The neighbourhoods with the most and fewest students in Brighton and Hove have been revealed by newly released Census data.

Data from the Census in 2021 documented the number of students over the age of 16 in communities in Brighton and Hove, noting whether they were in employment, unemployed, or seeking work.

The figures provide a snapshot of the student population across the city and around England and Wales on the day of the Census, March 21, 2021.

Some 14.3 per cent of the population of Brighton and Hove were students on that day.

More than two thirds (69.2 per cent) of students in the city were unemployed, with roughly 20 per cent in employment and around ten per cent either looking for work or about to start a new job.

Coldean and Moulsecoomb North, an area which covers most of the University of Sussex and parts of the University of Brighton, has the highest proportion of students in the city, making up 59 per cent of residents in the neighbourhood.

Neighbourhoods with the most students

  1. Coldean and Moulsecoomb North - 59 per cent
  2. Round Hill - 32.6 per cent
  3. Elm Grove and Bear Road - 30.4 per cent
  4. Hanover - 29.2 per cent
  5. Hollingdean and Moulsecoomb - 24.8 per cent
  6. Bevendean and Moulsecoomb East - 23.3 per cent
  7. North Laine and The Lanes - 22.7 per cent
  8. St James’s Street and Queen’s Park - 17.3 per cent
  9. Fiveways - 14.8 per cent
  10. Preston Park - 13.6 per cent

By contrast, Rottingdean and Saltdean has the lowest proportion of students in Brighton and Hove, at just five per cent.

Neighbourhoods in Brighton and Hove with the fewest students

  1. Rottingdean and Saltdean - 5 per cent
  2. King Alfred - 5.5 per cent
  3. Mile Oak - 5.7 per cent
  4. Woodingdean - 5.7 per cent
  5. Goldsmid West - 6.1 per cent
  6. Portslade Village - 6.3 per cent
  7. Patcham West and Westdene - 6.6 per cent
  8. Aldrington - 6.6 per cent
  9. Hangleton North - 6.9 per cent
  10. Portslade by Sea - 6.9 per cent

Census data also revealed that the two areas were the oldest and youngest neighbourhoods in the city - with Rottingdean and Saltdean having a median age of 52, while Coldean and Moulsecoomb North had a median age of just 20.

Nine areas were found to have a larger number of students than the average for the city: Coldean and Moulsecoomb North, Round Hill, Elm Grove and Bear Road, Hanover, Hollingdean and Moulsecoomb, Bevendean and Moulsecoomb East, North Laine and The Lanes, St James’s Street and Queen’s Park, and Fiveways.

Data for the number of students in each neighbourhood was obtained by combining Census figures for the percentage of students who were unemployed, in employment, or were seeking work or about to start a job.

More than 18,000 students study at the University of Sussex, with a further 18,000 enrolled at the University of Brighton across its four campuses in the city and in Eastbourne.