% | 42.1% | -2.6% | 44.2% | -2.1% |
| Married: Same sex | 0.8% | 1.2% | 0.4% | 0.3% | 0.9% |
| Civil partnership: Same sex | 0% | 1.2% | 1.2% | 0.1% | 1.1% |
| Separated | 2% | 4% | 2.0% | 2.2% | 1.8% |
| Divorced | 9.4% | 7.9% | -1.5% | 9.1% | -1.2% |
| Widowed | 4.7% | 3.6% | -1.1% | 6.1% | -2.5% |
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 | 50.3% | 45.7% | -4.6% | 48.4% | -2.7% |
| Good health | 31.9% | 36.7% | 4.8% | 33.6% | 3.1% |
| Fair health | 13.4% | 12.8% | -0.6% | 12.7% | 0.1% |
| Bad health | 2.8% | 4.5% | 1.7% | 4.0% | 0.5% |
| Very bad health | 1.6% | 0.3% | -1.3% | 1.2% | -0.9% |
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 | 23.9% | 15.7% | -8.2% | 18.2% | -2.5% |
| 1-4 GCSEs or Equivalent | 12.9% | 7.5% | -5.4% | 9.6% | -2.1% |
| 5 or more GCSEs, an A-Level or 1-2 AS Levels | 18.4% | 14.6% | -3.8% | 13.4% | 1.2% |
| Apprenticeship | 5.1% | 6.3% | 1.2% | 5.3% | 1.0% |
| HNC, HND or 2+ A Levels | 11% | 22.8% | 11.8% | 16.9% | 5.9% |
| Degree or Similar | 22% | 29.5% | 7.5% | 33.8% | -4.3% |
| Other | 6.7% | 3.5% | -3.2% | 2.8% | 0.7% |
This area closely mirrors the overall ethnic composition of the UK, with 88.7% of the population identifying as white, with UK average of 81.4%.
| 2011 | 2021 | 10y change (pp) | UK Average | postcode vs UK (pp) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chinese | 0.9% | 0.6% | -0.3% | 0.7% | -0.1% |
| Indian | 0% | 1.3% | 1.3% | 3.1% | -1.8% |
| Pakistani | 1.6% | 0% | -1.6% | 2.7% | -2.7% |
| Other Asian | 0.6% | 0.6% | 0.0% | 1.6% | -1.0% |
| Black African | 0% | 3.9% | 3.9% | 2.5% | 1.4% |
| Black Caribbean | 0.6% | 0.3% | -0.3% | 1.0% | -0.7% |
| Mixed White and Asian | 0% | 0.6% | 0.6% | 0.8% | -0.2% |
| Mixed White and African | 1.6% | 1.3% | -0.3% | 0.4% | 0.9% |
| Mixed White and Caribbean | 0.9% | 1.3% | 0.4% | 0.9% | 0.4% |
| Mixed Other | 0% | 1.3% | 1.3% | 0.8% | 0.5% |
| White | 93.8% | 88.7% | -5.1% | 81.4% | 7.3% |
In this area, 86.6% 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 | 88.8% | 86.6% | -2.2% | 83.2% | 3.4% |
| European Union | 5.3% | 7.3% | 2.0% | 6.1% | 1.2% |
| Rest of Europe | 0.6% | 0% | -0.6% | 0.8% | -0.8% |
| Africa | 1.9% | 3.5% | 1.6% | 2.7% | 0.8% |
| Middle East and Asia | 2.2% | 0.3% | -1.9% | 5.6% | -5.3% |
| The Americas and the Caribbean | 0.6% | 2.2% | 1.6% | 1.3% | 0.9% |
| Oceania | 0.3% | 0% | -0.3% | 0.3% | -0.3% |
| British Overseas | 0.3% | 0% | -0.3% | 0.0% | 0.0% |
| 2011 | 2021 | 10y change (pp) | UK Average | postcode vs UK (pp) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Born in the UK | 87.5% | 86.9% | -0.6% | 83.2% | 3.7% |
| 10+ Years | 0.3% | 11.2% | 10.9% | 9.8% | 1.4% |
| 5-10 Years | 1.6% | 1.9% | 0.3% | 2.9% | -1.0% |
| 2-5 Years | 4.1% | 0% | -4.1% | 2.2% | -2.2% |
| Less than 2 years | 6.6% | 0% | -6.6% | 1.9% | -1.9% |
| 2021 | UK Average | postcode vs UK (pp) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom | 82.8% | 76.7% | 6.1% |
| Ireland | 0.3% | 0.6% | -0.3% |
| Poland | 2.5% | 1.3% | 1.2% |
| Romania | 0.6% | 0.9% | -0.3% |
| Other EU countries | 2.2% | 1.5% | 0.7% |
| South and Eastern Africa | 1% | 0.2% | 0.8% |
| North America and the Caribbean | 0.3% | 0.3% | 0.0% |
| Central and South America | 0.3% | 0.2% | 0.1% |
| No passport held | 9.9% | 13.5% | -3.6% |
| 2021 | UK Average | postcode vs UK (pp) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| No religion | 41.5% | 37.2% | 4.3% |
| Christian | 46.8% | 46.2% | 0.6% |
| Hindu | 1.6% | 1.7% | -0.1% |
| Muslim | 1.6% | 6.5% | -4.9% |
| Sikh | 0.3% | 0.9% | -0.6% |
| Other religion | 1.3% | 0.6% | 0.7% |
| Not answered | 7% | 6.0% | 1.0% |
Over the last 12 months, the overall crime rate around The Birches was 131.9 per 1,000 residents, which is 36.1% higher than the Harefield average. The most reported crime type was Violence and sexual offences.
