Population & Deprivation: Ageing population; low deprivation overall but rural isolation risks.
Health Outcomes: Life expectancy similar to England average; moderate inequalities between MSOAs.
Behavioural Risks: Lower smoking, drinking and obesity rates; average child health indicators.
Disease Burden: Relatively high LTC prevalence due to age profile; ageing trend will further increase demand.
Wider Determinants: Low economic activity; housing stability; average benefit dependency.
There is no single definition of a neighbourhood in the NHS and local authority planning context.
Neighbourhoods can be understood in several ways: Administrative or statistical boundaries such as wards, parishes, or Middle Layer Super Output Areas (MSOAs), which provide stable geographies for data analysis.
Economic centres like market towns or main urban areas, reflecting where people live, work, and access services.
Functional service areas, for example, GP practice or NHS trust catchments, which align with how health and care services are delivered.
Collaborative structures such as Primary Care Networks (PCNs) or integrated care partnerships, which represent groups of organisations working together to serve a defined population.
These neighbourhood profiles draw on recorded data for these areas - whether by GP practice population, PCN, or statistical geography - to provide a shared evidence base for planning, resource allocation, and addressing health inequalities.
The Swaffham and Villages neighbourhood area is characterised by rural areas with market towns and villages. The population’s age distribution is a little older than the Norfolk & Waveney average. Socioeconomic deprivation is relatively low overall.
5.1% of the population of Swaffham and Villages live in small areas that are among the 20% most deprived areas in England (Core20 areas). Across Norfolk and Waveney, 14.4% live in Core20 areas.
Small areas (MSOAs) with the highest proportions of non-White residents in Swaffham and Villages include Swaffham (3.4%) and Mundford, Weeting & Forest (2.8%).
In Swaffham and Villages, 22.9% of children aged 0-19 live in low-income families, compared to 22.8% across Norfolk and Waveney and 22.2% across England. 34.4% of children aged 0 to 15 in Swaffham and Villages are estimated to live in poverty according to the Income Deprivation Affecting Children Index (IDACI). In England overall, this is 36.25%. In Swaffham and Villages, 24.9% of pupils from Reception to Year 13 are eligible for free school meals. This is similar to across all schools in Norfolk, where 23.8% of pupils are eligible.
Economically Active Definition: Aged between 16-64 and either in employment, unemployed but looking for work and could start within two weeks of an offer, or unemployed but waiting to start a job that has been offered and accepted. During the 2021 Census, the proportion of residents (aged 16-64) who were economically active within the Norfolk and Waveney neighbourhoods was generally lower than both the East of England (61.8% economically active) and England average (60.9% economically active).Within the Swaffham and Villages neighbourhood, 52.4% of working-age residents were economically active, while 47.6% were economically inactive. This made South Waveney one of the least economically active neighbourhood, below both regional and national averages. Levels of economic activity reported across MSOAs within the Swaffham and Villages neighbourhood during the 2021 Census varied considerably. Within the neighbourhood, Swaffam recorded the lowest proportion of economically active residents aged 16-64 at 48.6%, indicating high levels of economic inactivity among the working-age population.In contrast, Mundford, Weeling and Forest recorded the highest proportion of economically active residents (56%) among MSOAs within the neighbourhood. However, this was still below the East of England average (61.8%) and slightly below the England average (60.9%). This suggests below-average rates of economic activity across MSOAs compared with regional and national levels.
Occupation, as recorded in the 2021 Census, is derived from an individual’s main job title and the activities associated with that role. Values are based on the proportion of usual residents aged 16 and over in employment. In the Swaffham and Villages neighbourhood, the highest levels of employment were in Skilled Trades (14.9%) and Managers, Directors & Senior Officials (12.8%), both above the Norfolk and England averages and indicating a strong presence of vocational and leadership roles locally.
The lowest levels of employment were in Sales & Customer Service (7.7%), Administrative & Secretarial (8.9%), and Process, Plant & Machine Operatives (8.3%), all of which sat below county and national averages, showing comparatively fewer residents in these roles.
Universal Credit is a monthly payment from the government to help with living costs for individuals on a low income or out of work. Eligible individuals must be between 18 and 66 years of age and have less than£16,000 in money, saving and investments The Graph shows the proportion of the population (aged 18-66) claiming Universal Credit across different neighbourhoods in Norfolk during August 2025. The proportion of residents claiming Universal Credit varies across neighbourhoods. In August 2025, the Swaffam and Villages neighbourhood recorded a claimant rate of 17%, which was significantly lower than seven of the 19 other neighbourhoods and the England average (18%). However, the rate remained above the East of England average (16.3%). In August 2025, the proportion of residents (aged 18 to 66) claiming Universal Credit varied significantly across MSOAs within the Swaffham and Villages neighbourhood (ranging from 13.7% - 22.8%).Swaffham recorded the highest proportion of claimants at 22.8%, significantly more claimants than all other MSOAs within the neighbourhood. This figure was also significantly higher than the East of England (16.3%) average and the England average (18%).Mundford, Weeting and Forest reported the lowest proportion of claimants at 13.7%, closely followed Whissonsett, Litcham and Narborough (14.1%) both reported significantly fewer claimants compared to Swaffham and both the East of England and England average.
