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<\/p>\nFamilies in parts of our city face some of the worst cost-of-living struggles<\/p>\n
15:39, 17 May 2026<\/p>\n
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Sparkhill is considered the poorest part of the country.(Image: Birmingham Post and Mail)<\/p>\n
Birmingham has long suffered problems with deprivation and poverty but a recent study hammered this home in sobering fashion.<\/p>\n
It revealed that the six poorest parts of England are all in Birmingham.<\/p>\n
The study was based on average disposable income in neighbourhoods across the country.<\/p>\n
READ MORE: Not Stratford or Bromsgrove – best place to live in the Midlands named<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n Get the latest court and crime news direct via our WhatsApp community here<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n Many of the poorest areas were centred around east and south east Birmingham.<\/p>\n Sparkhill North is considered the poorest place in England on this metric.<\/p>\n Households in the area had an average disposable income – money left after bills and essentials are paid for – of just under \u00a320,800 a year.<\/p>\n For the worst-off, the idea of disposable income might be a dream as all of their money is spent paying energy and council tax bills, and putting food on the table for the kids.<\/p>\n There’s often nothing left after all that, and some parents may even skip meals themselves.<\/p>\n Mum Aysha Aslam, 34, an IT project manager from Sparkhill, recently told<\/a> BirminghamLive about her struggles, saying: “Myself and my husband are both working parents. As time’s gone on, we’re getting squeezed more and more.<\/p>\n “Council tax is increasing in Birmingham<\/a> year on year, taxes in general are going up and your bills are going up.”<\/p>\n She added: “We try not to affect the children. But, the thing is, with clubs and extracurricular activities, it’s hard. You get them into activities and then you’re like, it is adding up.”<\/p>\n The other five poorest areas were Sparkbrook South, Small Heath<\/a> Park, Saltley East, Washwood Heath and Bordesley Green<\/a>.<\/p>\n