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Living in Lewes

Lewes is a city in the United Kingdom. Its population was 16,060 in March 2021. Gigabit broadband availability was 52.9%. The city had 6 schools in 2026. The employment rate was 56.6% in March 2021. Owner occupation accounted for 65% of homes in March 2021.

Higher unemployment than 64% of United Kingdom cities that publish it and cleaner air than 68% of United Kingdom cities that publish it.

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

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 Lewes.Healthcare eligibilityCountry-wide insurance and residence conditions.

Housing and cost

No city-level rent figure is published for Lewes. The available city-level cost figures remain below.

What recurs every month5 published recurring costs, € per month
Lewes recurring monthly costs, € per month€1550Private kindergarten€202Utilities, 85 m² flat€35Fitness club€33Internet, 60 Mbps€15Mobile plan, 10 GB€ / month

Supplemental estimate lane; these items are not official statistics.

MetricValuePeriodSource
Fitness club membership, monthly35.06 EUR/month31 Dec 2025Numbeo - Cost of Living in Lewes (Wayback Machine capture 20250429092013)20Supplemental estimate · Supplemental context
Internet, 60 Mbps unlimited33.06 EUR/month31 Dec 2025Numbeo - Cost of Living in Lewes (Wayback Machine capture 20250429092013)20Supplemental estimate · Supplemental context
Private kindergarten, monthly1,550 EUR/month31 Dec 2025Numbeo - Cost of Living in Lewes (Wayback Machine capture 20250429092013)20Supplemental estimate · Supplemental context
Mobile plan, 10 GB14.83 EUR/month31 Dec 2025Numbeo - Cost of Living in Lewes (Wayback Machine capture 20250429092013)20Supplemental estimate · Supplemental context
Basic utilities, 85 m² home201.6 EUR/month31 Dec 2025Numbeo - Cost of Living in Lewes (Wayback Machine capture 20250429092013)20Supplemental estimate · Supplemental context
Dwellings7,140 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 Lewes?

The unemployment rate is 3.9 % (January 2023). Source: www.ons.gov.uk19

Unemployment across cities in United KingdomUnemployment in Lewes is 3.9%. 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%6572–4Lewes 3.9%265 cities: 4% to under 6%2654–649 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 availability52.87 %Not statedwww.ofcom.org.uk21Supplemental estimate · Supplemental context
Employment rate56.6 %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 availability99.84 %Not statedwww.ofcom.org.uk21Supplemental estimate · Supplemental context
Median gross salary (regional)3,348 EUR/month31 Dec 2024www.ons.gov.uk18Official
Unemployment rate3.9 %country median 3.4%31 Dec 2023www.ons.gov.uk19Official

Public employment service

No exact public employment office is currently linked to Lewes. 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 Lewes. Sources checked through 10 Aug 2026.

Family and education

MetricValuePeriodSource
Schools6 count7 Jul 2026DfE Get Information About Schools all establishments extract3Official source, approximated value · Supplemental context · built-up-area figure
Primary School Count15 count3 Aug 2026Department for Education (GIAS)2Official
School Count22 count3 Aug 2026Department for Education (GIAS)2Official

Safety

Recorded crime across major citiesLewes highlighted among comparable cities
Recorded crime across major cities with Lewes highlighted14,267Manchester13,099Bristol12,409Liverpool11,700Bradford11,462Leeds11,416Birmingham11,001Leicester9,693Sheffield9,379Cardiff8,836Coventry757Glasgow549Edinburghrecorded incidents per 100k residents
MetricValuePeriodSource
Violent crime per 100,000 residents3,605 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 residents317.6 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 airportESH3 Aug 2026OurAirports12Official
Distance to nearest airport22 km3 Aug 2026OurAirports12Official

Climate and air quality

Annual PM2.5 was 6.13 µg/m³ in 2025. Annual NO₂ was 9.05 µg/m³ in 2025. Annual PM10 was 10.2 µg/m³ in 2025.

Is the air quality good in Lewes?

