OverviewDemographicsEarningsIndustryHousing

Bradford

Economic profile. Data last updated 2026-03-28.

Bradford supports 198,645 workplace jobs with median earnings 14% below the England average. Productivity (GVA per job) is ranked 251st of 391 local authorities.

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Population

563,605

↑ 8.8%

England: 58,620,101

Workplace Jobs

198,645

Median Annual Earnings

£28,424

321st of 348

England: £33,080

Median House Price

£236,723

↑ 1.8%321st of 348

England: £290,000

Price-to-Earnings

8.3x

GVA per Job

£58,905

251st of 391

England: £63,763

Source: ONS, Nomis, HM Land Registry, 2024-2025·Last updated March 2026

Demographics & Population

Mid-year population estimates (2024) and Census 2021 age profile.

Mid-year population estimate of 563,605. Population has grown by 8.8% over five years, significantly below the England rate of 11.4%.

Population

563,605

England: 58,620,101

Working-Age (16-64)

62.1%

England: 62.9%

Under 16

22.3%

Over 65

15.5%

Source: ONS Mid-Year Population Estimates, Census 2021, 2024·Last updated March 2026

Earnings & Income

Gross annual earnings distribution, 2025.

Median annual earnings of £28,424 are below the England median of £33,080. The 90/10 earnings ratio is 5.5x (England: 6.2x), indicating relatively high wage inequality.

Median Annual

£28,424

England: £33,080

10th Percentile

£9,994

90th Percentile

£55,033

90/10 Ratio

5.5x

Gender Pay Gap

The gender pay gap is 22.9% (male median £32,490, female median £25,055). This is significantly below the England gap of 28.2%.

Gender Pay Gap

22.9%

England: 28.2%

Source: ASHE via Nomis, 2025·Last updated March 2026

Industry Structure

Location quotients and shift-share analysis for Bradford's economy.

The most specialised sectors are Water supply & waste management (LQ 2.48) and Manufacturing (LQ 1.59). Accommodation & food service shows the strongest local competitive advantage. Public administration & defence underperforms its national sectoral trend.

Largest Sector

Human health & social work

Most Specialised

Water supply & waste management

England: LQ 2.48

Fastest Growing

Accommodation & food service

Specialised Sectors

3

England: LQ > 1.25

Source: BRES via Nomis, 2020-2024·Last updated March 2026

Housing & Property Market

Estimated house prices for Bradford vs England, 2015-2025.

The median house price of £236,723 is significantly below the England median of £290,000. The price-to-earnings ratio is 8.3x. Prices have risen 1.8% over the past year.

Median Price

£236,723

England: £290,000

Price-to-Earnings

8.3x

12-Month Change

1.8%

Source: HM Land Registry, Census 2021, 2015-2025·Last updated March 2026

Benchmark to national figures

Comparing Bradford to England and Great Britain averages.

Bradford's median earnings of £28,424 are 14% below the England average of £32,909. House prices are 14% below the England median. The claimant rate of 6.9% is higher than the GB average of 3.5%.

Median earnings

£28,424

England: £32,909(14% below)
GB: £32,401(12% below)

Median house price

£236,723

England: £274,076(14% below)
GB: £269,841(12% below)

Claimant rate

6.9%

England: 3.6%(3.3pp higher)
GB: 3.5%(3.4pp higher)

GVA per job

£58,905

England: £61,178(4% below)
GB: £61,125(4% below)

Working-age population

62.1%

England: 62.1%
GB: 61.9%

Population change (5yr)

8.8%

England: 11.5%(2.7pp lower)
GB: 10.3%(1.5pp lower)

Country averages computed from local authority-level data (England: 294 LAs, GB: 348 LAs). May differ slightly from official published national statistics.