How Council Areas Compare
Two separate tables. The area rating shows how each area compares with the rest of England on eight topics, from schools and crime to health, housing and broadband. Much of that depends on things no council controls, such as local incomes and history, so it describes the area, not how well the council is run.
The selected council services score covers four services councils run: schools, children’s services, recycling and planning. It does not cover every service, so it is not a verdict on the whole council. Each area is also placed among the 15 councils the government judges most like it, which is the fairest comparison. Warning flags show serious problems on the record, such as a section 114 notice (a council declaring it cannot balance its budget), with their dates, split into formal action and signs of financial pressure. 54 areas have a flag of their own, and 8 more districts have only a flag held by their county council.
Bands split the ranked areas into fifths: band 1 is the top fifth, band 5 the bottom. An area marked ≈ is close to the edge of its band, so a small change in method could move it into the next one.
How each area compares on eight topics: schools and children, safety, health, jobs and poverty, housing, environment, connectivity and local services. This describes the area, not how well the council is run: it is not a ranking of councils.
294 areas shown. Click a column heading to sort; click ▸ for the details.
| Band | Score | Warning flags | |||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wokingham | 1 · top fifth | 74.8 | 47.9 | 86.2 | 94.5 | 97.8 | 45.7 | 60.5 | 72.0 | 94.2 | ||
| 2 | Fareham | 1 · top fifth | 73.6 | 65.5 | 74.5 | 74.0 | 93.7 | 47.8 | 61.1 | 83.6 | 88.4 | ||
| 3 | Three Rivers | 1 · top fifth | 70.2 | 75.6 | 82.2 | 87.5 | 82.4 | 36.9 | 50.9 | 63.6 | 82.0 | ||
| 4 | Epsom and Ewell | 1 · top fifth | 69.1 | 66.7 | 47.0 | 89.3 | 91.7 | 13.3 | 88.7 | 76.4 | 80.0 | ||
| 5 | Richmond upon Thames | 1 · top fifth | 68.3 | 91.1 | 38.4 | 99.4 | 81.6 | 9.2 | 73.9 | 73.7 | 79.3 | ||
| 6 | Oadby and Wigston | 1 · top fifth | 67.4 | 62.1 | 81.5 | 57.7 | 63.7 | 42.3 | 57.6 | 94.1 | 80.4 | ||
| 7 | St Albans | 1 · top fifth | 66.0 | 75.6 | 74.5 | 83.7 | 87.8 | 19.5 | 81.7 | 71.9 | 33.2 | ||
| 8 | Rutland | 1 · top fifth | 65.7 | 72.3 | 95.1 | 77.9 | 71.2 | 53.8 | 65.1 | 9.8 | 80.2 | ||
| 9 | Surrey Heath | 1 · top fifth | 65.6 | 66.7 | 65.0 | 79.6 | 92.5 | 39.0 | 64.5 | 60.8 | 56.4 | ||
| 10 | Warrington | 1 · top fifth | 65.1 | 70.8 | 73.9 | 45.3 | 72.3 | 58.8 | 51.9 | 82.4 | 65.3 | Formal action Government intervention since 2025 Financial pressure Exceptional financial support: 2026-27 | |
| 11 | Eastleigh | 1 · top fifth | 64.8 | 65.5 | 71.0 | 72.3 | 86.0 | 50.2 | 55.5 | 55.4 | 62.5 | ||
| 12 | Vale of White Horse | 1 · top fifth | 64.7 | 58.6 | 90.4 | 83.8 | 89.5 | 49.5 | 53.0 | 22.2 | 70.4 | ||
| 13 | Rochford | 1 · top fifth | 64.5 | 73.2 | 71.2 | 53.3 | 86.9 | 43.5 | 94.2 | 47.1 | 46.3 | ||
