This section covers the characteristics of York. This includes the population, the physical and built environment, and the social and community environment that people live in.

People who live in York

Population size

The population of York is currently estimated to be 209,900. At the time of the last census (2011) the population of York was 198,051 with 83,552 households. In the last ten years leading to 2011 the population of York had grown at a faster rate than the region and than England as a whole. By 2032, the population of York is projected to be between 224,000 and 232,000 people.

Age

York has a higher proportion of people aged 18-24 compared with the England average, this is largely because of the two universities in the city. York has a smaller proportion children than England; however this is a fast growing population group in York. York has a slightly lower proportion of working age adults than England. The proportion of adults of retirement age, in particular older adults, is very similar to the England average. However, between 2020 and 2025 the older adult population of York is expected to grow by around 10%. This is by far the fastest growing age group in York.

Life expectancy

Boys born in York this year have an average life expectancy of 80, this hovers just above the national average. For the last five years there has been no significant change in either figure. Girls born in York this year have an average life expectancy of 83, this is the same as the national average and neither figures have changed significantly in the last five years. Both boys and girls born in York this year are projected to already be experiencing ill health by the time they reach retirement.

There is a significant difference between the most deprived and the least deprived wards. Between 2010-2014, women in the most deprived wards live for 7.7 fewer years, and men live for 5 fewer years, than their less deprived peers in the city.

Ethnicity

In the 2011 census, 94% of residents in York describe themselves as 'White British'; this is substantially larger than the national average. The largest minority ethnic group in York is Chinese; this is partly due to the large number of international students. The majority (91%) of residents in York were born in the UK. Trends over the last two decades indicate that York is becoming more ethnically diverse and this trend is expected to continue.

Built Environment

Health infrastructure

There are 42 NHS community pharmacies in York, more can be read about them in the pharmacy needs assessments. There are 37 GP surgery locations in York, which belong to 11 separate practice groups. There is one hospital run by the York Teaching Hospital Foundation Trust. There are mental health inpatient wards in York, as well as mental health out patient and community support delivered in various locations. There are eight sexual health clinics available across the city, including on the student campuses. There is also a recovery hub for the drug and alcohol recovery service in the centre of York.  

Housing

The 2011 census tells us that one in three people in York live in rented accommodation either through a private or social landlord; this is higher than the England average. Both the rental market and the cost of home ownership in York is more expensive than regional and national averages and has risen consistently over the last few years. This environment makes it difficult for people to save to buy a home, and puts pressure on the housing market as a whole.  

The higher cost of accommodation affects some groups of people in particular. People with low or insecure incomes may find it hard to afford rental housing; this puts them at higher risk of housing insecurity or using loans to afford their rent. Additionally, the majority of young people will no longer be entitled to a 'housing element' to support their housing costs under Universal Credit system.

Air quality

Clean air is a priority for York, and is part of the local authorities actions to address climate change. Over time this exposure to airborn pollutants can be harmful, particuarly to young children, older people, and people with breathing conditions. York has three air quality zones where the levels of nitrogen dioxide and particulate matter exceed the national air quality objectives. In York, this is largely caused by congestion and heavy traffic. There are strategies in place to reduce the levels of air pollution in each of these areas. For more information visit: https://www.york.gov.uk/AirQualityActionPlan

Travelling

Walking, cycling as well as public and community transport are all important solutions to enable people to lead a full and active life. York has six park and ride services to enable and encourage people not to bring their cars into the city centre. This reduces congestion, improves reliability of public transport and reduces pollution. The buses also often enable people to get closer to the centre of York than driving with the larger buses providing a bus lowering function as well as wheelchair access. York has one of the largest pedestrian zones in Europe with restricted access resulting in a safer city centre area and improved air quality. There are many cycle routes to York with cycle racks on the outskirts of the city centre pedestrianised areas. There are also a range of opportunities to encourage people to cycle more often as well as improved functionality for buses like electronic timetables, bus apps and audio visuals on buses to improve passengers experience and confidence in travelling. For more information visit: https://www.itravelyork.info/

