Leicester on the map
Built-up area73.7 km² (28.5 sq mi)
Location in LeicestershireLeicester sits where the marker shows within the county.
About Leicester
Leicester is a city in Leicestershire, England, located in the East Midlands. It is known for its diverse culture and a mix of modern and historical architecture. The city centre features a variety of shops, restaurants, and entertainment options, making it a lively area for both residents and visitors. The famous Leicester Market is one of the largest outdoor markets in Europe, offering a wide range of goods, from fresh produce to unique crafts.
The city is also home to several notable landmarks, including the King Richard III Visitor Centre, which tells the story of the last Plantagenet king and his rediscovery. Additionally, the Cathedral Church of St. Martin provides insight into the city’s religious heritage. Leicester is well-connected by public transport, making it easy to explore its many attractions and surrounding areas.
School Ratings in Leicester
Families in Leicester have access to 235 local schools. The Children's Hospital School and Beauchamp City Sixth Form are each rated Outstanding by Ofsted. A further 2 schools hold a Good rating.
House Prices in Leicester
Homes sell for an average of £294K locally. Most of the housing is made up of semi-detached homes, averaging £244K.
Crime and Anti-Social Behaviour in Leicester
Crime in the area is higher than the national average. Anti-social behaviour is the leading concern across Leicester, with 1039 incidents recorded in July 2026.
Deprivation and Employment in Leicester
The 2025 Index of Multiple Deprivation places Leicester within the more deprived parts of England. Employment rates locally are in line with what is seen across England. Average incomes in the area are typical for England.
Healthcare in Leicester
There are 119 GP surgeries within three miles of Leicester, the nearest being Turning Point Leicestershre County (0.2 miles away).
A closer look at Leicester
Red Brick Budgets and the Asking Price of Space
The housing market here feels like a mirror of the town’s own sprawling scale. With an average sold price of £289,903, Leicester’s property landscape is a patchwork of choice. A semi-detached home, often the workhorse of the market, comes in at £267,971, while detached houses climb to £425,994. The terraced streets that thread through much of the postcode area are a more attainable £222,599, and flats offer an entry point at £133,667. These numbers speak to a place where housing has not yet been pulled out of reach for many, but the breadth of options also underscores its identity as one of England’s biggest population centres. That scale shapes not just how people live but what they pay for the privilege.
A Mosaic of Households, Powered by Modest Incomes
Leicester is home to 638,855 people spread across 223,781 households. The average household income sits at £51,265 a year, a figure that feels grounded rather than flashy. That income level aligns neatly with a market where a semi-detached home is within reach and a flat can be a foothold. The sheer headcount makes it plain: this is a community on a city-sized scale, absorbing a remarkable diversity of lives into its red brick terraces and newer estates. The income data does not tell stories of excess but of a working town where everyday budgets do the heavy lifting.
954 People Per Square Kilometre and a Map of Many Codes
Spreading out from the central LE1, Leicester’s postcode map is a fan of districts that runs from LE19 to LE87 and beyond. The density here is 954 people per square kilometre, a number that captures the gentle pressure of so many lives stacked together. Walk from the terraced closeness of LE2 to the leafier stretches of LE8, and you feel the gradient. The postcodes themselves become a shorthand for the town’s shape: a tight core bleeding into suburbs, then thinning toward the county edges. That geographic spread, with all its numbered labels, is the footprint of a population that refuses to be contained easily.
Explore Leicester with our data tools
Free tools that work on any Leicester postcode, from house prices and council tax bands to schools and local services.
Property Prices 66,665 sales
Schools & Education 235 within 5 miles View all schools
Ofsted ratings for schools in the LE1 postcode area.
Household Income in Leicester ONS 2023
The average total household income in Leicester is approximately £51,265 a year before tax, 7% below the national average of £55,302. After tax and benefits, the average disposable (net) household income is around £37,926. These are modelled estimates from the Office for National Statistics for the financial year ending 2023.
Net (after tax) household income averages £37,926.
Businesses in Leicester ONS 2025
There are approximately 24,214 active businesses based in Leicester, around 38 for every 1,000 residents. The local economy is dominated by small firms: about 89% are micro-businesses employing fewer than 10 people, while 392 are larger employers with 50 or more staff. Figures are from the Office for National Statistics UK Business Counts.
Deprivation and Employment in Leicester IMD 2025
According to the 2025 Index of Multiple Deprivation, Leicester experiences higher levels of deprivation than much of England. Employment and income indicators fall below the national average, though the area benefits from targeted regeneration and community support programmes.
Crime in Leicester 6,814 crimes · July 2026
Crime figures for Leicester are higher than the England and Wales average, with violence & sexual offences the most prevalent offence recorded. Urban density and footfall contribute to elevated reporting in areas like this. Ongoing investment in policing and community safety programmes aims to improve the picture.
Crime figures depend on reporting by individual police forces and may not reflect the full picture in all areas.
Nearest Train Stations 3 stations
Location
Nearby Towns & Villages 12 found
Local Government
Home Ownership in Leicester
Of the 237,917 households in and around Leicester, 62% are owned, 16% are socially rented and 22% are privately rented. Home ownership here is in line with the England and Wales average of 63%.
Tenure from the 2021 Census (ONS), for the postcode districts covering Leicester.