ImmigrationDBVerified immigration data
On this page

Living in Cowes

Cowes is a city in the United Kingdom. Gigabit broadband availability was 96.4%. Owner occupation accounted for 70.8% of homes in March 2021. The employment rate was 55.6% in March 2021. In March 2021, Cowes had a population of 14,365.

Higher unemployment than 81% of United Kingdom cities that publish it and cleaner air than 66% of United Kingdom cities that publish it.

Which United Kingdom-wide rules apply when you move to Cowes?

National rules stay on the country page instead of being relabelled as city data.

Visa and entry rulesPassport-specific entry and national residence context.BenefitsCountry-wide eligibility and official application routes.Taxes in United KingdomNational rates and thresholds that apply in Cowes.Healthcare eligibilityCountry-wide insurance and residence conditions.

Housing and cost

No city-level rent or cost figure is published for Cowes yet. United Kingdom has country-level context; it is not substituted for this city.

MetricValuePeriodSource
Dwellings6,495 count21 Mar 2021ONS Census 2021 BUA row and ONS/OS BUA 2022 geometry for Abbots Langley and Kings Langley5Official source, approximated value · Supplemental context · built-up-area figure

Work and income

What is the unemployment rate in Cowes?

The unemployment rate is 4.9 % (2025-2026). Source: www.nomisweb.co.uk14

Unemployment across cities in United KingdomUnemployment in Cowes is 4.9%. Of 1,007 cities with data, 657 have unemployment of 2 to under 4%.
unemployment rate, % · measured cities in United Kingdom per band24 cities: 0% to under 2%240–2657 cities: 2% to under 4%6572–4265 cities: 4% to under 6%2654–6Cowes 4.9%49 cities: 6% to under 8%496–87 cities: 8% to under 10%78–104 cities: 10% to under 12%410–121 city: 16% to under 18%116–18

Unemployment rate (%)

MetricValuePeriodSource
Gigabit broadband availability96.39 %Not statedwww.ofcom.org.uk16Supplemental estimate · Supplemental context
Employment rate55.57 %21 Mar 2021ONS Census 2021 towns and cities dataset Figure 9 individual BUA employment row for Abbots Langley and Kings Langley11Official source, approximated value · Supplemental context · built-up-area figure
Superfast broadband availability99.07 %Not statedwww.ofcom.org.uk16Supplemental estimate · Supplemental context
Median gross salary (regional)3,260 EUR/month31 Dec 2024www.ons.gov.uk15Official
Unemployment rate4.9 %country median 3.4%31 Dec 2025www.nomisweb.co.uk14Official

Public employment service

No exact public employment office is currently linked to Cowes. The verified national service may still offer online registration, job search or an official office finder.

Country-level information

Jobcentre Plus — Public employment service

Department for Work and Pensions

Job SearchUnemployment Claim
Open official service
Open the United Kingdom service overview

Country-level service information is not treated as proof of a physical office in Cowes. Sources checked through 10 Aug 2026.

Family and education

MetricValuePeriodSource
Schools4 count7 Jul 2026DfE Get Information About Schools all establishments extract3Official source, approximated value · Supplemental context · built-up-area figure
Primary School Count3 count3 Aug 2026Department for Education (GIAS)2Official
School Count4 count3 Aug 2026Department for Education (GIAS)2Official

Safety

Recorded crime across major citiesCowes highlighted among comparable cities
Recorded crime across major cities with Cowes highlighted14,267Manchester13,099Bristol12,409Liverpool11,700Bradford11,462Leeds11,416Birmingham11,001Leicester9,693Sheffield9,379Cardiff8,836Coventry757Glasgow549Edinburghrecorded incidents per 100k residents
MetricValuePeriodSource
Violent crime per 100,000 residents2,186 per 100,000Apr 2026data.police.uk all-crime polygon replay, filtered to Burglary1Official source, approximated value · Supplemental context · built-up-area figure
Burglary per 100,000 residents194.9 per 100,000Apr 2026data.police.uk all-crime polygon replay, filtered to Burglary1Official source, approximated value · Supplemental context · built-up-area figure

Mobility and administration

MetricValuePeriodSource
Nearest airportBBP3 Aug 2026OurAirports12Official
Distance to nearest airport16 km3 Aug 2026OurAirports12Official

Climate and air quality

Annual PM2.5 was 6.18 µg/m³ in 2025. Annual NO₂ was 8.22 µg/m³ in 2025. Annual PM10 was 9.9 µg/m³ in 2025.

Is the air quality good in Cowes?