Green spaces

Green spaces can support good physical and mental health through providing opportunities to socialise, exercise, reflect and relax. As of July 2017 there were 279 separate green spaces in York. They vary in size and purpose; half were play spaces or fields, a third were spaces dedicated to sport; the remainder are allotments, parks, or cemeteries or religious spaces. Areas towards the centre of the city, as well as the urban west and urban east have substantially fewer open and green spaces in comparison to the more rural areas in the north of the city. For more information visit: https://www.york.gov.uk/parks

Social Environment

Belonging

Social connections are an important part of living well. In a resident’s survey, 75% of people felt they belong to their local area. However, 89% reported that they felt it was important to belong to the local area. Taken together this suggests that at least some people in York would value more community belonging. A smaller group, 64%, volunteers through giving unpaid help to a group, club, or organisation. Additionally, 81% of people felt that their local area was a good place for children and young people to grow up. Overall, 92% of people were satisfied with York as place to live.

Community activity York

Live Well York is an online directory of the community groups running in York. There are over 850 listings; including music groups, food groups, sports groups, and support groups. There are also over 100 volunteering opportunities listed on the site. There are at least a few groups operating in each ward, although the majority operate in the city centre area. Over half the groups are advertised as for anyone. The remaining groups are established with specific population groups in mind; for example older people, younger people, people with disabilities, and people who are carers. For more information visit: https://www.livewellyork.co.uk/

Deprivation

A broad similar measure of poverty is the 'Index of Multiple Deprivation'; this measures the relative disadvantage between areas of the country. Data from 2015/2016 shows that overall York has a low level of deprivation, however, there are some small areas of the city with higher levels of deprivation. 

Fuel Poverty

Fuel poverty occurs when the cost of heating a home is above average and the household income would be below the poverty line after paying these heating costs. Single parents, unemployed people, people living in houses of multiple occupancy, in homes with poor insulation, or in homes without national grid connection are more at risk of fuel poverty.A 2015 review of York's owned or privately rented homes found that 4% were excessively cold, meaning that the temperature was low enough to be harmful to health.

Excessively cold homes are linked to low infant weight gain, hospital admissions, childhood asthma, low educational attainment, poor mental health in teenagers, low physical and mental wellbeing in adults, preventable cardiovascular disease, respiratory conditions, and excess winter deaths in older adults. Ensuring people have warm homes represents an important opportunity to improve health and health equality of the residents of York.

Crime and public protection

York has a significantly lower level of both violent crime and victim based crime than the national average; this has been a consistent trend in York for at least the last five years.  Public perception of crime is as important for wellbeing as actual crime levels. For example, a feeling of safety makes people more willing to spend time in their local communities and make connections with others. In York, 77% of people report feeling that York is a safe city and relatively free of crime and violence. Despite this, a proportion of people felt that drug dealing, noisy neighbours, and hate crime were problems in their local area. Hate crime disproportionately affects LGBT people and people with BME backgrounds in York and North Yorkshire.

Healthy high street

The Royal Society of Public Heath considered the 'health' of shop fronts on the high streets of 70 towns and cities in England. Some venues were considered to support health and wellbeing (pubs, greengrocers, libraries, GP surgeries, pharmacies, and sports centers). Other venues were judged to be harmful to health and wellbeing (pay day loan shops, bookmakers, fast food outlets, tanning salons, shops selling tobacco, and head shops which sell new psychoactive substances). In the report, York had the ninth healthiest high street in England. This suggests that York has a large proportion of shop fronts which are positive for health and wellbeing, and a small number of shop fronts which are harmful. Related to this, York has a better ratio of libraries to head of population that the England average. Despite the overall 'health' of the high street, York has a high number of fast food outlets per head. These are concentrated in the more urban parts of York, but are accessed by all residents through online ordering.

Related Topic Specific Needs Assessments:

       Air Quality Briefing - June 2022 

       Rapid Review into the Impact of Covid-19 - 2020

       Rapid Review into the impact of Covid-19 on the voluntary sector - 2020

       Indices of multiple deprivation 2019 (published 2019)

       Homeless Health Needs Assessment - 2018

       Sexual Health Needs Assessment - 2018

       Pharmaceutical Needs Assessment - 2022 - 2025

       Poverty Needs Assessment - 2015

LGBT Health Report: A Healthwatch York and York LGBT Forum Report on Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Trans+ (LGBT+) Experiences of Health and Social Care Services in York