Tunbridge Wells: population and statistics
Tunbridge Wells has a population of 120,098 (2025) across 331.3 km², or 362 people per km². It ranks 250 of 361 local authorities by population. Its population is growing: +4.6% between 2015 and 2025.
- 120,098 residents
- 331.3 km²
- 362 people/km²
Tunbridge Wells in numbers
Population of Tunbridge Wells over time
Tunbridge Wells had 114,769 residents in 2015 and 120,098 in 2025.
| Year | Population |
|---|---|
| 2020 | 115,271 |
| 2021 | 115,650 |
| 2022 | 116,233 |
| 2023 | 117,720 |
| 2024 | 119,435 |
| 2025 | 120,098 |
All indicators for Tunbridge Wells
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 | Tunbridge Wells | South East | UK | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Share of residents aged 65 and over (2025) | 20.4% | 20.2% | 20.4% | ranked 181 of 361 | |
| Share of residents aged under 16 (2025) | 19.6% | 18.1% | 17.4% | ranked 59 of 361 |
Housing
| Indicator | Tunbridge Wells | South East | UK | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dwellings (Council Tax stock) (2026) | 53,260 dwellings | 4,201,530 | 27,429,300 | ranked 223 of 318 | |
| Dwellings built before 1940 (2026) | 41.2% | 28.0% | 31.6% | ranked 76 of 318 | |
| Dwellings built since 2000 (2026) | 16.3% | 19.8% | 18.1% | ranked 192 of 318 | |
| Households (Census 2021) (2021) | 48,224 households | 72,553 | 61,440 | ranked 229 of 318 | |
| Households living in a house or bungalow (2021) | 74.9% | 77.8% | 84.7% | ranked 251 of 318 | |
| Households living in a flat or maisonette (2021) | 24.8% | 21.5% | 14.8% | ranked 67 of 318 | |
| Owner-occupied households (incl. shared ownership) (2021) | 66.2% | 67.0% | 67.3% | ranked 179 of 318 | |
| Households renting privately (2021) | 19.2% | 19.2% | 17.6% | ranked 112 of 318 | |
| Households in social housing (2021) | 14.6% | 13.7% | 14.3% | ranked 147 of 318 | |
| Average house price (2026) | £456,227 | £392,981 | £272,474 | ranked 53 of 360 | |
| House price change over 12 months (2026) | 0.6% | 0.5% | 2.2% | ranked 243 of 360 |
Energy
| Indicator | Tunbridge Wells | South East | UK | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Households without central heating (2021) | 1.3% | 1.3% | 1.2% | ranked 133 of 318 | |
| Households heated by mains gas only (2021) | 68.2% | 74.6% | 76.7% | ranked 246 of 318 | |
| Households heated by electricity only (2021) | 10.5% | 9.2% | 7.8% | ranked 67 of 318 | |
| Households heated by oil only (2021) | 7.5% | 3.2% | 0.9% | ranked 67 of 318 |
Economy
| Indicator | Tunbridge Wells | South East | UK | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Business sites (local units) (2026) | 6,975 sites | 472,260 | 3,232,440 | ranked 174 of 361 | |
| Business sites per 1,000 residents (2026) | 58.1 per 1,000 | 48.7 per 1,000 | 44.4 per 1,000 | ranked 47 of 361 | |
| Registered businesses (enterprises) (2026) | 6,165 businesses | 412,075 | 2,786,975 | ranked 168 of 361 | |
| Median annual pay, full-time residents (gross) (2025) | £47,896 | £41,780 | £38,490 | ranked 24 of 348 |
Jobs
| Indicator | Tunbridge Wells | South East | UK | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Employment rate, aged 16-64 (2025-2026) | 76.9% | 79.1% | 76.3% | ranked 161 of 347 | |
| Out-of-work benefit claimants, share of residents aged 16-64 (2026) | 2.5% | 3.1% | 3.2% | ranked 260 of 361 |
Transport
| Indicator | Tunbridge Wells | South East | UK | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Households without a car or van (2021) | 15.5% | 16.8% | 18.5% | ranked 205 of 318 |
Key points
Among the 64 local authorities in South East, Tunbridge Wells ranks 45 by population.
Median annual pay, full-time residents (gross): £47,896 in Tunbridge Wells, compared with an average of £41,780 in South East and £39,498 across the UK.
Average house price: £456,227 in Tunbridge Wells, compared with an average of £392,981 in South East and £308,859 across the UK.
Largest business sector: Professional, scientific and technical, with 20.4% of the area's business sites.
Did you know?
Business sectors: Tunbridge Wells
Share of each sector in total business sites; “×1.5” means the sector is 1.5 times more common than across the UK.
- Professional, scientific and technical20.4% ×1.5
- Wholesale and retail trade15.2% ×0.9
- Construction11.2% ×0.9
- Administrative and support services8.9% ×1.1
- Information and communication8.1% ×1.3
- Accommodation and food services5.6% ×0.8
- Health and social work5.1% ×0.9
- Real estate4.1% ×0.9
Where is Tunbridge Wells?
Frequently asked questions
What is the population of Tunbridge Wells?
Tunbridge Wells has 120,098 residents (2025), ranking 250 of 361 local authorities.
How big is Tunbridge Wells?
Tunbridge Wells covers 331.3 km², with a density of 362 people per km².
Is the population of Tunbridge Wells growing?
Between 2015 and 2025, the population of Tunbridge Wells went from 114,769 to 120,098, a change of +4.6%.
Where is Tunbridge Wells?
Tunbridge Wells is in South East (region). Latitude 51.129, longitude 0.261.
Median annual pay, full-time residents (gross): what is the figure for Tunbridge Wells?
In Tunbridge Wells, “Median annual pay, full-time residents (gross)” stands at £47,896 (2025), ranking 24 of 348 local authorities; the UK median is £38,490.
Average house price: what is the figure for Tunbridge Wells?
In Tunbridge Wells, “Average house price” stands at £456,227 (2026), ranking 53 of 360 local authorities; the UK median is £272,474.
Which local authorities border Tunbridge Wells?
The nearest to Tunbridge Wells are Wealden (15 km), Sevenoaks (16 km), Tonbridge and Malling (18 km), Tandridge (23 km), Maidstone (24 km).