| Likely characteristics
These neighbourhoods are affluent and suburban with a mature population. The proportion of recent home movers is
20% below average. This ACORN Type is found in all parts of Britain except the inner cities and the most rural areas. The counties with the greatest
concentrations of these neighbourhoods are Surrey, Dorset and West Sussex.
| Heavy ITV viewing |
Low |
Ownership of stocks and shares |
High |
| Microwave purchases |
Low |
Buying home with a mortgage |
Medium |
| 2+ Car Ownership |
Medium |
Population Aged 0-14 |
Low |
Demographics
These are neighbourhoods with significantly above average numbers of 65+ year olds and, correspondingly, lower than
average levels of children, particularly 0-4 year olds. There are well above average numbers of all-pensioner households, and also couples with no
children at home.
Socio-Economic Profile
Although there is a higher than average level of retired people, the profile of those in employment is biased
towards professional and managerial occupations. The proportion of working women is well below average. People in ACORN Type 1.3 are highly educated
- double the national level of people have degrees or other academic qualifications. Those in work tend to work long hours. The proportion of people
who drive to work is 27% above average.
Attitudes
Having a healthy lifestyle is important to people in these neighbourhoods and they take care with diet and
exercise. They prefer to take their holidays off the beaten track. They do not enjoy commercials on the radio or television and the majority rarely
notice newspaper or magazine advertisements.
Housing
As would be expected given the socio-economic status of these neighbourhoods, homes are large and the majority are
detached. 42% of homes are owned outright - a level nearly 80% above the national norm. A further 46% are purchased by mortgage.
Durables
The level of car ownership is very high - the proportion of households with 3+ cars is almost twice the national
average. There are above average proportions of new, expensive cars and a bias towards cars with large engine sizes. The proportion of company cars
is over twice the national average. Purchase rates on most Durables are average or below, except dishwashers and deep freezes. The proportion of
homes fitting replacement windows is 41% above average.
Financial
Income levels are well above average, with 2.7 times more people earning £40,000+ per annum. Ownership of Financial
products is above average, particularly National Savings Certificates, stocks and shares and debit cards. The rate of new savings account opening is
65% above average. Ownership of company pensions is 12% above average while ownership of personal pensions is just on the average.
Media
The most widely read daily paper is The Telegraph, whose readership is 2.6 times higher in these neighbourhoods
than nationally. Other dailies whose readership here is much higher than average are The Times and The Independent. The most popular Sunday is The
Mail on Sunday whose readership is 50% up on the national figure, though readerships of The Sunday Times, The Observer and The Sunday Telegraph are
all over double their average levels. ITV viewing is very light, as is commercial radio listening
Leisure
On the whole, people in these neighbourhoods are 50% more likely than average to go on holiday, but they are 90%
more likely to take a long holiday and twice as likely on average to go to a far-flung destination. Garden expenditure and greenhouse ownership are
both 50% above average. People in ACORN Type 3 are less likely than average to go out to pubs, clubs, and wine bars but more likely than average to
eat out. They particularly like French restaurants. Participation rates for many sports are above average, especially, cricket, golf, tennis,
rambling, sailing and windsurfing. The popularity of cultural pursuits such as going out to the theatre or visiting stately homes is slightly above
average.
Food and Drink
Grocery shopping is mostly done by car on a weekly or less frequently basis. Consumption of all fresh foods is well
above average, as is consumption of ground coffee and mineral water. Ale is more popular than lager, though on the whole beer drinking is below
average. Wine and spirits consumption is above average and gin is particularly popular.
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