Care Home Regional Inequality UK 2026 — North vs South, London vs Rest
Regional analysis of care home availability and costs across England. How do the North, South, and London compare for care home provision, pricing, and access to dementia and nursing care?
Primary regional comparison — beds-led, age-adjusted
Active registered care-home beds per 100 residents aged 75+ by region, with nursing-only variant and average residential weekly cost. Regional rates are computed from summed beds over summed 75+ population, not averages of LA rates.
| Region | Pop. 75+ | Active beds | Beds /100 age 75+ | Nursing /100 age 75+ | Avg weekly cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| South East | 759,200 | 81,868 | 10.8 | 6.0 | £1,425 |
| West Midlands | 497,000 | 48,303 | 9.7 | 5.0 | £1,361 |
| East Midlands | 390,400 | 37,738 | 9.7 | 3.9 | £1,350 |
| North West | 529,200 | 50,123 | 9.5 | 5.0 | £1,259 |
| East of England | 518,100 | 48,752 | 9.4 | 4.1 | £1,409 |
| Yorkshire & The Humber | 454,400 | 42,087 | 9.3 | 3.9 | £1,410 |
| North East | 193,600 | 15,415 | 8.0 | 4.2 | £1,376 |
| London | 505,100 | 37,053 | 7.3 | 4.6 | £1,400 |
| South West | 496,900 | 35,613 | 7.2 | 3.4 | £1,612 |
Primary metric matches OHID Fingertips indicator 92490. Nursing variant matches 92493. Costs from NHS England ASC-FR.
Legacy secondary — home counts and /10k comparisons
Retained for continuity. /10k-65+ and /10k-total are dilute denominators relative to 75+ and treat every home as equivalent regardless of bed count.
| Region | Population | Pop. 65+ | Total homes | Homes /10k total | Homes /10k 65+ | Dementia | Nursing | Avg weekly cost | Avg annual cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| North East | 1,514,458 | 305,100 | 738 | 4.9 | 24.2 | 474 | 277 | £1,375 | £71,500 |
| South West | 4,070,895 | 951,500 | 1,850 | 4.5 | 19.4 | 985 | 518 | £1,616 | £84,032 |
| East Midlands | 4,087,698 | 833,400 | 1,456 | 3.6 | 17.5 | 824 | 407 | £1,350 | £70,200 |
| South East | 7,980,968 | 1,620,800 | 2,800 | 3.5 | 17.3 | 1,496 | 939 | £1,425 | £74,100 |
| North West | 5,752,733 | 1,119,700 | 1,866 | 3.2 | 16.7 | 1,101 | 622 | £1,259 | £65,468 |
| East | 5,271,700 | 1,119,800 | 1,650 | 3.1 | 14.7 | 963 | 421 | £1,409 | £73,268 |
| Yorkshire & Humberside | 4,724,665 | 913,900 | 1,471 | 3.1 | 16.1 | 875 | 395 | £1,385 | £72,020 |
| West Midlands | 5,596,002 | 1,058,900 | 1,680 | 3 | 15.9 | 942 | 498 | £1,361 | £70,772 |
| London | 8,815,600 | 1,123,600 | 1,285 | 1.5 | 11.4 | 595 | 392 | £1,396 | £72,592 |
Sorted by homes per 10,000 total population, descending (most homes first). The “Homes /10k 65+” column normalises supply against the over-65 resident population — the cohort that actually drives care-home demand. Costs from NHS England ASC-FR for residential care. CQC Care Directory for home counts. Population from ONS 2022 mid-year estimates.
Key findings
- North East has the most care homes per capita (4.9 per 10,000 residents). London has the fewest (1.5 per 10,000 residents).
- South West has the highest average weekly cost (£1,616/week). North West has the lowest (£1,259/week).
- The gap between them is £357/week (28%), or £18,564 per year.
- The North East has 4.9 homes per 10,000 residents — 227% more than the London.
North vs South
The North (North East, North West, Yorkshire & The Humber) and South (London, South East, South West) represent contrasting care markets. This comparison shows average care home density and cost across each group.
| Group | Avg homes per 10k | Avg weekly cost | Avg annual cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| North (NE, NW, Yorkshire) | 4.1 | £1,317 | £68,484 |
| South (London, SE, SW) | 3.2 | £1,479 | £76,908 |
Averages computed from regional data. Homes per 10k is the mean across regions in each group. Weekly cost is the mean of regional averages.
