Highfield & Lowfield
Sheffield 042 · 6 sub-areas · 16,057 residents
Sheffield 042 is a densely populated pocket of Sheffield with around 16,000 residents and a demographic profile that's almost entirely defined by students and young adults — nearly six in ten residents are aged 18 to 34. The median house price sits at roughly £165,000, well below Sheffield's citywide average, and the nearest major employment hub is just over 15 minutes away.
Highfield & Lowfield is a commuter neighbourhood within Sheffield — train into Sheffield runs in around 17 minutes, and the rhythm of weekday mornings is shaped by it. 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 Highfield & Lowfield?
4 parks and 6 playgrounds are within five minutes' walk, so greenspace is reliably close at hand; there's a serious food scene on the doorstep — 56 restaurants and lots of variety within a five-minute walk; 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; 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.
Highfield & Lowfield in Sheffield
Living in Highfield & Lowfield
Sheffield 042 is one of the most distinctly youthful neighbourhoods in Yorkshire. With 58% of residents aged 18 to 34, this isn't a place that switches off after rush hour — it's shaped by student life, flat shares, and the churn that comes with a neighbourhood closely tied to higher education and early careers. Compare that age profile to Sheffield as a whole, and the difference is stark: this area skews dramatically younger than citywide norms.
Housing here leans heavily towards private renting — nearly 59% of residents rent privately, more than double the typical national rate. Owner-occupation is unusually low at just 27%, which reflects both the transient population and the accessibility of the area for renters rather than buyers. Median house prices are around £165,000, making the deposit hurdle manageable: roughly 2.6 years of median salary to save a 10% deposit, one of the lower figures you'll find anywhere in England.
The neighbourhood has a notable ethnic diversity index of 55.2, and around 31% of residents were born outside the UK — figures that tend to reflect the international student population drawn to Sheffield's universities. Single-person households account for 38% of all households, reinforcing the picture of a neighbourhood where people are at an earlier, more independent life stage rather than settled family units.
Practically, greenspace is genuinely accessible here — nearly three-quarters of residents are within a short walk of green space, with the nearest park averaging just 224 metres away. The nearest rail station is roughly 1.2 km away (about a 15-minute walk), and the local tram stop is even closer at under a kilometre. Working from home is surprisingly common for such a renter-heavy area, with 29% of residents doing so. See the streets and sub-areas below for more detail on specific pockets within the neighbourhood.
What you'll need on day one
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Frequently asked
- Is Sheffield 042 a nice place to live?
- It depends what you're after. Sheffield 042 suits young renters and students well — it's affordable, well-connected, and has greenspace within easy reach (the nearest is just 224 metres away on average). It's less suited to families or those wanting a quieter, more settled neighbourhood. Crime is elevated at around 164 incidents per 1,000 residents annually, which is worth factoring in.
- What is the rent in Sheffield 042?
- There's no official rent figure at neighbourhood level — our estimates are scaled from citywide ONS data using local sale prices. What's clear is that Sheffield 042 sits at the affordable end of Sheffield's market, consistent with a median house price of around £165,000. Sheffield as a whole is well below the UK median two-bedroom rent of approximately £1,200 a month.
- Is Sheffield 042 safe?
- Crime runs at around 164 incidents per 1,000 residents a year — roughly double the UK national average. That's high, though typical for urban student-heavy areas where theft and anti-social behaviour inflate the numbers. The quieter residential parts of the neighbourhood tend to feel calmer than the busier stretches near local amenities and nightlife.
- What's the commute from Sheffield 042 to Sheffield city centre?
- The nearest tram stop is under a kilometre away, and the nearest mainline rail station is roughly 1.2 km (about a 15-minute walk). The nearest major employment hub is around 15 minutes away by public transport or car. Longer journeys run to Manchester in around 66 minutes and London in about 136 minutes by rail or bus.
- Who lives in Sheffield 042?
- Overwhelmingly young adults — 58% of residents are aged 18 to 34, making this one of Sheffield's most student- and graduate-heavy neighbourhoods. Most rent privately (59%), one-person households account for 38% of all households, and around 31% of residents were born outside the UK, suggesting a significant international student presence.
- What schools are near Sheffield 042?
- There are 132 schools within 2 km of typical residents, but only around 34% are rated Good or Outstanding — well below the national average of roughly 89%. The nearest Outstanding-rated school is approximately 2.4 km away. Given the neighbourhood's young adult and student population, school catchments aren't a primary concern for most residents here, but families should research options carefully.
- Is Sheffield 042 good for first-time buyers?
- It's one of the more accessible areas in England on paper — median house prices around £165,000 and a deposit saving timeline of roughly 2.6 years at median local salary. That said, the neighbourhood is dominated by private renters and has a transient population. Those looking for a longer-term owner-occupier community may find neighbouring Sheffield sub-areas a better fit.