This document summarizes research analyzing life satisfaction levels across different neighborhoods in the UK. It finds that wealthier neighborhoods generally report higher life satisfaction, while those in social housing, especially high-rise apartments, report the lowest satisfaction. It introduces an interactive mapping tool developed by the Department for Communities and Local Government to analyze wellbeing at the neighborhood level based on demographic profiles. The document encourages local authorities and residents to consider both the modeling data and their own knowledge to understand neighborhood needs and ways to improve wellbeing.

1. Predicting wellbeing at the neighbourhood level
Average life satisfaction levels are illustrated at
a high level in the bar chart for the 17 ACORN
Groups. This shows a broad relationship
between wellbeing and affluence. The 3
groups in the Wealthy Achievers category all
report higher than average life satisfaction, as
do most groups in the Comfortably Off
category.
DCLG analysts have explored the extent to
which wellbeing is likely to vary at
neighbourhood level and created an
interactive mapping tool for wellbeing,
which includes measures of life satisfaction,
feeling the things you do in life are
worthwhile, and happiness.
In contrast, the Hard Pressed category report
the lowest life satisfaction. These tend to be
social renters in inner cities, living in estates,
terraces or high rises. The lowest average
ratings were reported by the High-rise
Hardship group, a group chiefly comprising
elderly people living alone in social housing
and often experiencing health problems, but
also including some younger single parents.
Maps are based on modelling of ONS survey
data and reflect the geo-demographic
(ACORN) profile of the residents in each
Lower-layer Super Output Area (LSOA).
The profile of wellbeing for each of the
ACORN types and also for MOSAIC groups
can be obtained by emailing
wellbeing@communities.gsi.gov.uk
Feedback We would be interested in
feedback on these maps, and to hear
innovative examples of what local areas are
doing to improve wellbeing:
wellbeing@communities.gsi.gov.uk
Inner City Adversity
High-Rise Hardship
Burdened Singles
Blue-Collar Roots
Struggling Families
Asian Communities
Post-Industrial Families
Secure Families
Settled Suburbia
Prudent Pensioners
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Starting Out
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Aspiring Singles
Because these are modelled estimates, rather
than the actual survey responses of people
living in each local area, we encourage people
to use these alongside their own local data and
knowledge, and residents’ views. Which
neighbourhoods have higher or lower wellbeing
than expected?
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Wealthy
Achievers
Urban
Prosperity
Comfortably Off
Moderate Means
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Hard Pressed
The methodology
Analysts used CACI’s ACORN geodemographic segmentation to estimate the
likely wellbeing characteristics of each
neighbourhood.
Analysis was conducted at the national level
using the ONS Annual Population Survey
2011-2012. The first step was to explore
wellbeing levels for each of the 56 ACORN
Types. By combining this with the unique
ACORN profile for each postcode area,
analysts were able to predict the levels of
wellbeing for each LSOA.
Wealthy Executives: typically owner-occupiers of large detached
houses in suburban, rural & semi-rural locations; public/grammar
schooled; middle-aged or older people predominate; many empty
nesters & wealthy retired.
Affluent Greys: older empty-nesters living in rural towns (such as
tourist towns). More than 70% are retired couples in detached
homes, with 60% owning outright.
Flourishing Families: typically high-income families with younger
children living in established suburbs, with mortgages; in
professional & managerial occupations.
Prosperous Professionals: the most affluent city dwellers (chiefly
in London); living in terraced & detached housing, mostly owner
occupiers with large mortgages; in managerial & professional
occupations, working high levels of unpaid overtime.
Educated Urbanites: young highly qualified people in the early
stage of their careers living in cities like London, Oxford, Brighton.
Home is usually a flat, with up to 50% privately renting.
Aspiring Singles: students & well qualified younger people living
in small rented flats above shops or in basements. Many singles &
sharers, moving house quite often. Inner & Outer London.