The annual PM2.5 mean is about 6.2 µg/m³ (2025) — above the WHO 2021 guideline of 5 µg/m³ but within the EU limit of 25 µg/m³.

Annual mean at the measuring site(s) serving the city; current-day readings differ.

  • PM2.5 — annual mean: 6.18 µg/m³ · official estimated total annual mean background concentration10
Temperature through the yearAverage daytime high and night-time low, °C
Cowes average monthly daytime high and night-time low temperature, °C0°10°20°JFMAMJJASOND20°4°Daytime highNight-time low
Rainfall through the yearAverage monthly precipitation, mm
Cowes average monthly precipitation, mm0255075100765647474542415157888888JFMAMJJASONDmm
Air quality vs health guidelinesAnnual means against WHO 2021 guidelines and EU legal limits
Cowes annual air pollutant levels against WHO 2021 guidelines and EU legal limitsCity valueWHO guidelineEU limit5256.2PM2.515409.9PM1010408.2NO₂µg/m³

City values from the published air-quality observations. WHO 2021 guidelines and EU limit values are published constants.

PM2.5 across cities in United KingdomAnnual PM2.5 in Cowes is 6.2 µg/m³. Of 864 cities with data, 448 have annual PM2.5 of 6 to under 7 µg/m³.
annual PM2.5, µg/m³ · measured cities in United Kingdom per band1 city: 3 µg/m³ to under 4 µg/m³13–428 cities: 4 µg/m³ to under 5 µg/m³284–5203 cities: 5 µg/m³ to under 6 µg/m³2035–6448 cities: 6 µg/m³ to under 7 µg/m³4486–7Cowes 6.2174 cities: 7 µg/m³ to under 8 µg/m³1747–88 cities: 8 µg/m³ to under 9 µg/m³88–91 city: 9 µg/m³ to under 10 µg/m³19–101 city: 13 µg/m³ to under 14 µg/m³113–14

Annual PM2.5 (µg/m³)

MetricValuePeriodSource
NO₂ — annual mean8.22 µg/m³country median 7.12025official estimated total annual mean background concentration8Official
PM10 — annual mean9.89 µg/m³country median 11.32025official estimated total annual mean background concentration9Official
PM2.5 — annual mean6.18 µg/m³country median 6.52025official estimated total annual mean background concentration10Official
Average daytime high by monthJan 8.5 · Feb 8.3 · Mar 9.8 · Apr 12.1 · May 14.9 · Jun 17.3 · Jul 19.4 · Aug 19.9 · Sep 18.4 · Oct 15.4 · Nov 12 · Dec 9.5 °C1991–2020WMO Climatological Normals 1991-2020 — station WIGHT: ST CATHERINES POINT13Official · nearest-station reading
Average night-time low by monthJan 4.8 · Feb 4.3 · Mar 5.4 · Apr 7 · May 9.7 · Jun 12.4 · Jul 14.6 · Aug 15.1 · Sep 13.5 · Oct 11.1 · Nov 8 · Dec 5.6 °C1991–2020WMO Climatological Normals 1991-2020 — station WIGHT: ST CATHERINES POINT13Official · nearest-station reading
Average temperature by monthJan 6.7 · Feb 6.3 · Mar 7.6 · Apr 9.5 · May 12.3 · Jun 14.8 · Jul 17 · Aug 17.5 · Sep 16 · Oct 13.2 · Nov 10 · Dec 7.5 °C1991–2020WMO Climatological Normals 1991-2020 — station WIGHT: ST CATHERINES POINT13Official · nearest-station reading
Average precipitation by monthJan 76.4 · Feb 56.3 · Mar 47 · Apr 46.7 · May 44.8 · Jun 42.4 · Jul 40.6 · Aug 50.8 · Sep 57 · Oct 87.5 · Nov 87.8 · Dec 88.1 mm1991–2020WMO Climatological Normals 1991-2020 — station WIGHT: ST CATHERINES POINT13Official · nearest-station reading
Annual PM2.5 over time7 published observations, 2013–2025
Annual PM2.5 in Cowes by year, µg/m³5.58.912.315.720132015201820256.2µg/m³

Annual PM2.5 fell 58.8% between 2013 and 2025, from 15.0 to 6.2.

Cities of a similar size in United Kingdom

Closest published populations, for a like-for-like comparison.

All United Kingdom cities
Tewkesbury14,390 residentsHonley14,395 residentsNew Mill14,395 residentsBirstall14,315 residentsMorpeth14,420 residentsCottingham14,425 residents

Population and city profile

The city covered 4.7 km² in December 2022. Population density was 3,036.2 people per km² in 2021.