The Birches has the 8th highest crime rate of 21 local areas in Harefield and the 234th highest crime rate of 724 local areas in Southampton .
Violent and sexual offences accounted for around 73.6 crimes per 1,000 residents and have been rising year on year. Over the last decade, overall crime has fallen by about -51.4%.

Households in this area have a similar level of wealth to the average household in England and Wales. 57% of analyzed areas in England and Wales have higher average household annual income than this area.

| Address | Sale Price | Sale Date | Price Estimate 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 The Birches, Southampton, Southampton Semi-Detached, an established residential building | £335,000 | 2024-07-18 | £340,976 |
| 10 The Birches, Southampton, Southampton Semi-Detached, an established residential building | £270,000 | 2024-06-07 | £275,684 |
| 3 The Birches, Southampton, Southampton Semi-Detached, an established residential building | £270,000 | 2020-11-16 | £317,070 |
| 1 The Birches, Southampton, Southampton Semi-Detached, an established residential building | £250,000 | 2020-10-02 | £293,584 |
| 6 The Birches, Southampton, Southampton Detached, an established residential building | £238,000 | 2017-10-24 | £279,914 |
SO18 5SR 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 | 106 |
| Retired | 45 |
| Part-Time Employee | 27 |
| Self-Employed | 23 |
| Long-Term Sick or disabled | 12 |
| Looking after home or family | 12 |
| Other | 9 |
| Student (economically inactive) | 7 |
| Unemployed | 7 |
| Full-Time Student (with or without job) | 5 |
| Wholesale and retail trade; repair of motor vehicles and motor cycles | 36 |
| Human health and social work activities | 24 |
| Education | 23 |
| Manufacturing | 16 |
| Administrative and support service activities | 14 |
| Construction | 13 |
| Other | 10 |
| Transport and storage | 8 |
| Professional, scientific and technical activities | 6 |
| Financial and insurance activities | 6 |
| Public administration and defence; compulsory social security | 5 |
| Information and communication | 4 |
| Accommodation and food service activities | 4 |
| Real estate activities | 3 |
| Electricity, gas, steam and air conditioning supply | 2 |
| Agriculture, forestry and fishing | 1 |
| Water supply; sewerage, waste management and remediation activities | 1 |
| Ofsted Overall Effectiveness | Distance | Establishment Type | Has Nursery Classes | Gender | More Info | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hardmoor Nursery & Early Years Centre - Part of the Learning Federation Partnership of Schools Leaside Way , Bassett Green SO16 3EP | 3out of 4 | 4,250 yd | Local authority nursery school | Yes | Mixed | More About School |
| Ofsted Overall Effectiveness | Distance | Establishment Type | Has Nursery Classes | Gender | More Info | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Harefield Primary School Yeovil Chase , Bitterne SO18 5NZ | - not rated | 235 yd | Community school | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Harefield Primary School Yeovil Chase , SO18 5NZ | 2out of 4 | 346 yd | Academy converter | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Harefield Junior School Yeovil Chase , Bitterne SO18 5NZ | - not rated | 355 yd | Community school | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Harefield Infant School Yeovil Chase , Bitterne SO18 5NZ | - not rated | 355 yd | Community school | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Moorlands Primary School Kesteven Way , Bitterne SO18 5RJ | - not rated | 562 yd | Foundation school | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Ofsted Overall Effectiveness | Distance | Establishment Type | Has Nursery Classes | Gender | More Info | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Woodlands Community College Minstead Avenue , Harefield SO18 5FW | 3out of 4 | 813 yd | Foundation school | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Bitterne Park School Dimond Road , Bitterne Park SO18 1BU | 3out of 4 | 1,937 yd | Foundation school | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Oasis Academy Sholing Middle Road , Sholing SO19 8PH | - not rated | 2,359 yd | Academy sponsor led | No | Mixed | More About School |
| The Sholing Technology College Middle Road , Sholing SO19 8PH | - not rated | 2,377 yd | Community school | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Wildern School Wildern Lane , Hedge End SO30 4EJ | - not rated | 3,519 yd | Foundation school | Not Applicable | Mixed | More About School |
