Socio-Economic Deprivation

The term socio-economic deprivation refers to the lack of material benefits considered to be basic necessities in a society.  Around 5% of the Devon population live in the most deprived national quintile (one-fifth). These areas include parts of Exeter, Ilfracombe, Barnstaple, Bideford, Dawlish, Dartmouth, Teignmouth, Newton Abbot and Tiverton.  Within Devon rural areas are generally more deprived than rural areas elsewhere in England, whilst urban areas are generally less deprived than urban areas nationally.  Whilst urban areas are usually more deprived than rural areas, the rural areas surrounding a number of towns in Devon are more deprived than the town itself, including Crediton, Great Torrington, Holsworthy, Honiton, Okehampton, South Molton and Tavistock.  The pattern varies across different domains in the Indices of Deprivation 2010, with relatively low levels or crime, road traffic accidents and generally good air quality mean the majority of areas in Devon are in the least deprived quintile nationally for the crime and outdoor environment domains.  This is largely reversed in the barriers domain (accessibility and affordability of housing, and distance from local services) with 32.5% of the Devon population in the most deprived group nationally, and the indoor environment domain (houses failing to meet the decent homes standard or without central heating), with 47.3% of the Devon population in the most deprived group nationally.