Highfields South
Leicester 022 · 6 sub-areas · 11,424 residents
Leicester 022 is a densely populated inner-city neighbourhood within Leicester, home to around 11,400 people. A typical two-bedroom flat lets for about £895 a month — noticeably below the UK national median for a 2-bed — though rents rose around 4% last year. With over half of residents born outside the UK and among the highest deprivation scores in England, this is one of Leicester's most characterful and affordable areas.
Highfields South is a commuter neighbourhood within Leicester — train into Birmingham runs in around 59 minutes, and the rhythm of weekday mornings is shaped by it. The demographic profile leans family-aged, with a clear share of households with school-age children; the rental market is active and turnover is high — people move through rather than stay.
Overview
What's it like to live in Highfields South?
Greenspace is on the doorstep — a park or playing field is within walking distance of most homes; food and drink within walking distance is workable but not dense — around 12 restaurants and 0 pubs in five minutes; Crime sits around the national average — neither a notable concern nor a notable selling point; Public transport is genuinely strong; most errands and a fair share of social life don't need a car; rents are roughly in line with the national norm, at around £1,026 a month for a typical home; gigabit broadband is effectively universal.
Generated from the latest May 2026 data · refreshed automatically
Figures are aggregated across 6 sub-areas — population-weighted means for rates, sums for counts. Sources cited beneath each section.
Highfields South in Leicester
Living in Highfields South
Leicester 022 sits in one of the more urban, high-density parts of Leicester, and it feels it. Streets here are busy, community-focused and genuinely mixed — more than half of residents were born outside the UK, giving the area a distinctly international character that shapes its shops, food and day-to-day atmosphere.
Cost is the headline draw. A 2-bed runs around £895 a month, which is well below the UK national median of roughly £1,200 for the same size. Even a 3-bed stays under £1,100. That affordability comes with a context, though: the area sits in deprivation decile 1 (the most deprived tenth of England), and unemployment claims run at around 5.5% — higher than average. The trade-off is real, but for renters prioritising space and value, the numbers are hard to argue with.
The population skews young and family-heavy. Under-18s make up nearly 28% of residents — well above typical urban averages — and couples with children account for more than a quarter of households. Single-person households are relatively low at around 22%. Tenure is split roughly in thirds: about 39% own, 40% rent privately and 21% are in social housing, which is a notably high social-housing share for a Leicester neighbourhood.
Practically speaking, the nearest mainline rail station is roughly 920 metres away — around an 11-minute walk — which puts central Leicester and onward connections within easy reach. Birmingham is about an hour by public transport. The downside on schooling is worth flagging: only around 31% of schools within typical catchment distance are rated Good or Outstanding by Ofsted, which is well below the national share of roughly 89%. The nearest Outstanding school is about 1.7 km away. See the streets and sub-areas below for more detail on specific pockets of the neighbourhood.
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Frequently asked
- Is Leicester 022 a nice place to live?
- It depends on your priorities. It's affordable, community-focused and genuinely diverse — over half of residents were born outside the UK. The trade-off is higher-than-average deprivation and a crime rate slightly above the national average. For renters who value low costs and a strong local community over polished surroundings, it works well.
- What is the rent in Leicester 022?
- A one-bedroom typically runs around £718 a month, a two-bedroom about £895 and a three-bedroom roughly £1,046. These are estimated figures based on city-level data scaled using local sale prices. Rents rose around 4.4% over the past year.
- Is Leicester 022 safe?
- Crime runs at about 91.6 incidents per 1,000 residents a year, which is above the UK national average of roughly 80. It's an urban inner-city area, and the numbers reflect that. Risk tends to be higher on busier commercial streets than on residential roads, so location within the neighbourhood matters.
- What's the commute from Leicester 022 to Leicester city centre?
- The nearest mainline rail station is roughly a 11-minute walk away. From there, Birmingham is around 60 minutes by public transport and London around 75 minutes. Most residents drive — about 47% commute by car — rather than relying on public transport.
- Who lives in Leicester 022?
- Mostly young families and working-age adults. Nearly 28% of residents are under 18, and couples with children make up over a quarter of households. More than half of residents were born outside the UK. Tenure splits roughly between owners, private renters and social housing tenants.
- What schools are near Leicester 022?
- There are 171 schools within 2 km, so there's no shortage of options. The quality picture is tougher: only around 31% of nearby schools are rated Good or Outstanding by Ofsted, well below the national average. The nearest Outstanding school is about 1,703 metres away. Families should check individual Ofsted reports before committing.
- How affordable is buying a home in Leicester 022?
- The median house price is around £229,000. Based on local median salaries, you'd need roughly 4.1 years of take-home pay to save a typical deposit — relatively manageable by national standards, though the low local salary of around £27,900 a year means stretching the monthly budget is still a real consideration.