New study ranks Doncaster as one of least prosperous place to live in the UK

The UK cities with the highest GDP, best qualifications and strongest property markets have been revealed – and the figures don’t make good reading for Doncaster, with the city ranked 60th out of 64.

Prosperity in the UK is no longer defined purely by size or population.

While London continues to dominate headlines, a growing number of smaller cities are building strong economic identities of their own.

High wages, skilled workforces, strong productivity and buoyant property markets are increasingly shaping where prosperity is concentrated. In many cases, university cities and well-connected commuter hubs are quietly outperforming larger urban centres.

New analysis by LEI Register examined 64 UK areas using official ONS and NISR data, ranking each location on five key economic indicators: median weekly earnings, real GDP per capita, share of residents with Level 3+ qualifications, average house prices and median weekly hours worked.

Each metric was weighted and standardised to create an overall prosperity score out of 100, offering a balanced view of income strength, productivity, skills and housing market performance.

Westminster claimed the top spot with an exceptional score of 96.99. It leads nationally for median weekly earnings at £866.90, GDP per capita at £273,086 and average house prices at £880,000. Its median working week of 37 hours also ranks joint highest.

St Albans follows in second place, with weekly earnings of £864.10 and house prices averaging £610,000, both ranking second nationally.

At the other end of the scale, structural challenges weigh more heavily.

Doncaster ranks 60th, with lower qualification levels and modest GDP per capita limiting its overall score.

Liverpool places 61st, where regeneration has improved parts of the city but productivity gaps remain.

Kingston upon Hull’s low house prices (£131,000 on average) and lower education levels contribute to its position at 62nd. Leicester ranks 63rd, driven largely by lower qualification rates and comparatively modest weekly earnings.

Sunderland sits at the bottom of the table, recording the lowest share of residents with Level 3+ qualifications (51%) and among the lowest earnings nationally, highlighting ongoing skills and productivity challenges.

Toomas Pavelson, spokesperson for LEI Register, commented on the study: “Prosperity in a city is rarely about one single factor.

"It’s about how different parts of the local economy work together.

"Strong wages matter, of course, but those wages are usually supported by high productivity and a skilled workforce.

"When you see a city with a high share of residents holding Level 3 or higher qualifications, that often translates into better-paid roles and stronger economic output.

"In the UK context, education plays an especially important role. Cities with major universities or research institutions tend to attract investment, talent and innovative businesses.

"That creates a cycle where skilled workers stay, companies grow and earnings gradually rise. Over time, that feeds into housing demand and local spending power.”

“Productivity is another key piece of the puzzle. Real GDP per capita gives an indication of how much economic value is being generated in a place.

"Higher productivity typically reflects a concentration of professional services, technology, finance or other high-value sectors. These industries tend to pay more and contribute more tax revenue, which supports public services and infrastructure.”

“Housing values also tell part of the story. While high house prices can create affordability pressures, they often reflect strong demand, higher incomes and confidence in the local economy.

"When you combine healthy earnings, solid productivity, a skilled population and consistent working patterns, you begin to see the foundations of long-term prosperity. For the UK, where regional inequality has been debated for years, understanding these building blocks is crucial for balanced growth.”