Starting Out: younger adults; chiefly singles in their first jobs in
lower managerial/intermediate occupations. Some families with
children under 5. Small terraced housing & flats. First
mortgage/private renting in SE & outer London.
Settled Suburbia: comprises empty nesters at career’s end &
retired older couples. Home is a semi or bungalow in an
established community in a seaside or rural place. Most own
outright. Dorset, Devon.
Prudent Pensioners: comfortably-off retired people, many over75s. Living in converted flats & low-rise purpose built dwellings in
South Coast seaside towns such as Bexhill, Torbay. Owner–
occupation high.
Asian Communities: comprises other ethnic groups too and does
not describe all Asian communities. This group is associated with
urban areas, poorly paid young people, a relatively high
concentration of Asian families, large numbers of children, located
in terraced streets of Birmingham, Bradford & East London.
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Acorn Group Descriptions
Secure Families: own their homes mainly 3 bed semi-detached.
These people are putting down roots in suburban & semi-rural
locations.
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Educated Urbanites
The modelled LSOA level data underlying
these maps is available as linked data (see
the six ‘Modelled Subjective Wellbeing’
datasets) at:
http://opendatacommunities.org/themes/soc
ietal-wellbeing; and in .csv format:
http://opendatacommunitiesdownloads.s3.amazonaws.com/dclgmodelled-lsoa-wellbeing-estimates.csv
(Neighbourhoods are defined using 2001
Census LSOA boundaries.)
Mean Life Satisfaction = 7.4
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Prosperous Professionals
Get the data
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Affluent Greys
postcode or select your local authority at:
http://opendatacommunities.org/wellbeing/
map
It will therefore be helpful for local authorities
and citizens to dig beneath ONS headline
estimates of wellbeing to better understand the
needs of local residents and neighbourhoods
as they seek ways to improve wellbeing.
Mean-centred Life Satisfaction Rating
View your local map: enter your
Mean-centred Life Satisfaction Rating for ACORN Groups
Flourishing Families
ONS estimates of personal wellbeing show
interesting differences between local
authority areas, but there will also be
considerable variation within these areas.
The resulting local maps, such as shown here
for Wandsworth, suggest there will be
considerable variation in wellbeing within local
authority areas. There may also be
commonalities with neighbouring boroughs or
districts.
Wealthy Executives
DCLG’s wellbeing mapper
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ACORN is a geo-demographic classification that segments
the population in each postcode area (approx 16
addresses) into a typology based on shared characteristics
of people’s life-stage, income, profession and housing, as
well as characteristics of places including whether they are
urban, suburban or rural. At the time DCLG conducted this
analysis (August 2012) the ACORN segmentation
comprised 17 Groups with 56 Types beneath this level.
The methodology assumes the national profile of wellbeing
for the ACORN Types is broadly the same throughout
England. DCLG tested this assumption broadly held
across regions and, as a result, made a minimal number of
adjustments to the profiles for life satisfaction, worthwhile,
and happy yesterday in some regions, but determined that
the method was not robust for modelling anxiety.
Post-Industrial Families: tend to have school-age children;
terraced housing in areas where blue collar work is in decline; 60%
mortgagees & average incomes. Work in offices & shops.
Blue-Collar Roots: people in manufacturing jobs, with families or
retired. Often in terraced housing, 2-3 beds. A mix of private &
social rent & mortgages. Unemployment above the national
average.
Struggling Families: live in low rise estates; chiefly social tenants
but some ownership. Terraced or semi-detached accommodation usually 2 bedrooms. Some overcrowding. Semi-routine and routine
jobs.
Burdened Singles: a mix of young people, lone parents and
pensioners. Chiefly social renters living in purpose built flats or
smaller terraced housing.
High-Rise Hardship: households tend to contain only one adult;
comprises older social renters, over 65s & some single parents.
Home is 60s/70s high-rise. Newcastle, Liverpool, Sheffield.
Inner City Adversity: densely populated areas; a young multiethnic population, chiefly London. Unemployment levels are double
the national average; relatively high numbers of single parent
households.