Wharf & University
Lincoln 005 · 5 sub-areas · 10,591 residents
Lincoln 005 is a densely populated neighbourhood within Lincoln, home to around 10,600 people and one of the most youthful communities in the city. A typical two-bedroom flat lets for about £830 a month — noticeably below the UK national median for a two-bed — though rents rose nearly 7% last year. The area's most striking feature is its age profile: well over half of residents are aged 18 to 34.
Wharf & University is a mid-density neighbourhood of Lincoln in the East Midlands region. It sits between busier and quieter parts of the local authority and isn't dominated by a single use — there's a mix of workplaces, housing and local services. The population skews young, with a high concentration of 18- to 34-year-olds; the rental market is active and turnover is high — people move through rather than stay.
Overview
What's it like to live in Wharf & University?
2 parks are within five minutes' walk, so greenspace is reliably close at hand; food and drink within walking distance is workable but not dense — around 40 restaurants and 6 pubs in five minutes; nightlife is genuinely on tap — 10 clubs within a kilometre; Recorded crime is higher than the national norm — common for built-up urban areas, but worth weighing if you're looking for a quieter base; 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 £946 a month for a typical home; gigabit broadband is effectively universal.
Generated from the latest May 2026 data · refreshed automatically
Figures are aggregated across 5 sub-areas — population-weighted means for rates, sums for counts. Sources cited beneath each section.
Wharf & University in Lincoln
Living in Wharf & University
Lincoln 005 has the feel of a neighbourhood built around student and young-professional life. With nearly 58% of residents aged 18 to 34, it's one of the most distinctly young parts of Lincoln — which itself has a significant university presence. That shapes everything from the local housing stock to the rhythm of the streets: a lot of private lets, a lot of single-person households, and a pace that shifts noticeably through the academic calendar.
On rent, this neighbourhood sits at the affordable end of an already affordable city. A two-bedroom flat runs around £830 a month — roughly a third less than the UK national median for the same size. A one-bed is closer to £660, and a three-bed around £990. Those figures rose by about 7% over the past year, which is a meaningful increase, but the starting point is still low enough that the cost of living here compares favourably with almost any English city of comparable size.
Affordability to buy is also within reach for many. The median property price sits at around £190,000, and a typical deposit takes about 3.2 years to save — one of the shorter timelines you'll find anywhere in England. That said, with nearly 53% of households in private rented accommodation and only 28% owner-occupied, this is overwhelmingly a renting neighbourhood for now.
About 42% of households are single-person — a high figure that reflects both the student population and the broader young-professional character of the area. Couple-with-children households make up just 6%. If you're moving here as a family, you'd be in the minority; if you're moving solo or as a couple, you'll find a housing market well-suited to you. See the streets and sub-areas below for a closer look at how the neighbourhood breaks down.
What you'll need on day one
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Frequently asked
- Is Lincoln 005 a nice place to live?
- It depends what you're after. If you're young, renting solo or with a partner, and want affordable city living, it works well. Rents are low, the rail station is a short walk, and the neighbourhood has the energy of a young, transient community. Families may find the school options and crime rate less reassuring — it's a better fit for students and young professionals than for households with children.
- What is the rent in Lincoln 005?
- A one-bedroom flat runs about £660 a month, a two-bed around £830, and a three-bed roughly £990. Rents rose by about 7% over the past year. These are estimates scaled from city-level data using local sale prices — the official ONS rent figures only go down to council level.
- Is Lincoln 005 safe?
- The recorded crime rate of around 181 per 1,000 residents is well above the UK average of roughly 80. That elevated figure is partly explained by the large student and transient population, which tends to push up crime statistics in any dense urban neighbourhood. Check the specific offence types on the local police data map to get a clearer picture before deciding.
- What's the commute from Lincoln 005 to Lincoln city centre?
- The nearest mainline rail station is roughly 900 metres away — about an 11-minute walk. For most residents, the city centre is reachable on foot or by a short drive. Around 35% of residents commute by car, and a notably high 25% work from home, suggesting many jobs are either local or remote.
- Who lives in Lincoln 005?
- Overwhelmingly young people — nearly 58% of residents are aged 18 to 34, which points strongly to a student-heavy population. Around 42% of households are single-person, and over half rent privately. Families are in the minority here; couple-with-children households make up just 6% of all households.
- What schools are near Lincoln 005?
- There are 62 schools within 2km, so options are plentiful. However, only around 24% of schools within typical catchment distance are rated Good or Outstanding — well below the national average of around 89%. The nearest Outstanding-rated school is approximately 1,400 metres away. It's worth checking individual Ofsted ratings carefully before committing.
- How long does the rail commute from Lincoln to London take?
- Around 116 minutes by public transport from Lincoln station, which is roughly a 11-minute walk from the neighbourhood. Birmingham is about 148 minutes away and Manchester around 157 minutes. Lincoln isn't a commuter-belt town — most residents work locally or from home.