How many people live in Cowes?

The published population was 14,365 people in March 2021. Source: Census 2021 usual resident population count for the exact Built Up Area (BUA), England excluding London or Wales.5

Who lives hereResidents by nationality, % of population
Cowes residents by nationalityBy nationalityNational passport92.2%Foreign residents 7.8%

Calculated from the population and foreign-resident facts on this page.

MetricValuePeriodSource
Area4.73 km²Dec 2022ONS Census 2021 BUA row and ONS/OS BUA 2022 geometry for Abbots Langley and Kings Langley5Official source, approximated value · Supplemental context · built-up-area figure
City area4.73 km²Dec 2022Exact 2022 Built Up Area polygon area for BUA22CD in EPSG:27700, converted from square metres to km2.4Official
Foreign residents1,125 people21 Mar 2021Exact BUA non-UK-born population derived as the sum of the published Europe: EU countries and Non-EU countries (including British Overseas) counts.5Official
GP practices per 10,000 residents0.696 per 10,000 people7 Jul 2026NHS ODS GP Practices report + ONSPD Live postcode coordinates6Official source, approximated value · Supplemental context · built-up-area figure
Schools per 10,000 residents2.78 per 10,000 people7 Jul 2026DfE Get Information About Schools all establishments extract3Official source, approximated value · Supplemental context · built-up-area figure
Population density3,036 people/km²21 Mar 2021www.ons.gov.uk5Official · built-up-area figure
Population14,365 people21 Mar 2021Census 2021 usual resident population count for the exact Built Up Area (BUA), England excluding London or Wales.5Official

Is Cowes a good place to live?

There is no universal answer. The profile scores below show who the available published evidence may suit; they are a decision aid, not a personal recommendation.

Try your profile
Remote worker54%strong on work, weak on safety · range 43–65%
Skilled employee56%strong on work, weak on safety · range 46–66%
Student50%strong on education, weak on safety · range 40–60%
Family46%strong on family, weak on safety · range 35–57%
Retirement58%strong on air quality, weak on admin · range 45–71%
Foreign residents1,125 people21 Mar 2021Official source · Exact BUA non-UK-born population derived as the sum of the published Europe: EU countries and Non-EU countries (including British Overseas) counts.
Population14,365 people21 Mar 2021Official source · Census 2021 usual resident population count for the exact Built Up Area (BUA), England excluding London or Wales.
Dwellings6,495 count21 Mar 2021Official source · ONS Census 2021 BUA row and ONS/OS BUA 2022 geometry for Abbots Langley and Kings Langley
Gigabit broadband availability96.39 %Not statedIndependent source · www.ofcom.org.uk
Employment rate55.57 %21 Mar 2021Official source · ONS Census 2021 towns and cities dataset Figure 9 individual BUA employment row for Abbots Langley and Kings Langley
Superfast broadband availability99.07 %Not statedIndependent source · www.ofcom.org.uk
Every value keeps its source, geographic scope and verification date · Last checked 2026-08-27

Additional context

MetricValuePeriodSource
Owner-occupied homes70.82 %21 Mar 2021ONS Census 2021 BUA row and ONS/OS BUA 2022 geometry for Abbots Langley and Kings Langley5Official source, approximated value · Supplemental context · built-up-area figure
GP practices1 count7 Jul 2026NHS ODS GP Practices report + ONSPD Live postcode coordinates6Official source, approximated value · Supplemental context · built-up-area figure
Residents born abroad7.8 %21 Mar 2021ONS Census 2021 BUA row and ONS/OS BUA 2022 geometry for Abbots Langley and Kings Langley5Official source, approximated value · Supplemental context · built-up-area figure
Median age47 years21 Mar 2021ONS Census 2021 BUA row and ONS/OS BUA 2022 geometry for Abbots Langley and Kings Langley5Official source, approximated value · Supplemental context · built-up-area figure
Universities0 count3 Aug 2026Office for Students7Official

Yes — migrants can receive medical care in Cowes under the national coverage rules.

Healthcare access follows the country-wide insurance rules; local capacity facts remain city data and are not used as proof of eligibility.

Open the official coverage guide
Country rule verified 2026-08-03.

Common questions

Answered from the published values on this page, each with its source and date.

How many people live in Cowes?

The published population was 14,365 people in March 2021. Source: Census 2021 usual resident population count for the exact Built Up Area (BUA), England excluding London or Wales..

Is the air quality good in Cowes?