| Ofsted Overall Effectiveness | Distance | Establishment Type | Has Nursery Classes | Gender | More Info | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Itchen College Middle Road , Bitterne SO19 7TB | - not rated | 1,874 yd | Further education | Not Applicable | Mixed | More About School |
| Southampton City College St Mary Street , SO14 1AR | - not rated | 4,367 yd | Further education | Not Applicable | Mixed | More About School |
| Eastleigh College Chestnut Avenue , SO50 5FS | - not rated | 4,798 yd | Further education | Not Applicable | Mixed | More About School |
| Barton Peveril Sixth Form College Chestnut Avenue , SO50 5ZA | - not rated | 5,060 yd | Further education | Not Applicable | Mixed | More About School |
| Richard Taunton Sixth Form College Hill Lane , SO15 5RL | - not rated | 5,408 yd | Academy 16-19 converter | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Ofsted Overall Effectiveness | Distance | Establishment Type | Has Nursery Classes | Gender | More Info | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Yarrow Heights School Cobden Avenue , Southampton SO18 1FS | - not rated | 1,536 yd | Other independent special school | Not Applicable | Mixed | More About School |
| The Gregg School Townhill Park House , Cutbush Lane SO18 2GF | - not rated | 1,547 yd | Other independent school | No | Mixed | More About School |
| CHARLTON HOUSE SCHOOL LIMITED 57 MIDANBURY LANE , Bitterne Park SO18 4DJ | - not rated | 1,718 yd | Other independent school | No | Mixed | More About School |
| The King's School 26 Quob Lane , West End SO30 3HN | - not rated | 1,768 yd | Other independent school | Not Applicable | Mixed | More About School |
| Springwell School Hinkler Road , Thornhill SO19 6DH | 4out of 4 | 1,799 yd | Community special school | No | Mixed | More About School |
School statistics for this postcode are based on Ofsted rankings.
| Business Name | Address | Food hygiene rating | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Coffee Shop Cafe | 1B Hatley Road, Southampton | 586 yd | |
| Harefield Fish Bar | Unit 2, 59 Somerset Avenue | 707 yd | |
| Licenced to Grill | 8 Roundhill Close, Southampton | 849 yd | |
| Cupcake Toppers Ltd | 35 Meggeson Avenue, Southampton | 880 yd | |
| APPLEGREEN SERVICE STATION + SUBWAY | WEST END SERVICE STATION, SWAYTHLING ROAD, WEST END, SOUTHAMPTON, SO30 3AG | 1,072 yd |
| Business Name | Address | Food hygiene rating | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bitterne Conservative Club | 70 Dean Road, Southampton | 899 yd | |
| THE MASTER BUILDER | THE MASTER BUILDER, SWAYTHLING ROAD, WEST END, SOUTHAMPTON, SO30 3AH | 926 yd | |
| The Humble Plum | 73 Commercial Street, Southampton | 959 yd | |
| Fox & Hounds | 106 Pound Street, Southampton | 1,051 yd | |
| West End Brewery | WEST END BREWERY INN, 59 HIGH STREET, WEST END, SOUTHAMPTON, SO30 3DQ | 1,079 yd |
| Business Name | Address | Food hygiene rating | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Full House Takeaway | 41 Melchet Road, Southampton | 227 yd | |
| Spice Garden | 43 Melchet Road, Southampton | 227 yd | |
| WEST END TANDOOR | 52A HIGH STREET, WEST END, SOUTHAMPTON, SO30 3DR | 1,021 yd | |
| THE PEONY | 52A HIGH STREET, WEST END, SOUTHAMPTON, SO30 3DR | 1,021 yd | |
| West End Kebab & Pizza Place | 54A HIGH STREET, WEST END, SOUTHAMPTON, SO30 3DR | 1,030 yd |
| Business Name | Address | Food hygiene rating | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tesco Express | 149 - 153 West End Road, Southampton | 535 yd | |
| CO-OPERATIVE | 3-3A HIGH STREET, WEST END, SOUTHAMPTON, SO30 3AA | 837 yd | |
| ASDA | 47-57 HIGH STREET, WEST END, SOUTHAMPTON, SO30 3DQ | 1,047 yd |
| Facility Name | Sport Objects | Distance |
|---|---|---|
| Harefield Primary School YEOVIL CHASE | grass pitches | 342 yd |
| Wynter Road Recreation Ground (Closed) Wynter Road | grass pitches | 455 yd |
| Wynter Road Recreation Ground WYNTER ROAD | grass pitches | 472 yd |
| Woodlands Community College Minstead Avenue | artificial grass pitch, grass pitches | 704 yd |
| West End Parish Centre Chapel Road | 1,046 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 | 90.0% |
| Percentage of premises that have Ultrafast Broadband (300Mbit/s or greater) coverage from fixed broadband | 40.0% |
| Percentage of premises that have coverage from a Gigabit capable service from fixed broadband | 40.0% |
| 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 | 79.5 Mbit/s |
| Average download speed | 129.7 Mbit/s |
| Minimum download speed | 350 Mbit/s |
| Maximum download speed | 350 Mbit/s |
| Median upload speed | 20 Mbit/s |
| Average upload speed | 21.6 Mbit/s |
| Maximum upload speed | 35 Mbit/s |
Broadband statistics are based on Ofcom's Communications Market Report (CMR) 2022.