E63013038 /South East evidence profile
South East evidence profile
Crawley (Crawley) digital planning profile
Crawley (Crawley) is a large, non-coastal built-up area in South East. ONS records show a 2021 population of 120,206; the population expanded quickly between 2001 and 2021, while the 2015 to 2024 employment series shows modest employment growth. This profile turns those public observations into a reviewable website-planning brief without claiming that the figures measure searches, leads or Mosalio's physical presence.
01 / Data snapshot
What the reviewed source records
- BUA24 code
- E63013038
- ITL1 region
- South East
- Coastal
- Non-coastal
- Income-deprivation flag
- Higher deprivation
02 / Context
Three comparisons, with the benchmark stated
9.5% above the 11.2% median across complete England records in this ONS file.
8.4% above the 0% dataset median.
20.1% below the 224.1% dataset median.
These medians use every complete England record accepted from the same ONS file. They are descriptive context, not targets, forecasts or a national demand model.
03 / Distinctive pattern
Where this record sits within 936 complete England profiles
Highest decile · percentile position 95 of 100.
Lowest decile · percentile position 5.8 of 100.
Lowest decile · percentile position 5.8 of 100.
These are the three values furthest from the middle percentile position for this record. A higher position means a higher published value, not a better outcome or evidence of search demand.
Evidence fingerprint: sha256:9599ba9907c…64b09dd68653
04 / Constrained peers
Three named comparisons from the same reviewed source
Each peer is selected from all 936complete England records using the documented eight-metric distance. Deltas are Crawley (Crawley) minus the named peer; a plus sign means the value recorded for Crawley (Crawley) is higher.
Regional peer
High Wycombe · E63011847
South East. Nearest complete record in South East. ONS classification: Nearer - Higher deprivation - Working.
- 2021 population
- +36,665 people
- Population change, 2001 to 2021
- -1.5 pp
- Economic inactivity
- -0.9 pp
- Employment change, 2015 to 2024
- +6 pp
- 2023 median house price
- -£12,000
- House-price growth, 2001 to 2023
- +11.4 pp
- Population aged under 25
- -1.7 pp
- Population aged 65 or over
- +1 pp
Classification peer
Harlow · E63011534
East of England. Nearest complete record outside South East with the same ONS combined classification. ONS classification: Nearer - Higher deprivation - Working.
- 2021 population
- +27,002 people
- Population change, 2001 to 2021
- +2 pp
- Economic inactivity
- -1.4 pp
- Employment change, 2015 to 2024
- +3.4 pp
- 2023 median house price
- +£21,000
- House-price growth, 2001 to 2023
- -40.7 pp
- Population aged under 25
- -0.4 pp
- Population aged 65 or over
- -1.4 pp
National peer
Woking · E63012531
South East. Nearest remaining complete England record. ONS classification: Nearer - Lower deprivation - Working.
- 2021 population
- +44,551 people
- Population change, 2001 to 2021
- +3.7 pp
- Economic inactivity
- -0.5 pp
- Employment change, 2015 to 2024
- +2.3 pp
- 2023 median house price
- -£85,000
- House-price growth, 2001 to 2023
- +7.4 pp
- Population aged under 25
- +1.9 pp
- Population aged 65 or over
- -2.2 pp
05 / Evidence synthesis
Crawley (Crawley) evidence synthesis: 2021 population, Population aged 65 or over, Economic inactivity
Crawley (Crawley) is recorded as a large, non-coastal, working built-up area, nearer to a major town or city. This classification sets a transparent frame for the three observations below; it is not a persona, a service-area promise or proof of local search demand. Each finding pairs one distinctive percentile measure with one independently selected peer and one explicit validation route.
Eight-metric evidence matrix
The matrix shows every measure used by the peer-distance method, not only the three most distinctive values. Direction describes the published value relative to the middle percentile position; it is not a positive or negative judgement.
Highest-to-lowest percentile order: 2021 population → Population aged under 25 → Population change, 2001 to 2021 → 2023 median house price → Employment change, 2015 to 2024 → House-price growth, 2001 to 2023 → Population aged 65 or over → Economic inactivity.
Furthest-to-nearest distance from the middle percentile: 2021 population → Population aged 65 or over → Economic inactivity → Population aged under 25 → Population change, 2001 to 2021 → 2023 median house price → House-price growth, 2001 to 2023 → Employment change, 2015 to 2024.
Regional peer
2021 population: 120,206 · High Wycombe delta +36,665 people
For 2021 population, the source reports 120,206 for Crawley (Crawley). That sits in the highest decile, 45 percentile points from the middle position. High Wycombe, the named regional peer from South East, differs by +36,665 people when the calculation is Crawley (Crawley) minus peer. Nearest complete record in South East. A defensible brief can turn the pair into a verification task for content hierarchy and service-capacity assumptions, using task-frequency interviews and observed completion data before changing the information architecture. It must not be over-read, because population size does not establish addressable demand.
Classification peer
Population aged 65 or over: 13.1% · Harlow delta -1.4 pp
Crawley (Crawley)'s population aged 65 or over is 13.1%, a lowest decile result at percentile 5.8 among 936 complete England records. The constrained classification comparison is Harlow (E63011534). On this measure, Crawley (Crawley) minus that record is -1.4 pp; the selection basis is nearest complete record outside south east with the same ons combined classification. For planning, document the observation beside readability, keyboard access and assisted alternatives and require inclusive usability sessions and accessibility conformance checks before treating the idea as an accepted requirement. The boundary is important: an age-group share does not determine digital ability.
