Mostly homeowners who've finished moving house. Three in four households own their home. The typical resident is in their late forties. Couples with children at home are outnumbered by people living alone. The people who live here have mostly settled and have no plans to leave.
Across the Headcorn area, about 74% of households own their home, according to the 2021 Census, which is the source for every population figure on this page. About 14% rent privately and about 11% rent from a council or housing association. The rental market is small, so tenants who want to stay long-term have limited choice, and buying is how most people end up here.
The median age is 47, and about 22% of residents are aged 25 to 44. That's the age group that buys first homes, has young children and needs a bigger house every few years, and it's a relatively small share here. The population leans towards people whose big moves are already behind them. Most of the buyers are further on in their careers, not starting out.
Median gross household income, before tax, was about £61,900, modelled for the financial year to March 2023. It's a comfortable figure for a rural area, and it's out of date: it describes household finances three years ago, not today. It's also an average across the area, covering the detached houses and the smaller homes alike.
About 25% of households are one person living alone, and about 13% of households are a pensioner living alone, which is part of that 25%, not in addition to it. Couples with dependent children make up about 19% of households, and lone parents about 10%. More households are one person than a couple with children. Buyers picturing a village full of young families should look at that before assuming the nearest house has a trampoline.
Education levels vary widely. About 34% of adults hold a degree-level qualification, and about 16% have no formal qualifications, a spread that comes from a population ranging from long-established local families to commuters with professional jobs. Full-time students make up about 1% of residents. Headcorn is not where anyone goes to study, and students are not part of village life.
Who lives here rates below average overall. It's a settled, home-owning population, but an ageing one, with relatively few younger adults and a wide spread of qualifications. It works well for households at the same stage of life, and new arrivals in their thirties will find fewer people their own age.