Hackney Downs
Hackney 010 · 6 sub-areas · 9,691 residents
Hackney 010 sits within the London Borough of Hackney, home to around 9,700 people and one of the most tenure-mixed pockets in east London. A typical two-bedroom flat lets for about £2,430 a month — below the central London norm, but still well above the national average of around £1,200. Nearly half of all households here are in social housing, which sets this area apart from most of its neighbours.
Hackney Downs is a mid-density neighbourhood of Hackney in the London 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. A high share of adults are degree-educated, which often shows up in the kind of jobs people commute to.
Overview
What's it like to live in Hackney Downs?
3 parks and 7 playgrounds are within five minutes' walk, so greenspace is reliably close at hand; food and drink within walking distance is workable but not dense — around 23 restaurants and 4 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 sit firmly in the upper bracket nationally, with a typical home letting at around £2,598 a month; 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.
Hackney Downs in Hackney
Living in Hackney Downs
This part of Hackney is defined less by a single character than by contrast. You'll find long-established social housing estates sitting close to private rentals and a smaller owner-occupied stock — around one in four households owns their home, well below the national rate. That mix shapes everything from the street feel to the schools intake, and it means the neighbourhood draws a far broader range of residents than most inner-London postcodes.
On cost, Hackney 010 sits in a middle tier for the borough. A two-bedroom property runs about £2,430 a month, with one-beds starting around £1,950 and larger three-bedroom homes closer to £2,780. Those figures are meaningful by any national measure — rents here are roughly double the UK median — but they reflect the reality of inner east London, where proximity to the City and good rail connections underpin demand.
The demographic spread is genuinely broad. About a third of residents are in the 18–34 bracket, giving the area a young feel, but the 19% share of under-18s signals a significant number of families too. Just over half of residents hold a degree-level qualification, and the ethnic diversity index sits at 68 — one of the more diverse readings you'll find anywhere in the country. Around 40% of residents were born outside the UK, which is reflected in the variety of local amenities and community life.
Practically, the area is well connected. The nearest mainline rail station is roughly 400 metres away — about a five-minute walk — putting a central London terminus within minutes. Nearly half of working residents are registered as working from home, so the neighbourhood functions as much as a daytime residential area as a commuter base. For sub-areas and specific streets, see the streets and sub-areas listed below.
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Frequently asked
- Is Hackney 010 a nice place to live?
- It depends on your priorities. The rail connections are excellent, greenspace is within 265 metres on average, and the community is genuinely diverse. The trade-off is a high crime rate — about 134 incidents per 1,000 residents annually — and a deprivation score that places it among the lower deciles nationally. Many residents value the mix of social and private housing as a community asset; others find the affordability gap challenging.
- What is the rent in Hackney 010?
- A one-bedroom flat runs around £1,950 a month, a two-bedroom about £2,430, and a three-bedroom close to £2,780. Rents rose roughly 2.5% over the past year. These are estimates scaled from borough-level data using local sale prices — the official figures don't go below council level.
- Is Hackney 010 safe?
- Crime runs at around 134 incidents per 1,000 residents a year, which is noticeably above the UK national rate of about 80. That's fairly typical for inner east London. The area sits in the second deprivation decile nationally, and busier streets near the rail station account for a disproportionate share of incidents. It's not unusually dangerous by inner-London standards, but it's worth being aware of.
- What's the commute from Hackney 010 to central London?
- Very fast. The nearest mainline rail station is about 400 metres away — roughly a five-minute walk — and from there you're looking at around five minutes to a major central London employment hub by public transport. It's one of the better-connected parts of east London for rail commuters.
- Who lives in Hackney 010?
- A genuinely mixed population. About a third are aged 18–34, but families with children are well represented too — nearly one in five residents is under 18. Nearly half of households are in social housing, which is unusually high for inner London. Around 40% of residents were born outside the UK, and over half hold a degree-level qualification.
- What schools are near Hackney 010?
- There are 271 schools within 2km, so choice isn't an issue in volume terms. Around 60% of those are rated Good or Outstanding — below the national average of roughly 89%. The nearest Outstanding school is about 527 metres away. Check Hackney council's admissions pages for current catchment boundaries, as social housing concentration can affect oversubscription.
- How does Hackney 010 compare to the rest of Hackney?
- The main differentiator is the high social housing share — nearly 45% of households, compared to a much lower London norm. Rents are broadly mid-range for the borough, and the rail connection is strong. Deprivation is higher than in parts of Hackney closer to Stoke Newington or Dalston, but the diversity and community mix are valued by many long-term residents.