Lydney is mostly homeowners in middle age, nearly all in work, plus a sizeable group of pensioners living on their own. About two in three own their home. The typical resident is in their mid-forties. About one household in seven is a single pensioner. It is a town that put down roots some time ago and hasn't moved on.
Every population figure here comes from the 2021 census, which counted about 10,000 people in Lydney. About 68% of households own their home, about 15% rent privately and about 17% rent from the council or a housing association. Social tenants outnumber private renters, so a renter looking for a private let has a small market to choose from.
The median age is 44. People aged 25 to 44 make up about 24% of residents, so the town's age profile peaks at the point where most people are paying off a mortgage.
The Office for National Statistics models typical household income at about £47,000 before tax for the financial year to March 2023. That figure is an average estimate across the area, not anyone's real salary. It covers working couples, single pensioners and everyone in between, so it is a blunt measure for a town with this many retired people living alone.
About 30% of households are one person, and about half of those (15% of all households) are a pensioner living alone. Couples with dependent children make up about 17% and lone parents about 12%. A single pensioner on their own is almost as common a household in Lydney as a couple with children.
About 23% of adults have a degree and about 19% have no formal qualifications. Full-time students make up about 1% of residents. The working population is a mix of trades, services and offices. The town does not have a large student population, and it has no university.
Lydney's population is middling and steady. Most people own their homes, most are in work, and a growing number are living out their retirement alone in the houses they raised families in.