The annual PM2.5 mean is about 6.1 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: 6.13 µg/m³ · official estimated total annual mean background concentration10
Temperature through the yearAverage daytime high and night-time low, °C
Lewes average monthly daytime high and night-time low temperature, °C0°10°20°30°JFMAMJJASOND22°2°Daytime highNight-time low
Rainfall through the yearAverage monthly precipitation, mm
Lewes average monthly precipitation, mm0306090120916452505055596964100106103JFMAMJJASONDmm
Sunshine through the yearAverage monthly sunshine, hours
Lewes average monthly sunshine, hours06012018024060801321892232282342101601156653JFMAMJJASONDhours
Air quality vs health guidelinesAnnual means against WHO 2021 guidelines and EU legal limits
Lewes annual air pollutant levels against WHO 2021 guidelines and EU legal limitsCity valueWHO guidelineEU limit5256.1PM2.5154010.2PM1010409.0NO₂µg/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 Lewes is 6.1 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/m³4486–7Lewes 6.1174 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 mean9.05 µg/m³country median 7.12025official estimated total annual mean background concentration8Official
PM10 — annual mean10.16 µg/m³country median 11.32025official estimated total annual mean background concentration9Official
PM2.5 — annual mean6.13 µg/m³country median 6.52025official estimated total annual mean background concentration10Official
Average daytime high by monthJan 7.9 · Feb 8.3 · Mar 10.8 · Apr 13.8 · May 16.9 · Jun 19.5 · Jul 21.6 · Aug 21.7 · Sep 19.1 · Oct 15.3 · Nov 11.4 · Dec 8.6 °C31 Dec 1991World Meteorological Organization / NOAA NCEI13Official
Average night-time low by monthJan 2.4 · Feb 2.2 · Mar 3.7 · Apr 5.4 · May 8.2 · Jun 10.9 · Jul 13 · Aug 13 · Sep 10.9 · Oct 8.3 · Nov 5.2 · Dec 2.9 °C31 Dec 1991World Meteorological Organization / NOAA NCEI14Official
Average temperature by monthJan 5.2 · Feb 5.2 · Mar 7.2 · Apr 9.6 · May 12.6 · Jun 15.2 · Jul 17.3 · Aug 17.4 · Sep 15 · Oct 11.8 · Nov 8.2 · Dec 5.7 °C31 Dec 1991World Meteorological Organization / NOAA NCEI15Official
Average precipitation by monthJan 90.9 · Feb 63.8 · Mar 51.6 · Apr 50.1 · May 50.1 · Jun 55.2 · Jul 59 · Aug 69.4 · Sep 64 · Oct 100.1 · Nov 106.4 · Dec 103.1 mm31 Dec 1991World Meteorological Organization / NOAA NCEI16Official
Average sunshine by monthJan 60.1 · Feb 80 · Mar 131.8 · Apr 188.8 · May 223 · Jun 227.6 · Jul 233.5 · Aug 210 · Sep 159.7 · Oct 114.6 · Nov 66.3 · Dec 52.7 hours31 Dec 1991World Meteorological Organization / NOAA NCEI17Official
Annual PM2.5 over time7 published observations, 2013–2025
Annual PM2.5 in Lewes by year, µg/m³5.77.69.511.420132015201720256.1µg/m³

Annual PM2.5 fell 44.2% between 2013 and 2025, from 11.0 to 6.1.

Cities of a similar size in United Kingdom

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

All United Kingdom cities
Pinxton16,025 residentsSouth Woodham Ferrers16,025 residentsHaslingden16,005 residentsHaydock16,140 residentsBedlington16,185 residentsBrackley16,190 residents

Population and city profile

The city covered 3.9 km² in December 2022. Population density was 4,098.9 people per km² in 2021.

How many people live in Lewes?

