Harehills South
Leeds 053 · 4 sub-areas · 7,908 residents
Leeds 053 is a densely populated neighbourhood within Leeds, home to around 7,900 people and one of the most affordable parts of the city for renters. A typical two-bedroom flat lets for around £960 a month — well below the UK national median for a 2-bed. With an unusually high share of under-18s and a majority private-rented tenure, it's an area shaped by families and younger renters.
Harehills South is a mid-density neighbourhood of Leeds in the Yorkshire and The Humber region. It sits between busier and quieter parts of the local authority and isn't dominated by a single use — there's a mix of workplaces, housing and local services. The demographic profile leans family-aged, with a clear share of households with school-age children; the rental market is active and turnover is high — people move through rather than stay.
Overview
What's it like to live in Harehills South?
Greenspace is reachable but isn't on the immediate doorstep — most residents walk a few blocks to reach a park; food and drink within walking distance is workable but not dense — around 11 restaurants and 3 pubs in five minutes; Recorded crime is higher than the national norm — common for built-up urban areas, but worth weighing if you're looking for a quieter base; rents are roughly in line with the national norm, at around £1,130 a month for a typical home; gigabit broadband is effectively universal.
Generated from the latest May 2026 data · refreshed automatically
Figures are aggregated across 4 sub-areas — population-weighted means for rates, sums for counts. Sources cited beneath each section.
Harehills South in Leeds
Living in Harehills South
This part of Leeds stands out for its affordability and its distinctly young, family-heavy character. More than a third of residents — around 35% — are under 18, which is substantially above the Leeds norm and signals a neighbourhood where families with children are the dominant household type. Single-person households account for roughly 28%, so it's a genuine mix, but the streets have a family feel that shapes everything from the density of local schools to the pace of daily life.
On rent, Leeds 053 sits at the cheaper end of the Leeds market. A typical two-bedroom home runs about £960 a month, with one-beds available from around £770 and three-beds at roughly £1,120. That's meaningfully below the UK national median for a 2-bed, and positions this area well for renters who need space without stretching their budget. The median house price of around £123,000 also makes it one of the more accessible parts of Leeds for first-time buyers building a deposit — the data suggests a deposit is achievable in under two years for a typical local earner.
That affordability does come with trade-offs. The deprivation picture here is significant — Leeds 053 sits in the first decile nationally on the Index of Multiple Deprivation, meaning it's among the most deprived 10% of neighbourhoods in England. Crime is also elevated, running at roughly 254 incidents per 1,000 residents annually, which is well above the UK average. Renters coming from quieter suburbs elsewhere will notice the difference.
Ownership is low — only around 29% of homes are owner-occupied, with over half privately rented and about 17% social housing. That tenure mix, combined with the demographic profile, gives the area a transient quality in parts, though many families are clearly long-settled. The ethnic diversity index of 69.6 and just 47% of residents born in the UK point to a genuinely multicultural community.
For transport, the nearest mainline rail station is roughly 3 km away, so most residents drive or take a bus. About 41% of commuters use a car, and 20% use public transport. See the streets and sub-areas below for more.
What you'll need on day one
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Frequently asked
- Is Leeds 053 a nice place to live?
- It depends on your priorities. Rents are affordable and the community is diverse and family-oriented, but the area sits in the most deprived 10% of English neighbourhoods and crime runs at roughly three times the national average. It suits renters who need space on a tighter budget and are comfortable with a busier, more urban environment.
- What is the rent in Leeds 053?
- A typical one-bed runs around £770 a month, a two-bed about £960, and a three-bed roughly £1,120. These are estimates scaled from city-level data using local sale prices. Rents rose around 2.7% over the past year.
- Is Leeds 053 safe?
- Crime runs at around 254 incidents per 1,000 residents annually — approximately three times the UK average. It's one of the more significant considerations here. Checking street-level police data for specific roads you're considering is sensible before committing.
- What's the commute from Leeds 053 to Leeds city centre?
- The nearest mainline rail station is about 3 km away. Around 41% commute by car and 20% by public transport. The nearest major employment hub is approximately 38 minutes away by car or public transport.
- Who lives in Leeds 053?
- Primarily families with children — over 35% of residents are under 18, which is well above the Leeds norm. The community is highly diverse, with nearly half of residents born outside the UK. Most homes are privately rented, and owner-occupation is relatively low at around 29%.
- What schools are near Leeds 053?
- There are around 103 schools within typical catchment distance, reflecting the area's family-heavy population. Around 47.5% are rated Good or Outstanding by Ofsted. The nearest Outstanding-rated school is about 1.2 km away.
- Is Leeds 053 affordable for first-time buyers?
- By Leeds standards, yes. The median sale price is around £123,000, and a typical local earner could save a deposit in under two years — one of the faster timescales in the city. It's one of the more accessible parts of Leeds for buyers on average salaries.