How to read an area guide

Our public guides show a snapshot of available neighbourhood data. Use them to compare places and decide what to investigate on a visit. They cannot describe every street or guarantee a school place or journey time.

What a percentile means

A percentile describes a neighbourhood’s relative position nationally for that measure. It is not a percentage rating or a probability.

• House prices: a lower percentile indicates lower prices. Average sold prices are area figures, not valuations of individual homes.
• Crime: a higher percentile indicates lower recorded crime. Rates are shown per 1,000 people.
• Schools and transport: higher percentiles indicate stronger relative indicators. Check admissions and the actual routes you need.
• Flood risk: the public export provides a relative indicator. We do not treat its direction as a safety rating; check the flood map for the exact property.

Missing data does not mean a poor result

If a figure is unavailable, we say so rather than substituting a score. A full report may also have gaps. Do not infer that an area is safe, unsafe, cheap or expensive from an absent figure.

Dates and supporting evidence

Where a public snapshot update date is available, it appears alongside the figures. The underlying measures may cover different periods; a snapshot date does not mean every source was measured that day. Check the detailed report and current local evidence before making a decision.

The separately published Family Liveability Index has its own methodology and downloadable resources.