State of the Borough report
State of the Borough report
Our third annual State of the Borough report is here. Our 2025 State of the Borough report gives a snapshot of what life is like in Camden, and it helps us keep track of progress.
In March 2022, we published our borough-wide vision, We Make Camden, and committed to publishing an annual State of the Borough report. The report is structured across the 6 We Make Camden ambitions, and it's aligned to the Good Life Camden framework. It also includes State of the Mission chapters for each of the four missions: Food, Diversity, Youth and Estates.
Alongside residents and partners, we use this report to identify what needs to change and how we can make that change happen together.
In the report you’ll find data, evidence and stories of lived experiences from people living in Camden. The data and evidence are from a variety of sources, including national statistics. The data underpinning the report is available at Open Data Camden.
Here are some key facts and figures from the 2025 report.
Overview
- Well-populated: Camden spans nearly 22 square kilometres in central London (1.4% of London's area) but ranks 9th in population density
- Education hub: Home to 11 higher education institutions
- Unique households: 39% of homes have single occupants (compared to 29% in London)
Best Start
- One in 5 children face poverty (rising to 2 in 5 when including housing costs)
- Narrower attainment gap between disadvantaged and advantaged students compared to London average
- Full-time childcare for 3-4 year-olds costs approximately £15,000 annually
A Strong Local Economy
- Camden has London's second-highest business count after Westminster: 36,920 businesses operating in 2024 (4% increase from 2023)
- 96.9% of 16-17 year-olds in Education, Employment or Training
- 42% of businesses report vacancies, with 60% being hard to fill
Safe and Open Community
- Crime rates reached 201 offenses per 1,000 people in 2024, with theft being the primary driver of increased crime
- Hate crime offenses declined 8% overall, but antisemitism incidents continued to rise
- Approximately 2,000 domestic abuse offenses recorded
Good Health and Wellbeing
- Life expectancy is 80 years for males and 85.5 years for females, exceeding London and England averages
- Residents more likely to report loneliness compared to London and England averages
- Only a third of adults consume recommended 5 daily portions of fruits and vegetables
A Place to Call Home
- Average house price is £797,520 (2024) and median monthly rent is £2,102
- Social housing waiting lists increased 8% to 8,028 households
- Rough sleeping rose 26% to 903 people in 2023/24
Green, Clean and Accessible
- 85% of trips are made using sustainable transportation (walking, cycling, public transport)
- 7.7% of deaths are attributable to particulate air pollution
- 75% of residents satisfied with local natural areas
Addressing Inequalities
- Women experience higher rates of poor health and disability
- Men face higher alcohol-related mortality rates
- Both genders typically occupy higher professional positions than London averages
Ethnic Disparities
- 40% of residents from Black, Asian, or Other ethnic communities
- White residents generally show advantages in professional occupations and educational attainment
- Black and Other ethnic groups experience higher rates of poor health and disability