National peer
Economic inactivity: 31.7% · Woking delta -0.5 pp
For economic inactivity, the source reports 31.7% for Crawley (Crawley). That sits in the lowest decile, 44.2 percentile points from the middle position. Using Woking as the national peer, the profile-minus-peer delta is -0.5 pp; the peer was selected because nearest remaining complete england record. For planning, document the observation beside assisted, accessible and non-digital completion routes and require accessibility testing across real tasks and support-channel evidence before treating the idea as an accepted requirement. No user or market conclusion follows automatically; an aggregate inactivity rate cannot describe an individual visitor.
Together, 2021 population, population aged 65 or over, economic inactivity and the constrained comparisons with High Wycombe, Harlow, Woking create three separate research tracks for Crawley (Crawley). They do not form a demand score. Keep each hypothesis independently testable, record contradictory findings and remove a planning assumption when user evidence does not support it.
06 / Evidence interpretation
Planning signals before design decisions
Population context: 120,206 people in 2021
Crawley (Crawley)'s recorded population changed from 99,558 in 2001 to 120,206 in 2021 (+20.7%). This historical direction can inform content governance and capacity planning, but it is not a forecast and does not establish demand for a particular service.
Audience context: 13.1% aged 65 or over
The 2021 age-group series records 25,225 people aged 0 to 15, 11,796 aged 16 to 24, 67,384 aged 25 to 64 and 15,785 aged 65 or over. Small differences from the headline population reflect the published source series; percentages here use the age-group total and should guide testing questions, not stereotypes.
Activity context: 31.7% economically inactive
ONS records economic inactivity at 31.7%. The published composition includes 15.5% retired, 3.3% long-term sick or disabled, 4.1% students and 5.4% looking after home or family. These categories support inclusive task design; they do not identify individual users or purchasing intent.
Economic context: £345,000 median house price in 2023
The median house-price series moved from £113,500 in 2001 to £312,000 in 2021 and £345,000 in 2023, a published change of +204%. It is contextual evidence only—not a current affordability, revenue or customer-value estimate.
07 / Independent question set
Questions this evidence cannot answer on its own
These questions convert the profile-specific observations into falsifiable discovery work. They are not recommendations to create a service, location or page, and each needs direct user or behavioural evidence before it changes a website brief.
- 01
Where should the team record uncertainty when using Crawley (Crawley)'s 2021 population value and the High Wycombe comparison to discuss content hierarchy and service-capacity assumptions?
The prompt combines one distinctive metric with the named regional comparator selected by the eight-metric method. It does not treat either record as search, lead or customer evidence.
- 02
What evidence would show that the population aged 65 or over contrast between Crawley (Crawley) and Harlow should alter readability, keyboard access and assisted alternatives, rather than remain background context?
This question is traceable to population aged 65 or over at percentile 5.8 and a -1.4 pp profile-minus-peer difference, not to inferred local behaviour.
- 03
Before prioritising assisted, accessible and non-digital completion routes, which part of accessibility testing across real tasks and support-channel evidence would verify whether this economic inactivity observation matters to users in Crawley (Crawley)?
Evidence basis: 31.7%, lowest decile, with Crawley (Crawley) minus the national peer equal to -0.5 pp. Validation route: accessibility testing across real tasks and support-channel evidence.
- 04
For Crawley (Crawley)'s large, non-coastal, working built-up area, nearer to a major town or city classification, how should 2021 population, population aged 65 or over, economic inactivity be tested as separate website hypotheses without turning the combined pattern into a claim about local demand?
Cross-check all three named comparisons—High Wycombe, Harlow, Woking—and define a user-research or behavioural measure for each question before changing navigation, page scope or conversion paths. The observations share one source but do not demonstrate causation.
08 / Practical brief
Website-planning recommendations for this evidence pattern
- 01
Separate employer and customer journeys
Crawley (Crawley) is classified as a working town. A useful website brief should separate recruitment, procurement and customer tasks, then give each journey its own proof, contact route and success measure instead of forcing every visitor through one generic enquiry page.
- 02
Differentiate from the nearby major centre
Crawley (Crawley) is nearer to a major town or city. Use specific offer boundaries, proof and response expectations to explain why the organisation is relevant; do not rely on a place-name heading or create a doorway that simply redirects users to a national service page.
- 03
Support quick comparison without hiding detail
30.8% of the recorded 2021 age-group total is under 25. Lead with concise task summaries and responsive performance, while keeping fees, eligibility, privacy and next steps available in the same journey rather than behind a social-only channel.
- 04
Prepare the content model for change
Crawley (Crawley) recorded +20.7% population change from 2001 to 2021 and +8.4% employment change from 2015 to 2024. Use owned templates, update dates, accountable content roles and measurable conversion events so the site can evolve without publishing unreviewed route permutations.
09 / Method and limits
What this profile can—and cannot—support
This is a Mosalio editorial interpretation of the ONS May 2026 dataset for BUA24 code E63013038. The source periods differ by metric; values are historical, not live. The profile deliberately excludes ONS experimental visitor-to-resident fields and makes no claim about search volume, rankings, customers, a Mosalio office or physical delivery in Crawley (Crawley).
Mosalio does not claim an office, staff member, customer, or physical-delivery presence in Crawley (Crawley).
Source: Office for National Statistics, Understanding towns in England and Wales, investigating socioeconomic trends, released . This Mosalio interpretation was first published on and last reviewed on .
Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
How this page was made: Mosalio applies one documented, deterministic transform to the validated ONS record, calculates the displayed comparisons, and renders the result from source-controlled data. It is an automated public-data resource, not individually commissioned local market research. A portfolio-level editorial-value review checks every profile's source identity, distinctive metrics, peer evidence, synthesis and planning questions before index eligibility can be enabled.
Analysis basis: Midrank percentile across all accepted England records; a higher percentile means a higher published value, not a better outcome. Root-mean-square Euclidean distance across eight clipped robust z-scores; population and 2023 house price are log-transformed before median/MAD scaling.