Cherwell: population and statistics
Cherwell has a population of 172,178 (2025) across 588.7 km², or 292 people per km². It ranks 142 of 361 local authorities by population. Its population is growing: +15.8% between 2015 and 2025.
- 172,178 residents
- 588.7 km²
- 292 people/km²
Cherwell in numbers
Population of Cherwell over time
Cherwell had 148,630 residents in 2015 and 172,178 in 2025.
| Year | Population |
|---|---|
| 2020 | 158,435 |
| 2021 | 161,830 |
| 2022 | 164,566 |
| 2023 | 167,778 |
| 2024 | 170,734 |
| 2025 | 172,178 |
All indicators for Cherwell
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 | Cherwell | South East | UK | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Share of residents aged 65 and over (2025) | 18.2% | 20.2% | 20.4% | ranked 251 of 361 | |
| Share of residents aged under 16 (2025) | 18.6% | 18.1% | 17.4% | ranked 112 of 361 |
Housing
| Indicator | Cherwell | South East | UK | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dwellings (Council Tax stock) (2026) | 72,950 dwellings | 4,201,530 | 27,429,300 | ranked 137 of 318 | |
| Dwellings built before 1940 (2026) | 17.1% | 28.0% | 31.6% | ranked 293 of 318 | |
| Dwellings built since 2000 (2026) | 25.2% | 19.8% | 18.1% | ranked 41 of 318 | |
| Households (Census 2021) (2021) | 65,893 households | 72,553 | 61,440 | ranked 140 of 318 | |
| Households living in a house or bungalow (2021) | 87.3% | 77.8% | 84.7% | ranked 123 of 318 | |
| Households living in a flat or maisonette (2021) | 12.3% | 21.5% | 14.8% | ranked 193 of 318 | |
| Owner-occupied households (incl. shared ownership) (2021) | 66.9% | 67.0% | 67.3% | ranked 164 of 318 | |
| Households renting privately (2021) | 19.8% | 19.2% | 17.6% | ranked 103 of 318 | |
| Households in social housing (2021) | 13.3% | 13.7% | 14.3% | ranked 195 of 318 | |
| Average house price (2026) | £356,935 | £392,981 | £272,474 | ranked 93 of 360 | |
| House price change over 12 months (2026) | 4.7% | 0.5% | 2.2% | ranked 70 of 360 |
Energy
| Indicator | Cherwell | South East | UK | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Households without central heating (2021) | 1.1% | 1.3% | 1.2% | ranked 175 of 318 | |
| Households heated by mains gas only (2021) | 66.6% | 74.6% | 76.7% | ranked 259 of 318 | |
| Households heated by electricity only (2021) | 9.5% | 9.2% | 7.8% | ranked 97 of 318 | |
| Households heated by oil only (2021) | 9.9% | 3.2% | 0.9% | ranked 51 of 318 |
Economy
| Indicator | Cherwell | South East | UK | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Business sites (local units) (2026) | 8,725 sites | 472,260 | 3,232,440 | ranked 133 of 361 | |
| Business sites per 1,000 residents (2026) | 50.7 per 1,000 | 48.7 per 1,000 | 44.4 per 1,000 | ranked 101 of 361 | |
| Registered businesses (enterprises) (2026) | 7,410 businesses | 412,075 | 2,786,975 | ranked 133 of 361 | |
| Median annual pay, full-time residents (gross) (2025) | £42,147 | £41,780 | £38,490 | ranked 101 of 348 |
Jobs
| Indicator | Cherwell | South East | UK | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Employment rate, aged 16-64 (2025-2026) | 86.0% | 79.1% | 76.3% | ranked 10 of 347 | |
| Out-of-work benefit claimants, share of residents aged 16-64 (2026) | 2.3% | 3.1% | 3.2% | ranked 288 of 361 |
Transport
| Indicator | Cherwell | South East | UK | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Households without a car or van (2021) | 14.7% | 16.8% | 18.5% | ranked 218 of 318 |
Key points
Among the 64 local authorities in South East, Cherwell ranks 13 by population.
Employment rate, aged 16-64: 86.0% in Cherwell, compared with an average of 79.1% in South East and 75.6% across the UK.
Dwellings built before 1940: 17.1% in Cherwell, compared with an average of 28.0% in South East and 34.9% across the UK.
Largest business sector: Wholesale and retail trade, with 17.1% of the area's business sites.
Did you know?
- “Employment rate, aged 16-64”: higher than in 97% of local authorities.
- “Dwellings built before 1940”: lower than in 92% of local authorities.
- Its area is roughly equal to 82,455 football pitches.
- The nearest local authority is Oxford, 21.9 km away.
- The nearest larger neighbour is Milton Keynes (308,866 residents), 34 km away.
Business sectors: Cherwell
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 trade17.1% ×1.1
- Professional, scientific and technical15.1% ×1.1
- Construction11.4% ×0.9
- Administrative and support services8.1% ×1.0
- Information and communication6.4% ×1.0
- Accommodation and food services5.6% ×0.8
- Agriculture, forestry and fishing5.3% ×1.2
- Transport and storage5.3% ×1.3
Where is Cherwell?
Frequently asked questions
What is the population of Cherwell?
Cherwell has 172,178 residents (2025), ranking 142 of 361 local authorities.
How big is Cherwell?
Cherwell covers 588.7 km², with a density of 292 people per km².
Is the population of Cherwell growing?
Between 2015 and 2025, the population of Cherwell went from 148,630 to 172,178, a change of +15.8%.
Where is Cherwell?
Cherwell is in South East (region). Latitude 51.950, longitude −1.250.
Employment rate, aged 16-64: what is the figure for Cherwell?
In Cherwell, “Employment rate, aged 16-64” stands at 86.0% (2025-2026), ranking 10 of 347 local authorities; the UK median is 76.3%.
Dwellings built before 1940: what is the figure for Cherwell?
In Cherwell, “Dwellings built before 1940” stands at 17.1% (2026), ranking 293 of 318 local authorities; the UK median is 31.6%.
Which local authorities border Cherwell?
The nearest to Cherwell are Oxford (22 km), West Oxfordshire (23 km), Milton Keynes (34 km), South Oxfordshire (36 km), Buckinghamshire (37 km).