London focus
London operates a distinct care market driven by high property costs, elevated staff wages, and population density. Here is how London compares to the rest of England on key metrics.
| Metric | London | Rest of England avg |
|---|---|---|
| Homes per 10,000 residents | 1.5 | 3.6 |
| Avg weekly cost | £1,396 | £1,398 |
| Dementia specialist homes | 595 | 958 (avg per region) |
| Nursing homes | 392 | 510 (avg per region) |
"Rest of England avg" is the mean across all non-London regions.
Local authority breakdown by region
Within each region, care home density varies considerably between local authorities. The tables below show the top 5 and bottom 5 LAs by homes per 10,000 residents within each region.
North East
| Local authority | /10k total | /10k 65+ | Total homes | Weekly cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Highest density | ||||
| Redcar and Cleveland | 3.2 | 13.9 | 44 | £1,134 |
| Sunderland | 3.1 | 15.5 | 87 | £1,416 |
| Northumberland | 3 | 12.2 | 95 | £1,245 |
| Darlington | 3 | 13.9 | 32 | £1,000 |
| Middlesbrough | 2.8 | 16.5 | 49 | £1,492 |
| Lowest density | ||||
| Gateshead | 2.5 | 12.8 | 50 | £1,951 |
| Newcastle upon Tyne | 2.5 | 15.5 | 74 | £1,386 |
| Middlesbrough | 2.8 | 16.5 | 49 | £1,492 |
| Darlington | 3 | 13.9 | 32 | £1,000 |
| Northumberland | 3 | 12.2 | 95 | £1,245 |
South West
| Local authority | /10k total | /10k 65+ | Total homes | Weekly cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Highest density | ||||
| Devon | 3.8 | 15.2 | 310 | £2,211 |
| Cornwall | 3.5 | 13.6 | 199 | £1,643 |
| Somerset | 3.4 | 13.5 | 197 | — |
| Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole | 3.4 | 14.1 | 135 | £1,458 |
| Plymouth | 3.3 | 18.1 | 88 | £1,213 |
| Lowest density | ||||
| South Gloucestershire | 2.9 | 15.3 | 83 | £1,855 |
| Gloucestershire | 3.1 | 13.8 | 199 | £1,343 |
| Wiltshire | 3.2 | 14.6 | 165 | £1,591 |
| Plymouth | 3.3 | 18.1 | 88 | £1,213 |
| Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole | 3.4 | 14.1 | 135 | £1,458 |
East Midlands
| Local authority | /10k total | /10k 65+ | Total homes | Weekly cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Highest density | ||||
| Lincolnshire | 3.7 | 14.7 | 288 | £1,075 |
| Nottinghamshire | 3.3 | 15.5 | 278 | £1,682 |
| Derbyshire | 3 | 13.6 | 245 | £1,597 |
| Derby | 2.8 | 15.5 | 73 | £1,133 |
| Leicester | 2.7 | 22.1 | 101 | £1,535 |
| Lowest density | ||||
| Nottingham | 2.3 | 21.5 | 79 | £1,111 |
| Leicestershire | 2.3 | 10.9 | 162 | £1,318 |
| Leicester | 2.7 | 22.1 | 101 | £1,535 |
| Derby | 2.8 | 15.5 | 73 | £1,133 |
| Derbyshire | 3 | 13.6 | 245 | £1,597 |
South East
| Local authority | /10k total | /10k 65+ | Total homes | Weekly cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Highest density | ||||
| East Sussex | 5.2 | 19.4 | 287 | £1,691 |
| Isle of Wight | 4.5 | 15.4 | 63 | £1,192 |
| West Sussex | 3.8 | 15.9 | 339 | £1,617 |
| Hampshire | 3.4 | 15.5 | 471 | £1,706 |
| Surrey | 3.2 | 15.6 | 379 | £1,501 |
| Lowest density | ||||
| Portsmouth | 1.5 | 10 | 32 | £1,067 |
| Milton Keynes | 1.7 | 11.8 | 49 | £1,507 |
| Reading | 1.8 | 13.5 | 32 | £1,259 |
| Southampton | 1.9 | 13.2 | 52 | £1,224 |
| Oxfordshire | 2 | 11.1 | 146 | £1,356 |
North West
| Local authority | /10k total | /10k 65+ | Total homes | Weekly cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Highest density | ||||