| 14 | East Hertfordshire | 1 · top fifth | 64.5 | 75.6 | 84.4 | 82.7 | 90.0 | 51.8 | 43.6 | 31.7 | 55.9 | ||
| 15 | Castle Point | 1 · top fifth | 63.2 | 73.2 | 64.8 | 41.3 | 68.4 | 38.1 | 69.5 | 56.8 | 93.8 | ||
| 16 | West Oxfordshire | 1 · top fifth | 63.0 | 58.6 | 91.7 | 81.7 | 82.7 | 46.6 | 47.1 | 34.6 | 60.9 | ||
| 17 | Bracknell Forest | 1 · top fifth | 62.9 | 91.1 | 60.2 | 69.1 | 83.7 | 27.8 | 62.9 | 83.7 | 24.5 | ||
| 18 | Cheltenham | 1 · top fifth | 62.6 | 45.3 | 82.1 | 57.1 | 65.3 | 72.4 | 58.1 | 70.3 | 50.4 | ||
| 19 | Waverley | 1 · top fifth | 62.5 | 66.7 | 71.9 | 96.7 | 92.1 | 54.9 | 52.9 | 15.4 | 49.7 | ||
| 20 | Welwyn Hatfield | 1 · top fifth | 62.5 | 75.6 | 62.8 | 75.2 | 64.9 | 26.9 | 78.5 | 52.9 | 63.1 | ||
| 21 | Stockport | 1 · top fifth | 62.2 | 8.2 | 72.9 | 55.1 | 65.5 | 51.5 | 70.8 | 80.2 | 93.3 | ||
| 22 | Rushmoor | 1 · top fifth | 61.8 | 65.5 | 60.6 | 35.7 | 73.5 | 40.4 | 68.1 | 86.7 | 64.2 | ||
| 23 | North Tyneside | 1 · top fifth | 61.7 | 43.1 | 63.6 | 40.7 | 62.8 | 84.1 | 41.3 | 64.4 | 93.8 | ||
| 24 | Spelthorne | 1 · top fifth | 61.5 | 66.7 | 45.0 | 62.5 | 64.3 | 18.7 | 66.2 | 78.0 | 90.9 | Formal action Government intervention since 2025 | |
| 25 | South Oxfordshire | 1 · top fifth | 61.4 | 58.6 | 92.9 | 84.1 | 90.2 | 51.9 | 51.8 | 23.6 | 37.9 | ||
| 26 | Hart | 1 · top fifth | 61.1 | 65.5 | 83.0 | 92.9 | 98.2 | 50.3 | 32.3 | 40.7 | 26.3 | ||
| 27 | Blaby | 1 · top fifth | 60.7 | 62.1 | 76.2 | 55.0 | 84.2 | 51.1 | 56.3 | 52.9 | 47.5 | ||
| 28 | Cheshire West and Chester | 1 · top fifth | 60.7 | 43.6 | 69.0 | 47.9 | 68.8 | 81.2 | 72.2 | 37.3 | 65.3 | ||
| 29 | East Cambridgeshire | 1 · top fifth | 60.7 | 33.0 | 80.0 | 88.6 | 70.5 | 65.4 | 76.1 | 27.3 | 44.5 | ||
| 30 | Kingston upon Thames | 1 · top fifth | 60.6 | 91.1 | 43.4 | 90.2 | 67.8 | 9.1 | 71.3 | 74.2 | 37.3 | ||
| 31 | Windsor and Maidenhead | 1 · top fifth | 60.3 | 56.8 | 83.3 | 86.2 | 86.3 | 15.9 | 55.3 | 52.6 | 46.3 | Financial pressure Exceptional financial support: 2 years, latest 2026-27 | |
| 32 | Rushcliffe | 1 · top fifth | 60.3 | 50.3 | 71.9 | 85.8 | 86.2 | 77.8 | 51.1 | 28.5 | 30.5 | ||
| 33 | Uttlesford | 1 · top fifth | 60.2 | 73.2 | 66.4 | 88.1 | 82.5 | 47.3 | 66.3 | 16.9 | 40.7 | ||
| 34 | Hertsmere | 1 · top fifth | 60.1 | 75.6 | 67.9 | 78.8 | 60.9 | 21.1 | 72.5 | 64.7 | 39.6 | ||
| 35 | East Hampshire | 1 · top fifth | 60.1 | 65.5 | 81.2 | 95.7 | 89.1 | 49.1 | 28.3 | 17.8 | 54.2 | ||
| 36 | Tamworth | 1 · top fifth | 59.9 | 26.1 | 64.4 | 36.2 | 47.0 | 75.3 | 59.6 | 85.4 | 84.9 | ||
| 37 | Bromley | 1 · top fifth | 59.8 | 79.6 | 31.6 | 88.0 | 71.4 | 13.6 | 70.3 | 68.2 | 55.9 | ||
| 38 | South Cambridgeshire | 1 · top fifth | 59.8 | 33.0 | 80.1 | 95.5 | 87.3 | 51.4 | 54.6 | 19.2 | 57.4 | ||
| 39 | North Hertfordshire | 1 · top fifth | 59.7 | 75.6 | 86.1 | 62.5 | 77.2 | 45.5 | 75.3 | 39.8 | 15.9 | ||
| 40 | Stroud | 1 · top fifth | 59.7 | 45.3 | 82.3 | 67.0 | 71.5 | 56.5 | 66.3 | 22.4 | 66.5 | ||
