From Cumbria to Canterbury: What does your postcode say about you? #CarryGobySeanKellz #FutureGroupNG via @i_amreginaldjr

FROM the healthiest areas to those with the lowest crime rate, a new survey offers a unique insight into the regional differences of modern Britain

There is no baby boom in the Kent city of Canterbury [ALAMY]

The findings of a report commissioned by the Royal Mail to mark the 40th anniversary of the allocation of postcodes to every town in Britain make fascinating reading. The Centre for Economic and Business Research (CEBR) studied the characteristics of everyday life today by looking at them through the lens of the postcode.
Read on to see how your part of the country performs in terms of health and wellbeing, work matters, the cost of living, crime rates and sex and relationships.

Healthiest

Not surprisingly, the areas that are the healthiest in the country are also among the richest. Researchers looked at all aspects, from general health to death rates, hospital stays and A&E attendances and found that London’s Knightsbridge came top.
This exclusive London district includes the country’s most expensive apartment block – property developers Nick and Christian Candy’s £1.2billion One Hyde Park – and has been home to a string of celebrities over the years including Chelsea FC owner Roman Abramovich, the late Baroness Thatcher and supermodel Elle Macpherson.
Other hale and hearty areas include a stretch of the City that runs from St Paul’s to the Bank of England (EC2V), two districts that are part of affluent Kensington and Chelsea (W8, SW7) and Barbican (EC1A) which accommodates the Barbican Estate, where many wealthy people have a pied a terre.
Outside London, two of the healthiest postcodes are in Hampshire – Fleet (GU52) and Hook (RG27) – while in Scotland, the three healthiest sectors are in Dumfries and Galloway: Langholm (DG13), Gretna (DG16) and Canonbie (DG14).
In Wales the best spot is Cynderwen, Dyfed (SA66) and in Northern Ireland it is Hillsborough (BT26).

Lowest birth rate

In Canterbury, Kent (CT1-CT6), there are just under 44 births for every 1,000 women aged between 16 and 44.
This is largely explained by the fact that, as a university city, Canterbury has a high proportion of students as well as a below average number of women in stable relationships of childbearing age. It is followed by Stirling in Scotland (FK7-FK9 and FK15-FK17) with just over 44 births per 1,000 women.
The Cambridge postcodes CB1-CB5 are third lowest with 47. Highest birth rate Barking (RM5–RM10) has more than twice the number of births per 1,000 women as Canterbury – 90 rather than 44.
The London borough of Barking and Dagenham has an above-average rate of teenage pregnancy and the lowest rate of mothers over 40 in London. Barking is followed by Forest Heath in West Suffolk (IP27-IP28 and CB8) and Peterborough (PE1- PE6), both with around 84 births per 1,000 women.

Most married couples

The Dorset town of Poole (BH18) has the highest proportion of married couples at around 65 per cent of the total population. Tourism is an important part of Poole’s economy and – given the marriage rate – it’s not surprising to see that its website has a section called The Wedding Coast.
As it says: “With stunning locations and excellent venues, where better in the UK to plan your special day?” Poole is followed by Worcester (WR7), then the TR22 postcode representing the Isles of Scilly.

The beautiful region of Dorset, dubbed the 'Wedding Coast', has the most married couples [ALAMY]

Most cars

Worcester has an average of 1.95 cars per household, according to the Cebr statistics. Marginally lower at 1.93 is neighbouring WR6 on the Hereford and Worcester border. In third place is Solihull (B94) with 1.92 vehicles per household.

Fewest cars

The news that the Isles of Scilly have just one car for every 10 homes comes as no surprise when you consider that only the main island of St Mary’s (pop. 1,600) has any paved roads and only nine miles of them at that. As a result it has only one set of traffic lights (at the airport) and the island boasts more boats than cars.

Most mortgage debt

The postcode with the highest mortgage debt is EC4A, part of the City of London, the country’s financial centre. Residential accommodation here is at a premium and homes have an average mortgage debt of £112,000 per person.
Outside the capital, Surrey’s exclusive Virginia Water (GU25) has the most mortgage debt, typically around £50,000 per person.

Lowest crime rate

The rural areas of the north of England are the best locations for people wanting a crime-free life. Based on the number of reported violent crimes, burglaries, thefts and criminal damage incidents per 1,000 population, Coldstream in Northumberland (TD12) enjoys the lowest rate of crime in England.
The West Cumbria areas of LA17 and CA20 have the second and third lowest rates. In Scotland, Shetland (ZE2) has the least crime while in Wales Clarbeston Road, Pembrokeshire (SA63) is safest.
Meanwhile, Craigavon (BT67) has the lowest crime in Northern Ireland.

Lowest unemployment rate

In the country as a whole, the unemployment rate runs at 6.9 per cent but in the Somerset towns of Somerton and Frome it stands at just over 1 per cent, the lowest in the country.
Next come Chesham and Amersham (HP5-9 and HP15- 16) and South Northamptonshire (NN4-7 and NN11-13).

Highest number with a degree

The top postcode here is London’s EC4Y where 80 per cent of residents have those qualifications. This is perhaps not surprising as, apart from being the base of many City institutions paying top salaries, it is home to the top-flight lawyers of Middle Temple.
The single Top 10 entry outside London is the Birmingham postcode B3, where around 66 per cent of residents have a degree or professional qualification.

Highest average age

The Suffolk coastal town of Aldeburgh has the highest average age of population at just over 55 years old. And it looks set to hold this record for some time to come. A survey conducted by a firm of actuaries two years ago found that life expectancy for men in Aldeburgh was 88.7 years and 91.6 for women, compared to a national average of 78.2 for men and 82.3 for women.
Anglesey (LL73) in Wales is in second place, while Fife (KY9) has the fifth highest average age population in the UK at just under 54, but the highest in Scotland.

Lowest average age

The area with the youngest average age is the Birmingham postcode of B4. As it takes in part of the city centre and Aston University campus, it appeals to young people and has an average age of 23.
The four sectors that join B4 in the Top Five are all in northern university cities: Sheffield (S1), Leeds (LS2 and LS1) and Manchester (M1).