Stafford: population and statistics
Stafford has a population of 142,903 (2025) across 598.2 km², or 239 people per km². It ranks 196 of 361 local authorities by population. Its population is growing: +8.9% between 2015 and 2025.
- 142,903 residents
- 598.2 km²
- 239 people/km²
Stafford in numbers
Population of Stafford over time
Stafford had 131,221 residents in 2015 and 142,903 in 2025.
| Year | Population |
|---|---|
| 2020 | 135,685 |
| 2021 | 137,201 |
| 2022 | 138,618 |
| 2023 | 140,321 |
| 2024 | 141,610 |
| 2025 | 142,903 |
All indicators for Stafford
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 | Stafford | West Midlands | UK | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Share of residents aged 65 and over (2025) | 23.7% | 19.1% | 20.4% | ranked 96 of 361 | |
| Share of residents aged under 16 (2025) | 16.5% | 18.9% | 17.4% | ranked 241 of 361 |
Housing
| Indicator | Stafford | West Midlands | UK | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dwellings (Council Tax stock) (2026) | 64,680 dwellings | 2,655,660 | 27,429,300 | ranked 172 of 318 | |
| Dwellings built before 1940 (2026) | 23.1% | 32.0% | 31.6% | ranked 245 of 318 | |
| Dwellings built since 2000 (2026) | 21.7% | 17.6% | 18.1% | ranked 90 of 318 | |
| Households (Census 2021) (2021) | 60,047 households | 150,800 | 61,440 | ranked 166 of 318 | |
| Households living in a house or bungalow (2021) | 87.5% | 83.4% | 84.7% | ranked 112 of 318 | |
| Households living in a flat or maisonette (2021) | 11.9% | 16.2% | 14.8% | ranked 202 of 318 | |
| Owner-occupied households (incl. shared ownership) (2021) | 70.8% | 63.2% | 67.3% | ranked 90 of 318 | |
| Households renting privately (2021) | 15.5% | 18.1% | 17.6% | ranked 229 of 318 | |
| Households in social housing (2021) | 13.6% | 18.5% | 14.3% | ranked 185 of 318 | |
| Average house price (2026) | £258,024 | £251,154 | £272,474 | ranked 196 of 360 | |
| House price change over 12 months (2026) | 3.2% | 2.2% | 2.2% | ranked 122 of 360 |
Energy
| Indicator | Stafford | West Midlands | UK | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Households without central heating (2021) | 0.9% | 1.6% | 1.2% | ranked 242 of 318 | |
| Households heated by mains gas only (2021) | 74.3% | 75.3% | 76.7% | ranked 195 of 318 | |
| Households heated by electricity only (2021) | 5.6% | 7.9% | 7.8% | ranked 236 of 318 | |
| Households heated by oil only (2021) | 6.0% | 2.9% | 0.9% | ranked 80 of 318 |
Economy
| Indicator | Stafford | West Midlands | UK | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Business sites (local units) (2026) | 6,495 sites | 255,340 | 3,232,440 | ranked 194 of 361 | |
| Business sites per 1,000 residents (2026) | 45.5 per 1,000 | 41.1 per 1,000 | 44.4 per 1,000 | ranked 158 of 361 | |
| Registered businesses (enterprises) (2026) | 5,520 businesses | 219,540 | 2,786,975 | ranked 195 of 361 | |
| Median annual pay, full-time residents (gross) (2025) | £39,726 | £37,210 | £38,490 | ranked 147 of 348 |
Jobs
| Indicator | Stafford | West Midlands | UK | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Employment rate, aged 16-64 (2025-2026) | 80.9% | 73.9% | 76.3% | ranked 61 of 347 | |
| Out-of-work benefit claimants, share of residents aged 16-64 (2026) | 2.6% | 5.2% | 3.2% | ranked 238 of 361 |
Transport
| Indicator | Stafford | West Midlands | UK | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Households without a car or van (2021) | 14.9% | 21.9% | 18.5% | ranked 215 of 318 |
Key points
Among the 30 local authorities in West Midlands, Stafford ranks 15 by population.
Households without central heating: 0.9% in Stafford, compared with an average of 1.6% in West Midlands and 1.5% across the UK.
Employment rate, aged 16-64: 80.9% in Stafford, compared with an average of 73.9% in West Midlands and 75.6% across the UK.
Largest business sector: Wholesale and retail trade, with 18.1% of the area's business sites.
Did you know?
- Its area is roughly equal to 83,779 football pitches.
- The nearest local authority is Cannock Chase, 12.9 km away.
- The nearest larger neighbour is Stoke-on-Trent (272,282 residents), 22 km away.
Business sectors: Stafford
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 trade18.1% ×1.1
- Professional, scientific and technical11.6% ×0.8
- Construction11.1% ×0.9
- Agriculture, forestry and fishing9.6% ×2.1
- Administrative and support services7.5% ×0.9
- Accommodation and food services6.6% ×0.9
- Health and social work6.0% ×1.1
- Manufacturing5.2% ×1.2
Where is Stafford?
Frequently asked questions
What is the population of Stafford?
Stafford has 142,903 residents (2025), ranking 196 of 361 local authorities.
How big is Stafford?
Stafford covers 598.2 km², with a density of 239 people per km².
Is the population of Stafford growing?
Between 2015 and 2025, the population of Stafford went from 131,221 to 142,903, a change of +8.9%.
Where is Stafford?
Stafford is in West Midlands (region). Latitude 52.805, longitude −2.117.
Households without central heating: what is the figure for Stafford?
In Stafford, “Households without central heating” stands at 0.9% (2021), ranking 242 of 318 local authorities; the UK median is 1.2%.
Employment rate, aged 16-64: what is the figure for Stafford?
In Stafford, “Employment rate, aged 16-64” stands at 80.9% (2025-2026), ranking 61 of 347 local authorities; the UK median is 76.3%.
Which local authorities border Stafford?
The nearest to Stafford are Cannock Chase (13 km), South Staffordshire (21 km), Stoke-on-Trent (22 km), Lichfield (24 km), Newcastle-under-Lyme (24 km).