West Northamptonshire: population and statistics
West Northamptonshire has a population of 444,218 (2025) across 1,380.4 km², or 322 people per km². It ranks 17 of 361 local authorities by population. Its population is growing: +11.6% between 2015 and 2025.
- 444,218 residents
- 1,380.4 km²
- 322 people/km²
West Northamptonshire in numbers
Population of West Northamptonshire over time
West Northamptonshire had 397,939 residents in 2015 and 444,218 in 2025.
| Year | Population |
|---|---|
| 2020 | 422,559 |
| 2021 | 426,707 |
| 2022 | 430,756 |
| 2023 | 438,462 |
| 2024 | 441,277 |
| 2025 | 444,218 |
All indicators for West Northamptonshire
Value for the area, then the regional average and the UK median (for counts: regional and UK totals). The gauge places the area between the lowest and highest value in the UK.
Population
| Indicator | West Northamptonshire | East Midlands | UK | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Share of residents aged 65 and over (2025) | 17.7% | 20.2% | 20.4% | ranked 260 of 361 | |
| Share of residents aged under 16 (2025) | 18.9% | 17.6% | 17.4% | ranked 92 of 361 |
Housing
| Indicator | West Northamptonshire | East Midlands | UK | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dwellings (Council Tax stock) (2026) | 187,540 dwellings | 2,253,470 | 27,429,300 | ranked 18 of 318 | |
| Dwellings built before 1940 (2026) | 23.1% | 29.8% | 31.6% | ranked 245 of 318 | |
| Dwellings built since 2000 (2026) | 23.0% | 20.8% | 18.1% | ranked 67 of 318 | |
| Households (Census 2021) (2021) | 172,639 households | 80,736 | 61,440 | ranked 17 of 318 | |
| Households living in a house or bungalow (2021) | 86.4% | 87.9% | 84.7% | ranked 141 of 318 | |
| Households living in a flat or maisonette (2021) | 13.2% | 11.6% | 14.8% | ranked 173 of 318 | |
| Owner-occupied households (incl. shared ownership) (2021) | 66.4% | 66.0% | 67.3% | ranked 176 of 318 | |
| Households renting privately (2021) | 19.1% | 18.9% | 17.6% | ranked 114 of 318 | |
| Households in social housing (2021) | 14.4% | 15.0% | 14.3% | ranked 154 of 318 | |
| Average house price (2026) | £291,929 | £243,499 | £272,474 | ranked 159 of 360 | |
| House price change over 12 months (2026) | 1.2% | 2.1% | 2.2% | ranked 221 of 360 |
Energy
| Indicator | West Northamptonshire | East Midlands | UK | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Households without central heating (2021) | 1.3% | 1.1% | 1.2% | ranked 133 of 318 | |
| Households heated by mains gas only (2021) | 72.9% | 76.4% | 76.7% | ranked 208 of 318 | |
| Households heated by electricity only (2021) | 8.2% | 6.4% | 7.8% | ranked 136 of 318 | |
| Households heated by oil only (2021) | 5.0% | 3.8% | 0.9% | ranked 89 of 318 |
Economy
| Indicator | West Northamptonshire | East Midlands | UK | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Business sites (local units) (2026) | 21,965 sites | 213,055 | 3,232,440 | ranked 19 of 361 | |
| Business sites per 1,000 residents (2026) | 49.4 per 1,000 | 41.9 per 1,000 | 44.4 per 1,000 | ranked 115 of 361 | |
| Registered businesses (enterprises) (2026) | 19,450 businesses | 183,730 | 2,786,975 | ranked 17 of 361 | |
| Median annual pay, full-time residents (gross) (2025) | £38,000 | £36,281 | £38,490 | ranked 192 of 348 |
Jobs
| Indicator | West Northamptonshire | East Midlands | UK | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Employment rate, aged 16-64 (2025-2026) | 76.6% | 75.6% | 76.3% | ranked 168 of 347 | |
| Out-of-work benefit claimants, share of residents aged 16-64 (2026) | 3.4% | 3.4% | 3.2% | ranked 142 of 361 |
Transport
| Indicator | West Northamptonshire | East Midlands | UK | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Households without a car or van (2021) | 15.9% | 19.4% | 18.5% | ranked 198 of 318 |
Key points
Among the 35 local authorities in East Midlands, West Northamptonshire ranks 1 by population.
Largest business sector: Wholesale and retail trade, with 14.4% of the area's business sites.
Did you know?
- Number 1 in East Midlands for “Population”.
- Number 1 in East Midlands for “Dwellings (Council Tax stock)”.
- “Registered businesses (enterprises)”: higher than in 96% of local authorities.
- “Dwellings (Council Tax stock)”: higher than in 95% of local authorities.
- Its area is roughly equal to 193,329 football pitches.
- The nearest local authority is Rugby, 22.7 km away.
- The nearest larger neighbour is Birmingham (1,176,960 residents), 66 km away.
Business sectors: West Northamptonshire
Share of each sector in total business sites; “×1.5” means the sector is 1.5 times more common than across the UK.
- Wholesale and retail trade14.4% ×0.9
- Construction14.4% ×1.2
- Professional, scientific and technical13.4% ×1.0
- Transport and storage8.5% ×2.0
- Administrative and support services8.5% ×1.0
- Accommodation and food services5.6% ×0.8
- Information and communication5.2% ×0.8
- Health and social work5.1% ×0.9
Where is West Northamptonshire?
Frequently asked questions
What is the population of West Northamptonshire?
West Northamptonshire has 444,218 residents (2025), ranking 17 of 361 local authorities.
How big is West Northamptonshire?
West Northamptonshire covers 1,380.4 km², with a density of 322 people per km².
Is the population of West Northamptonshire growing?
Between 2015 and 2025, the population of West Northamptonshire went from 397,939 to 444,218, a change of +11.6%.
Where is West Northamptonshire?
West Northamptonshire is in East Midlands (region). Latitude 52.250, longitude −1.000.
Registered businesses (enterprises): what is the figure for West Northamptonshire?
In West Northamptonshire, “Registered businesses (enterprises)” stands at 19,450 businesses (2026), ranking 17 of 361 local authorities; the UK median is 5,780 businesses.
Dwellings (Council Tax stock): what is the figure for West Northamptonshire?
In West Northamptonshire, “Dwellings (Council Tax stock)” stands at 187,540 dwellings (2026), ranking 18 of 318 local authorities; the UK median is 67,955 dwellings.
Which local authorities border West Northamptonshire?
The nearest to West Northamptonshire are Rugby (23 km), Milton Keynes (29 km), Harborough (32 km), North Northamptonshire (35 km), Warwick (37 km).