Personal Independence Payments (PIP) entitlement statistics covers individuals currently receiving PIP and those whose payments are temporarily suspended (e.g., during a hospital stay).To be eligible for PIP an individual needs to be between 16-66 and have a long-term condition which makes everyday tasks or mobility difficult. PIP provides support through two components: daily living (help with everyday activities) and mobility (help with getting around). During June 2025, the Swaffham and Villages neighbourhood had a PIP entitlement rate of 10.3 %, which was broadly consistent with the average across neighbourhoods (10.4%). However, entitlement in this area was higher than both the East of England average (8%) and the England average (8.7%), indicating comparatively elevated levels of PIP entitlement locally when compared with regional and national figures. In June 2025, the proportion of residents aged 16 to 66 entitled to Personal Independence Payment (PIP) across MSOAs within the Swaffham and Villages neighbourhood varied significantly (ranging from 9% to 11.9%). Swaffham recorded the highest entitlement rate at 11.9%, significantly higher than one of the other two MSOAs within the neighbourhood.Entitlement in all MSOAs was significantly higher than the East of England average (8%) and in two of three MSOAs entitlement was significantly higher than the England average (8.7%). This suggests that health-related support needs in the Swaffham and Villages neighbourhood are consistently higher than regional levels and mostly higher than national levels, indicating a higher prevalence of long-term health conditions requiring support across the neighbourhood.
Compared to England, Swaffham and Villages has a higher proportion of homes owned outright (45.3% vs 32.5%) and a lower proportion with a mortgage (24% vs 28.8%). Its combined social renting rate (council and housing association) is 14.5%, which is lower than the national average of 17.1%. The private renting rate (Landlord/rent free/other) at 15.7% is again lower than the England average (20.6%).Compared to the average across neighbourhoods, the Swaffham and Villages neighbourhood has a higher proportion of homes owned outright and a lower proportion mortgaged or rented (from social housing or the private sector).
Life expectancy is broadly in line with England and Norfolk averages overall. Premature mortality is 15% lower than England, and preventable mortality is 26% lower, reflecting relatively good health outcomes compared to national benchmarks. Life expectancy in the Swaffham and Villages neighbourhood area is generally similar to the England average for females and higher than the national average for males, reflecting average deprivation and healthier behaviours. Compared to other areas, the difference in female and male life expectancy is small.
There is a large gap in life expectancy between people living in the most and least deprived areas of Breckland district. The leading causes of premature death - circulatory and respiratory conditions, cancer - are more prevalent in relatively more deprived small areas. Targeted prevention and improved access to care are essential.
Within the Swaffham and Villages neighbourhood area, healthy life expectancy was generally similar to the Norfolk and Waveney average in 2021 and there was little variation between small areas (MSOAs). Within the Swaffham and Villages neighbourhood area, female healthy life expectancy was lowest in Swaffham and highest in Whissonsett, Litcham & Narborough in 2021. Male healthy life expectancy was lowest in Swaffham and highest in Mundford, Weeting & Forest in 2021.
There were 427 deaths of people under the age of 75 in Swaffham and Villages in 2019 - 23. Overall, the rate of premature mortality was 15% lower than the England average. Locally, the highest rate of premature mortality was in Swaffham (Standardised Mortality Ratio = 103.3). The lowest rate was in Whissonsett, Litcham & Narborough. Two small areas (MSOAs) had a significantly better premature mortality rate than the England average . In 2019 - 23, 171 deaths of people under the age of 75 in Swaffham and Villages were from causes considered preventable. Overall, there was a 26% lower rate of preventable mortality compared to the national average. Locally, the highest rate of preventable mortality was in Swaffham (Standardised Mortality Ratio = 86.6). The lowest rate was in Whissonsett, Litcham & Narborough, which had a significantly better preventable mortality rate than the England average.
Preventable behavioural risk factors have an important impact on ill health and constitute a major challenge for health and social care. Of concern are our rates of smoking, poor diet and exercise, and alcohol consumption. Smoking, obesity, and alcohol-related risks are generally lower for Breckland than the Norfolk and England averages. Childhood overweight prevalence in the local areas is average but rates of emergency hospital admissions for young children are significantly elevated in Whissonsett, Litcham & Narborough.
The burden of long-term conditions is higher than average, consistent with an older and ageing population. Diet-related endocrine conditions and cardiovascular disease remain priorities for prevention and management.
This chart shows the estimated number of patients with major long-term conditions within the Swaffham and Downham Market PCN. Diabetes affects around 4,300 adults, and chronic kidney disease affects 2,800 people.
Stroke and transient ischaemic attack affect approximately 1,400 people. These figures highlight a significant burden of metabolic and cardiovascular disease, reinforcing the need for integrated prevention and management strategies.
Age-standardised unplanned hospital admission rates in the Swaffham and Villages neighbourhood area are generally average to higher than average.