A comprehensive report, titled ‘Poverty and Progress? 125 years on from Rowntree’s study of life in York’, has been released, drawing parallels between the poverty documented in Seebohm Rowntree’s groundbreaking 1901 study, ‘Poverty: A Study of Town Life’, and the current socio-economic landscape of the city. The study, launched at an event on 5 October at The Priory Centre, York, examines contemporary poverty and inequality in what is often described as one of Britain’s most affluent cities.
Despite York's reputation for affluence, the report indicates that thousands of residents face significant financial hardship. The research points to fragmented policy systems and stretched funding as compounding factors, though it also acknowledges instances of strong leadership and innovative policy within the city.
Dr Kit Colliver, from the University of York’s Cost of Living Research Group and one of the report's authors, stated, “While York is widely celebrated as the most affluent city in the North, the findings demonstrate that thousands of local families are quietly struggling against soaring housing and energy costs, fragmented support services, and a tourist-centric city centre that leaves many low-income residents feeling isolated and priced out of civic life.”
The report notes that York has evolved considerably over the past 125 years, now characterised by both financial success and a high cost of living. This creates a tension between its outward wealth and the deep pockets of deprivation experienced by many residents, exacerbating inequality.
Key statistics highlight the dual nature of the city: while the Centre for Cities identifies York as the UK’s ‘most affluent city’ with a high proportion of neighbourhoods in the least deprived 20%, significant poverty persists. In 2025, 18.2% of children within the City of York local authority area lived in relative poverty after housing costs. Furthermore, low-income households in York were more likely to fall below the poverty line than equivalent households in London during 2024/25. The city's high cost of living is not matched by its average wage, with comparatively high house prices and low housing affordability.
The study proposes three central themes for addressing these challenges: investment in local infrastructure and services, improving the targeting and accessibility of existing support, and fostering cross-sector collaboration. The authors emphasise that meaningful progress necessitates strategic effort from all stakeholders, from national policy changes to local service reforms.
Seebohm Rowntree’s original 1901 study, ‘Poverty: A Study of Town Life’, was a seminal examination of living conditions in York, pioneering the scientific measurement of poverty and influencing the development of the British welfare state. The Cost of Living Research Group at the University of York is dedicated to producing evidence on economic hardship and living standards.
