Medway

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

Medway supports 97,245 workplace jobs with median earnings broadly in line with the England average.

Population

292,655

11.4%

England: 58,620,101

Workplace Jobs

97,245

Median Annual Earnings

£33,857

125th of 348

England: £33,080

Median House Price

£281,971

1.8%125th of 348

England: £290,000

Price-to-Earnings

8.3x

GVA per Job

£61,453

144th 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 292,655. Population has grown by 11.4% over five years.

Population

292,655

England: 58,620,101

Working-Age (16-64)

62.6%

England: 62.9%

Under 16

20.9%

Over 65

16.4%

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

Earnings & Income

Gross annual earnings distribution, 2025.

Median annual earnings of £33,857 are in line with the England median of £33,080.

Median Annual

£33,857

England: £33,080

10th Percentile

£12,222

90th Percentile

N/A

90/10 Ratio

N/A

Gender Pay Gap

The gender pay gap is 33.6% (male median £40,802, female median £27,091). This is significantly above the England gap of 28.2%.

Gender Pay Gap

33.6%

England: 28.2%

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

Industry Structure

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

The most specialised sectors are Water supply & waste management (LQ 1.79) and Construction (LQ 1.53). Administrative & support services shows the strongest local competitive advantage. Education underperforms its national sectoral trend.

Largest Sector

Human health & social work

Most Specialised

Water supply & waste management

England: LQ 1.79

Fastest Growing

Administrative & support services

Specialised Sectors

4

England: LQ > 1.25

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

Housing & Property Market

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

The median house price of £281,971 is in line with 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

£281,971

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 Medway to England and Great Britain averages.

Medway's median earnings of £33,857 are in line with the England average. The claimant rate of 4.3% is higher than the GB average of 3.5%.

Median earnings

£33,857

England: £32,909(3% above)
GB: £32,401(4% above)

Median house price

£281,971

England: £274,076(3% above)
GB: £269,841(4% above)

Claimant rate

4.3%

England: 3.6%(0.7pp higher)
GB: 3.5%(0.8pp higher)

GVA per job

£61,453

England: £61,178
GB: £61,125

Working-age population

62.6%

England: 62.1%(0.5pp higher)
GB: 61.9%(0.7pp higher)

Population change (5yr)

11.4%

England: 11.5%
GB: 10.3%(1.1pp higher)

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