Disposable incomes in 11 towns and cities have grown at double the pace of the UK average over the past 10 years, according to new analysis from the Centre for Cities.
The organisation examined changes in living standards across 63 urban areas and found that the leading group recorded a 5.2% rise between 2013 and 2023, compared with 2.4% across the country as a whole.
Brighton saw the strongest increase, with disposable income up 8.1% over the decade. Worthing followed at 7.8%, while London recorded 5.8%.
Other places with above‑average growth included Barnsley, Warrington, Bristol, Wakefield, Doncaster, Chatham, Preston and Milton Keynes.
Taken together, the highest‑performing towns and cities posted economic growth of 27% during the period, significantly higher than the national figure of 18.4%.
The report also highlighted areas where living standards fell in real terms. Cambridge saw a 3% decline, while Wigan dropped by 1.6%. According to the think tank, residents in Cambridge would have earned an additional £10,900 on average had the city matched the performance of the top group; in Wigan, the equivalent figure was £7,200.
The Centre for Cities linked stronger growth to places that have expanded advanced or fast‑growing industries, as well as those that have improved access to work through skills programmes and better transport. Easing restrictions on housing and commercial development was also identified as a factor that can support economic expansion.
Andrew Carter, chief executive of Centre for Cities, said: “It is understandable that the government has shifted its emphasis onto the cost of living in recent weeks, but ultimately it is stronger economic growth that raises household incomes. Without growth, cost-of-living fixes can only ever be temporary.”
He noted that the progress seen in towns such as Warrington and Barnsley reflected deliberate “policy choices on skills, transport, housing, and support for businesses”.
“The government’s planning reforms, devolution agenda and Industrial Strategy are crucial for supporting growth in cities and delivering better living standards year after year,” he said.
“Cities need to support more jobs in the new economy – in sectors backed by the Industrial Strategy like life sciences, digital and AI. These jobs cluster in urban areas and generate benefits for those working in the ‘everyday economy’, too.”
This article is based on a piece written for Personnel Today