| 41 | South Staffordshire | 1 · top fifth | 59.5 | 26.1 | 80.1 | 44.8 | 60.8 | 78.5 | 67.5 | 31.2 | 87.2 | ||
| 42 | Brentwood | 1 · top fifth | 59.4 | 73.2 | 54.6 | 82.6 | 84.8 | 44.7 | 48.3 | 39.2 | 47.5 | ||
| 43 | Trafford | 1 · top fifth | 59.3 | 44.3 | 80.5 | 54.2 | 70.3 | 35.6 | 63.5 | 81.2 | 45.0 | Financial pressure Exceptional financial support: 2 years, latest 2026-27 | |
| 44 | East Riding of Yorkshire | 1 · top fifth | 59.0 | 48.9 | 65.7 | 45.1 | 61.2 | 64.4 | 58.7 | 45.9 | 82.3 | ||
| 45 | Sutton | 1 · top fifth | 58.9 | 69.1 | 35.4 | 62.3 | 63.8 | 12.7 | 68.4 | 76.2 | 83.3 | ||
| 46 | Gosport | 1 · top fifth | 58.8 | 65.5 | 61.8 | 28.0 | 49.2 | 53.1 | 40.7 | 93.4 | 78.7 | ||
| 47 | Gedling | 1 · top fifth | 58.6 | 50.3 | 61.7 | 46.8 | 58.4 | 78.2 | 46.9 | 64.2 | 62.5 | ||
| 48 | City of York | 1 · top fifth | 58.4 | 87.4 | 43.4 | 63.1 | 74.4 | 68.4 | 29.5 | 56.1 | 44.9 | ||
| 49 | Merton | 1 · top fifth ≈ | 58.1 | 91.1 | 37.0 | 77.6 | 42.0 | 13.3 | 64.0 | 87.1 | 52.5 | ||
| 50 | Colchester | 1 · top fifth ≈ | 58.0 | 73.2 | 41.0 | 54.2 | 60.8 | 31.4 | 85.9 | 28.1 | 89.2 |
Listed separately
Isles of Scilly: Too small to compare fairly with other areas, so listed separately and not ranked. Area score 50.1, council services score 46.9. Warning flags: Ofsted: children's services Inadequate.
City of London Corporation: Too small to compare fairly with other areas, so listed separately and not ranked. Area score 78.2, council services score 64.2.
How the scores work
Each measure is scored from 0 to 100 by where the area sits among all areas in England: the lowest figure scores 0, the highest 100, and areas with the same figure share a score. A topic’s score is the average of its measures, and the area score is the average of the eight topic scores, each counting the same. Topics count equally because there is no agreed way to say one matters more than another; the weight test below shows how much the order depends on that choice. An area needs figures for at least six of the eight topics to be ranked; a missing figure never counts against it. For a district, county-run services (schools, children’s services) and health figures published only for the county come from its county.
The council services score averages four parts: schools, children’s services, recycling and planning (major and other decisions averaged, so planning counts once). An area needs at least three of the four. Adult social care will join when the Care Quality Commission’s ratings can be added.
Weight test: every area was scored 16 more ways, leaving out each topic in turn and counting each topic double. The order of areas stays broadly the same each time, but the exact band is less certain near its edges: 88 of 294 areas change band in half the versions or more (marked ≈), and 43 never change band. Read the bands as broad groups, and use the topic scores to see why an area sits where it does.