The annual PM2.5 mean is about 6.2 µg/m³ (2025) — above the WHO 2021 guideline of 5 µg/m³ but within the EU limit of 25 µg/m³. Source: official estimated total annual mean background concentration.

What is the unemployment rate in Cowes?

The unemployment rate is 4.9 % (2025-2026). Source: www.nomisweb.co.uk.

What is the typical salary around Cowes?

The median gross salary is 3,260 EUR/month. Source: www.ons.gov.uk.

How many foreign residents live in Cowes?

1,125 people residents hold a foreign nationality. Source: Exact BUA non-UK-born population derived as the sum of the published Europe: EU countries and Non-EU countries (including British Overseas) counts..

Is Cowes a good place to live?

Cowes may suit different people for different reasons. The page's profile scores compare published cost, work, housing, safety, healthcare and other available factors; they are a decision aid, not a universal recommendation.

Cite this page

Open a format to select or copy this ImmigrationDB compilation citation. The native disclosure and text fallback work without JavaScript.

APA citation
ImmigrationDB. (2026, September 14). Cowes, United Kingdom: salary, jobs, safety, air quality [ImmigrationDB compilation; snapshot approved-static-8975a8c3d87026ab; version approved-static-8975a8c3d87026ab]. ImmigrationDB. https://immigrationdb.com/cities/uk/cowes/ Retrieved 2026-09-14. Compilation license: CC BY 4.0, https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
BibTeX citation
@misc{immigrationdb_immigrationdb_cowes-united-kingdom-salary-jobs-safety-air-quality_7a6a2d40809d,
  author = {ImmigrationDB},
  title = {Cowes, United Kingdom: salary, jobs, safety, air quality},
  publisher = {ImmigrationDB},
  year = {2026},
  date = {2026-09-14},
  version = {approved-static-8975a8c3d87026ab},
  snapshot = {approved-static-8975a8c3d87026ab},
  url = {https://immigrationdb.com/cities/uk/cowes/},
  note = {Retrieved 2026-09-14. ImmigrationDB compilation. Compilation license: CC BY 4.0, https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/},
}
Markdown citation
[Cowes, United Kingdom: salary, jobs, safety, air quality](https://immigrationdb.com/cities/uk/cowes/) — ImmigrationDB; ImmigrationDB; snapshot approved-static-8975a8c3d87026ab; version approved-static-8975a8c3d87026ab; retrieved 2026-09-14; built 2026-09-14.

This citation identifies the ImmigrationDB compilation/page. Underlying source publishers and datasets retain their own terms; inspect the Sources section and cite those records separately. View the underlying source records.

Sources

JSON Markdown
  1. data.police.uk all-crime polygon replay, filtered to Burglary data.police.uk · checked 2026-07-07
  2. Department for Education (GIAS) get-information-schools.service.gov.uk · checked 2026-08-03
  3. DfE Get Information About Schools all establishments extract get-information-schools.service.gov.uk · checked 2026-07-07
  4. Exact 2022 Built Up Area polygon area for BUA22CD in EPSG:27700, converted from square metres to km2. services1.arcgis.com · checked 2026-07-15
  5. Exact BUA non-UK-born population derived as the sum of the published Europe: EU countries and Non-EU countries (including British Overseas) counts. ons.gov.uk · checked 2021-03-21
  6. NHS ODS GP Practices report + ONSPD Live postcode coordinates digital.nhs.uk · checked 2026-07-07
  7. Office for Students officeforstudents.org.uk · checked 2026-08-03
  8. official estimated total annual mean background concentration uk-air.defra.gov.uk · checked 2026-07-15
  9. official estimated total annual mean background concentration uk-air.defra.gov.uk · checked 2026-07-15
  10. official estimated total annual mean background concentration uk-air.defra.gov.uk · checked 2026-07-15
Show 6 more sources
  1. ONS Census 2021 towns and cities dataset Figure 9 individual BUA employment row for Abbots Langley and Kings Langley ons.gov.uk · checked 2026-07-05
  2. OurAirports davidmegginson.github.io · checked 2026-08-03
  3. WMO Climatological Normals 1991-2020 — station WIGHT: ST CATHERINES POINT WMO Climatological Normals 1991-2020 · ncei.noaa.gov · checked 2026-07-31
  4. www.nomisweb.co.uk nomisweb.co.uk · checked 2026-08-26
  5. www.ons.gov.uk ons.gov.uk · checked 2026-08-27
  6. www.ofcom.org.uk ofcom.org.uk · checked 2026-07-15

Spotted a number that looks wrong? Every value here carries its source and date — tell us what you found and we will re-check it against the source.