Where We Live

Domain Overview: Where we live can have a significant impact on our sense of wellbeing.

Homes which meet our individual needs and provide us with shelter and security are made all the better by having easy access to local shops and services, and safe and green spaces to walk or play in,  which in turn can help people to live healthier and happier lives.

The 6 measures in the Where We Live domain are:

  • Crimes against the person (per 1,000 adults)
  • Felt fairly/very safe walking alone after dark (men/women)
  • Accessed natural environment at least once a week in the last 12 months
  • Agreed/agreed strongly they felt they belonged to their neighbourhood
  • Average minimum travel time to reach the nearest key services – No NI Data Available
  • Fairly/very satisfied with their accommodation

Where we live charts

Latest findings

  • Data for the first two measures in this domain (crimes against the person and feeling fairly/very safe walking alone after dark) are both sourced from the Department of Justice in Northern Ireland.  Comparative data for these measures for England and Wales are sourced from ONS.  As data are sourced from separate surveys, these data are not directly comparable.
  • In 2016/17 it is estimated that there were 40 crimes against the person per 1,000 adults in Northern Ireland, compared with 51 crimes per 1,000 adults in England & Wales.
  • A higher proportion of males than females report feeling safe walking alone after dark.  The proportion of females feeling fairly/very safe walking alone after dark was 67% in Northern Ireland in 2016/17 (62% in England & Wales in 2015/16).  The proportion of males for this measure is the same in both countries (88%).
  • In 2017/18 in Northern Ireland, 72% of people stated that they have accessed the natural environment at least once a week in the last 12 months.  These data are sourced from the NISRA Continuous Household Survey.  In England in 2015/16 the figure was 58%, sourced from Natural England, however these figures are not directly comparable as they are sourced from different surveys.
  • Data on the proportion of adults who felt they belonged to their neighbourhood are sourced from the Understanding Society Longitudinal Study. In 2014/15, 78.7% of respondents in Northern Ireland indicated that they agreed/agreed strongly that they felt they belonged to their neighbourhood.  This is higher than in the UK overall (68.8%).
  • In 2015 the average minimum travel time to reach the nearest key services by public transport / walking in England was 17.5 minutes.  These data are sourced from the Department for Transport.  There is no equivalent Northern Ireland source for this measure.
  • In Northern Ireland in 2016, 91% of respondents to the Northern Ireland House Condition Survey were satisfied with their accommodation.  In England the proportion was 90.3% in 2015/16. As data are sourced from separate surveys, these data are not directly comparable.

Do you want to know more? – Office for National Statistics Wellbeing.

10 National Wellbeing Domains

Personal wellbeing          Our relationships           Health           What we do

             Where we live          Personal finance          The economy

Education and skills          Governance          The natural environment

                                  Wellbeing in Northern Ireland - Home