Birmingham's struggles with deprivation are well-documented, with a recent study placing the six poorest areas in England all within the city, where thousands of children live in poverty. However, just a short distance from the city, the situation changes dramatically.
Areas on the fringes of a major, largely impoverished city often tend to be much more affluent. This allows wealthier residents to live in upmarket, quiet, low-crime areas while maintaining easy access to the city for work, schools, nightlife, and shopping.
Bromsgrove Named Among Wealthiest
Bromsgrove, a classic Worcestershire commuter town, was named in a recent study as one of the wealthiest areas in the West Midlands. No parts of this leafy town are considered to suffer from high deprivation, compared to nearly half of Birmingham. Money is generally not an issue for residents here, unlike in many parts of Birmingham where families struggle to put food on the table from week to week.
Close Proximity, Stark Contrast
It is a clear case of how the other half lives just down the road. Bromsgrove is within a 15-minute drive of parts of southern Birmingham like Longbridge and Northfield. It is one of the most sought-after Midlands areas for families who can afford properties there, with average house prices around £323,000.
Along with Bromsgrove, three other places were named as having almost no deprivation: South Staffordshire, Lichfield, and Stratford-upon-Avon. Things could not be more different just a short distance away in inner-city Birmingham. Sparkhill North is considered the poorest place in England on this metric, followed by Sparkbrook South, Small Heath Park, Saltley East, Washwood Heath, and Bordesley Green.
