Place and Community
A district people are proud to call home
Harborough District includes the two market towns of Market Harborough and Lutterworth, along with many villages and large rural areas. People value the district’s countryside, heritage and rural character. The population is growing quickly, bringing new opportunities as well as increased pressure on housing, transport and local services.
Population growth
The district had 97,631 people and about 40,400 households in 2021. From 2011 to 2021, the population grew by 14.3%. This was faster than the East Midlands at 7.7% and England at 6.6%. It was the highest population growth in the East Midlands.
Harborough District grew faster than the East Midlands and England between 2011 and 2021.
What this means
- More people need homes, transport, schools, health care and community places.
- Growth needs to happen with the right services and infrastructure.
Population profile
The Census shows who lives in the district. In 2021, 91.0% of people were in the broad White ethnic group. Asian residents made up 5.4%, Mixed or Multiple ethnic groups 2.1%, Black ethnic groups 0.7% and Other ethnic groups 0.8%
In 2021, 97.2% of people spoke English as their main language. Other common main languages were Gujarati, Panjabi, Polish and Romanian.
In 2021, 50.2% of residents said they were Christian and 38.4% said they had no religion. Other religions included Hindu, Sikh, Muslim, Buddhist and Jewish.
Housing and household change
Housing is one of the biggest pressures linked to population growth. The average house price in Harborough District rose from £323,000 in May 2025 to £346,000 in May 2026, an increase of 7.1%.
Average house prices were higher in Harborough District than in the East Midlands and the UK.
- 75.8% of households owned their home in 2021. The East Midlands figure was 65.5%.
- 13.5% rented from a private landlord. The East Midlands figure was 18.7%.
- 8.7% rented social housing. The East Midlands figure was 14.9%.
About 26% of households had one person living in them. In 13.2% of households, that person was aged 66 or over. This matters because some people may need support to stay independent.
Local housing work estimates a need for 421 affordable homes each year. This includes 310 affordable rented homes and 111 affordable homes to buy.
What this means
• Future housing needs to include different prices, sizes and types.
• New homes should work for younger people, families, older people and people who live alone.
Community strength and safety
Harborough District has active communities and relatively low levels of recorded crime compared with Leicestershire.
- 23% of adults volunteered at least once a month in 2023/24, compared with 15% in the East Midlands and 16% in England.
- 48% of adults took part in at least one civic activity in 2023/24, compared with 38% in the East Midlands and 41% in England.
Community safety snapshot
The figures below are based on the latest rolling 12-month data in the 2025/26 Safer Communities performance report. They compare Harborough District with Leicestershire.
| Measure | Harborough District per 1000 | Leicestershire per 1000 |
|---|---|---|
| Total crime | 48.8 | 61.8 |
| Antisocial Behaviour | 7.0 | 10.3 |
| Residential burglary | 1.7 | 2.0 |
| Violence with injury | 5.4 | 6.6 |
| Vehicle offences | 3.1 | 4.0 |
What this means
- People are active in their communities.
- Harborough District compares well with other areas on community involvement and safety.
- As the district grows, people need more ways to stay connected and have a say.