University of York report reveals hidden poverty in City
125 years after Rowntree, new study highlights inequality in York
The University of York’s Cost of Living Research Group has released a revealing report that identifies hidden pockets of poverty within York, traditionally regarded as a leading affluent city in Northern England. This study marks 125 years since Seebohm Rowntree's pioneering work, Poverty: A Study of Town Life, which reshaped perceptions of poverty in the UK.
The report, titled ‘Poverty and Progress? 125 years on from Rowntree’s study of life in York’, was unveiled at an event in The Priory Centre, York, earlier this month. It explores high living costs, fragmented services, and a tourist-driven city centre, which low-income families report leaves them feeling excluded.
Addressing complex issues
According to Dr Kit Colliver from the Cost of Living Research Group, York’s affluent image often overshadows the true extent of deprivation experienced by many residents. The study reveals that 18.2% of children in York lived in relative poverty after housing costs in 2025, undermining its reputation as the UK’s ‘most affluent city.’
York ranks 17th among 63 major cities for house price expense, yet faces significant housing affordability challenges, occupying 16th position for least affordable housing.
“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 city of York has changed significantly over the 125 years since Seebohm Rowntree’s landmark study. Once ‘typical’ of Northern towns in the industrial age, York now stands apart in both financial success and its high cost of living. The tension between affluence and deprivation is a central theme within the report, with the city’s outward wealth masking deep pockets of deprivation and exacerbating the experience of inequality for those struggling to get by.”
Strategic recommendations
The report's recommendations focus on investment in local infrastructure, reducing barriers to existing support, and the vital need for cross-sector collaboration to achieve meaningful progress against poverty. The findings call for strategic coordination from all levels of policymakers and stakeholders.