The published population was 16,060 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
Lewes residents by nationalityBy nationalityNational passport89.6%Foreign residents 10.4%

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

MetricValuePeriodSource
Area3.92 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 area3.92 km²Dec 2022Exact 2022 Built Up Area polygon area for BUA22CD in EPSG:27700, converted from square metres to km2.4Official
Foreign residents1,675 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 residents0.623 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 residents3.74 per 10,000 people7 Jul 2026DfE Get Information About Schools all establishments extract3Official source, approximated value · Supplemental context · built-up-area figure
Population density4,099 people/km²21 Mar 2021www.ons.gov.uk5Official · built-up-area figure
Population16,060 people21 Mar 2021Census 2021 usual resident population count for the exact Built Up Area (BUA), England excluding London or Wales.5Official

Is Lewes 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 worker56%strong on work, weak on safety · range 45–67%
Skilled employee64%strong on work, weak on safety · range 54–74%
Student63%strong on education, weak on safety · range 53–73%
Family63%strong on family, weak on safety · range 52–74%
Retirement57%strong on air quality, weak on admin · range 44–70%
Foreign residents1,675 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.
Population16,060 people21 Mar 2021Official source · Census 2021 usual resident population count for the exact Built Up Area (BUA), England excluding London or Wales.
Dwellings7,140 count21 Mar 2021Official source · ONS Census 2021 BUA row and ONS/OS BUA 2022 geometry for Abbots Langley and Kings Langley
Gigabit broadband availability52.87 %Not statedIndependent source · www.ofcom.org.uk
Employment rate56.6 %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 availability99.84 %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 homes65 %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 abroad10.4 %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 age46 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 Lewes 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 Lewes?

The published population was 16,060 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 Lewes?

The annual PM2.5 mean is about 6.1 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 Lewes?

The unemployment rate is 3.9 % (January 2023). Source: www.ons.gov.uk.

What is the typical salary around Lewes?

The median gross salary is 3,348 EUR/month. Source: www.ons.gov.uk.

How many foreign residents live in Lewes?

1,675 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 Lewes a good place to live?

Lewes 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). Lewes, United Kingdom: salary, cost of living, jobs, safety [ImmigrationDB compilation; snapshot approved-static-8975a8c3d87026ab; version approved-static-8975a8c3d87026ab]. ImmigrationDB. https://immigrationdb.com/cities/uk/lewes/ Retrieved 2026-09-14. Compilation license: CC BY 4.0, https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
BibTeX citation
@misc{immigrationdb_immigrationdb_lewes-united-kingdom-salary-cost-of-living-jobs-safety_fe1b8e0c8899,
  author = {ImmigrationDB},
  title = {Lewes, United Kingdom: salary, cost of living, jobs, safety},
  publisher = {ImmigrationDB},
  year = {2026},
  date = {2026-09-14},
  version = {approved-static-8975a8c3d87026ab},
  snapshot = {approved-static-8975a8c3d87026ab},
  url = {https://immigrationdb.com/cities/uk/lewes/},
  note = {Retrieved 2026-09-14. ImmigrationDB compilation. Compilation license: CC BY 4.0, https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/},
}
Markdown citation
[Lewes, United Kingdom: salary, cost of living, jobs, safety](https://immigrationdb.com/cities/uk/lewes/) — 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 11 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. World Meteorological Organization / NOAA NCEI nodc.noaa.gov · checked 2026-08-03
  4. World Meteorological Organization / NOAA NCEI nodc.noaa.gov · checked 2026-08-03
  5. World Meteorological Organization / NOAA NCEI nodc.noaa.gov · checked 2026-08-03
  6. World Meteorological Organization / NOAA NCEI nodc.noaa.gov · checked 2026-08-03
  7. World Meteorological Organization / NOAA NCEI nodc.noaa.gov · checked 2026-08-03
  8. www.ons.gov.uk ons.gov.uk · checked 2026-08-27
  9. www.ons.gov.uk ons.gov.uk · checked 2026-08-26
  10. Numbeo - Cost of Living in Lewes (Wayback Machine capture 20250429092013) numbeo.com · checked 2026-07-31
  11. 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.