During the winter, the Community Centre is used as a Night Shelter for the homeless

COMMUNITY SITE FOR THE JERICHO DISTRICT OF OXFORD, UK

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Results from the 2021 Census are now available for Jericho.

Data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) confirm Jericho has a higher-than-average population of young adults. They also indicate that high house prices do not necessarily correspond to greater wealth, as around three-quarters of households rent their homes.

The Jericho area outlined in blue in the above map has 1,800 people in 880 households – on average 3.5 per household. But there are also some houses in Walton Crescent, Richmond Road and Worcester Place which the ONS group in with Exeter and Worcester colleges – around 60 in total. Assuming these also have 3.5 people per household this would mean the total population of Jericho is around 2,000. The following analysis refers to the outlined area.

The chart below shows the age distribution. Compared with Oxford as a whole, Jericho has a higher proportion of young adults. Some 47 percent are in the 20-34 age groups – compared to 31 percent for Oxford. This does not necessarily correspond to students. Around one-third of residents aged five years and over are schoolchildren or full-time students– which is similar to the pattern for Oxford as whole, though in England the proportion is only 20 percent.

From these data, it is not possible to check whether the population has been growing because previous censuses did not allow analysis of the same area. However, some impression can be gained from the slightly different area used for the 2021 Needs Assessment for our new community centre. This suggests a stable number. For this slightly smaller area, between 2011 and 2021 the population of ‘Inner Jericho’ only grew from 1,402 to 1,432. * 

As might be expected in an inner-city area, Jericho residents are less likely to have cars. Only 47 percent of households own a vehicle compared with 63 percent of all Oxford residents. 

Employment patterns are similar to those elsewhere. Around 60 percent of people aged 16 and over are in employment, but in Jericho they are more likely to be in professional or managerial occupations (62 percent – compared with 43 percent for Oxford, and 33 percent for England). This also corresponds to higher levels of education: around two-thirds of people in Jericho aged 16 and over have a ‘level 4’ occupation, equivalent to the first year of a bachelor's degree, compared with around half for Oxford, and one-third for England.

We are also more likely to be working mainly from home (54 percent, compared with 39 percent for Oxford and 32 percent for England). For those working outside the home the distance travelled to work is generally short – only 14 percent of households are people driving to work: 26 percent go by bicycle or on foot.

By ethnic group, the population is 79 percent white, with 10 percent Asian or Asian British, 2 percent Black or Black British, 6 percent multiple or mixed, and 3 percent other. 

For religion, 47 percent have no religion, 32 percent are Christian, 6 percent Muslim, 2 percent Jewish, 1 percent Buddhist, 1 percent Hindu, and 11 percent others or no response.

Jericho might be considered a wealthy area based on steep house prices. But that assumes residents own their homes. In fact, more than three-quarters of Jericho residents are renting – 56 percent from private landlords, and 20 percent from social providers – generally the City Council or housing associations. This is strikingly different from Oxford as a whole, where 43 percent are renting, and for England as whole where the proportion renting is only 38 percent.

And of those who are owner-occupiers in Jericho, 40 percent do so with a loan or a mortgage. Thus, only 15 percent own their homes outright. Around 40 percent of households are in flats, maisonettes or apartments. 

When it comes to household deprivation, the pattern is similar to the rest of Oxford. 41 percent are deprived in one or more dimensions, compared with 44 percent in Oxford as a whole. The four dimensions of deprivation are education, employment health or housing. While there is no indication on which dimension we are currently deprived the earlier needs analysis suggests that it is probably related to the living environment including issues such as pollution. 

News posted - April 03, 2024

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