| Blackpool | 5.1 | 23.2 | 71 | £967 |
| Sefton | 4 | 16.3 | 111 | £1,039 |
| Wirral | 3.5 | 15.3 | 111 | £886 |
| Lancashire | 3.4 | 15.9 | 421 | £1,284 |
| Cheshire East | 2.6 | 11.3 | 105 | £1,318 |
| Lowest density | ||||
| Tameside | 1.5 | 8.2 | 35 | £1,392 |
| Manchester | 1.5 | 14.2 | 84 | £1,078 |
| Salford | 1.6 | 10.8 | 43 | £1,312 |
| Wigan | 1.7 | 8.6 | 57 | £1,348 |
| Liverpool | 1.7 | 10.4 | 85 | £1,222 |
East
| Local authority | /10k total | /10k 65+ | Total homes | Weekly cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Highest density | ||||
| Norfolk | 3.5 | 13.9 | 323 | £1,288 |
| Essex | 2.7 | 13 | 404 | £1,508 |
| Suffolk | 2.6 | 11.1 | 198 | £1,311 |
| Hertfordshire | 2.2 | 11.2 | 258 | £1,443 |
| Cambridgeshire | 2 | 10.4 | 139 | £1,579 |
| Lowest density | ||||
| Peterborough | 1.9 | 11.7 | 40 | £1,325 |
| Cambridgeshire | 2 | 10.4 | 139 | £1,579 |
| Hertfordshire | 2.2 | 11.2 | 258 | £1,443 |
| Suffolk | 2.6 | 11.1 | 198 | £1,311 |
| Essex | 2.7 | 13 | 404 | £1,508 |
Yorkshire & Humberside
| Local authority | /10k total | /10k 65+ | Total homes | Weekly cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Highest density | ||||
| East Riding of Yorkshire | 4.4 | 16.4 | 149 | £1,659 |
| North Yorkshire | 3.3 | 12.6 | 202 | — |
| Rotherham | 3 | 15 | 80 | £1,157 |
| Kirklees | 2.9 | 17.1 | 129 | £1,589 |
| Barnsley | 2.9 | 14.3 | 71 | £1,334 |
| Lowest density | ||||
| Bradford | 1.9 | 12.4 | 106 | £1,294 |
| Sheffield | 1.9 | 11.4 | 114 | £1,167 |
| Leeds | 1.9 | 12.5 | 158 | £1,314 |
| York | 2 | 10 | 42 | £1,418 |
| Doncaster | 2.7 | 13.4 | 82 | £1,146 |
West Midlands
| Local authority | /10k total | /10k 65+ | Total homes | Weekly cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Highest density | ||||
| Shropshire | 3.6 | 14.3 | 115 | £1,437 |
| Stoke-on-Trent | 3.3 | 17.7 | 84 | £1,182 |
| Staffordshire | 3 | 13.7 | 267 | £1,463 |
| Warwickshire | 3 | 14.2 | 175 | £1,165 |
| Worcestershire | 2.9 | 13 | 177 | £1,456 |
| Lowest density | ||||
| Coventry | 1.9 | 13.4 | 71 | £1,268 |
| Birmingham | 2.4 | 17.3 | 279 | £1,437 |
| Walsall | 2.5 | 13.8 | 72 | £1,087 |
| Wolverhampton | 2.7 | 15.6 | 72 | £1,265 |
| Sandwell | 2.7 | 17.1 | 92 | £1,394 |
London
| Local authority | /10k total | /10k 65+ | Total homes | Weekly cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Highest density | ||||
| Croydon | 3.3 | 22.7 | 127 | £1,421 |
| Sutton | 3.3 | 19.6 | 69 | £1,231 |
| Kingston upon Thames | 2.6 | 17.3 | 44 | £1,391 |
| Enfield | 2.5 | 18.3 | 82 | £1,262 |
| Redbridge | 2.4 | 17.9 | 76 | £1,290 |
| Lowest density | ||||
| Tower Hamlets | 0.3 | 4.9 | 10 | £1,415 |
| Westminster | 0.4 | 3.6 | 9 | £1,591 |
| Hackney | 0.5 | 5.3 | 13 | £1,246 |
| Southwark | 0.5 | 4.4 | 14 | £1,190 |
| Hammersmith and Fulham | 0.6 | 5.4 | 11 | £1,284 |
Frequently asked questions
Which region has the most care homes?
Is care lower-cost in the North?
Why is London different?
Related articles
Data source: CQC Care Directory for care home counts, dementia specialist designations, and nursing home classifications. NHS England Adult Social Care Activity and Finance Report (ASC-FR) for residential care unit costs. Population data from ONS mid-year estimates. Published under the Open Government Licence v3.0.