Warning flags: an Ofsted judgement of Inadequate for children’s services; a section 114 notice (dates from the published record); current government intervention or a best value inspection (GOV.UK list of statutory interventions); exceptional financial support from government, by financial year; and usable reserves (money a council holds that is not tied to schools or public health) below zero or down by half or more in 2024-25. For a district, flags marked “county” belong to its county council.
| Topic | Measure | Better | Period | Mainly responsible | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Schools and children | % of schools Good or Outstanding for quality of education (latest inspection) | Higher | Ofsted snapshot 31 March 2026 | Schools and academy trusts; the council for its own maintained schools | Ofsted, inspections of state schools (quality of education judgement) |
| Schools and children | Ofsted children's services grade (1 best .. 4 worst) | Lower | as at 31 March 2026 | County or unitary council | Ofsted, local authority children's services inspection outcomes |
| Safety | Recorded crimes per 1,000 residents (12 months, excluding anti-social behaviour) | Lower | September 2025 to August 2026 | Police force, with councils sharing community safety duties | data.police.uk, recorded crime at street level |
| Safety | Road deaths and serious injuries per billion vehicle miles (adjusted) | Lower | 2025 | Highway authority (county or unitary council; National Highways for motorways and trunk roads) | Department for Transport, reported road casualties (table RAS0403) |
| Health | Life expectancy, women (years) | Higher | 2021 to 2023 | Many factors; NHS and council public health play a part | ONS, life expectancy for local areas |
| Health | Life expectancy, men (years) | Higher | 2021 to 2023 | Many factors; NHS and council public health play a part | ONS, life expectancy for local areas |
| Health | % adults overweight or obese | Lower | 2024/25 | Many factors; council public health plays a part | Office for Health Improvement and Disparities, Fingertips (adults overweight or obese) |
| Jobs and poverty | % of residents aged 16-64 claiming unemployment-related benefits | Lower | August 2026 | Local economy; Department for Work and Pensions runs the benefit | ONS, Claimant Count (Nomis) |
| Jobs and poverty | % of children in relative poverty (after housing costs) | Lower | FYE 2025 | Incomes and benefits, set mostly by UK government | DWP, Children in low income families: local area statistics |
| Jobs and poverty | % of households in fuel poverty | Lower | 2024 | Energy prices, incomes and housing; mostly UK government policy | DESNZ, sub-regional fuel poverty data |
| Housing | Households in temporary accommodation per 1,000 households | Lower | January to March 2026 | Housing authority (district or unitary council) | MHCLG, statutory homelessness detailed local authority tables |
| Housing | Median house price as a multiple of median earnings | Lower | 2025 | Housing market; councils plan for new homes | ONS, house price to residence-based earnings ratio (table 5c) |
| Environment | % household waste recycled, reused or composted | Higher | 2024-25 | Waste collection authority (district or unitary council) | Defra, local authority collected waste management statistics |
| Environment | Sewage spill hours per storm overflow with figures | Lower | 2025 | Water company | Environment Agency, storm overflow annual return |
| Connectivity | % of premises able to get gigabit broadband | Higher | January 2026 | Telecoms companies; Ofcom regulates | Ofcom, Connected Nations |
| Connectivity | % of premises with indoor 4G from all four networks | Higher | January 2026 | Mobile companies; Ofcom regulates | Ofcom, Connected Nations |
| Local services | % major planning decisions on time (24 months, with penalty) | Higher | 24 months to June 2026 | Local planning authority (district or unitary council) | MHCLG, planning applications statistics (table P151a) |
| Local services | % non-major planning decisions on time (24 months, with penalty) | Higher | 24 months to June 2026 | Local planning authority (district or unitary council) | MHCLG, planning applications statistics (table P153) |
Roads use the Department for Transport’s adjusted counts of people killed or seriously injured. Police forces record injuries in different ways, and some changed systems in recent years; the adjusted figures correct for that so areas can be compared. They are counted per billion vehicle miles on the highway authority’s roads.
Crime is recorded crimes per 1,000 residents over 12 months, not counting anti-social behaviour. Greater Manchester’s published figures are incomplete, so its boroughs are not scored on crime. City of London and the Isles of Scilly are too small to compare fairly and are listed separately. Statistical Neighbours: Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government model, 1 July 2026. Council finance: MHCLG revenue outturn 2024-25 (reserves), GOV.UK exceptional financial support and intervention pages.
Government sources are published under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Ofcom Connected Nations data is published by Ofcom. Police recorded crime from data.police.uk under the Open Government Licence.