As part of the 2021 census, households in England and Wales were classified in terms of four different "dimensions of deprivation”. Households were considered to be deprived if they met one of the four following criteria:
• Employment: if any member of the household, who is not a full-time student, is either unemployed or long-term sick
• Education: if no-one in the household has five or more GCSE passes, or equivalent, and no-one aged 16 to 18 is a full-time student
• Health and disability: if anyone in the household is in bad or very bad health or is disabled
• Housing: if the home is either overcrowded, in a shared dwelling or has no central heating
The Office for National Statistics said deprivation is a "complex topic", adding that more detailed information would come in future releases.
![The thirteenth least deprived neighbourhood was Meersbrook. Of the 3,282 households in this area, 56.7 per cent were not deprived](https://www.thestar.co.uk/webimg/b25lY21zOjM4ODVmNjhjLTgxYmEtNGJkOS05ZWY1LWJjZjU4YWQzNWFiNDpjNmM5YmFmNi1kODY5LTQ2NmItYTE0NS0zZTQxMDFjM2U4ZTU=.jpg?crop=3:2&width=640)
1. Meersbrook
The thirteenth least deprived neighbourhood was Meersbrook. Of the 3,282 households in this area, 56.7 per cent were not deprived Photo: Brian Eyre
![The twelfth least deprived neighbourhood was Springvale & Steel Bank. Of the 2,147 households in this area, 57.1 per cent were not deprived.](https://www.thestar.co.uk/webimg/b25lY21zOjIzZDg1YjgxLTg5ZGEtNDRmNi04OThjLTFjMzVlZGFmNzg4YjoyZmUzMDgwYy02ZDU1LTQ1MGItYmM1YS1lYmViMDNmN2FhNTM=.png?crop=3:2&width=640)
2. Springvale & Steel Bank
The twelfth least deprived neighbourhood was Springvale & Steel Bank. Of the 2,147 households in this area, 57.1 per cent were not deprived. Photo: Google
![The eleventh least deprived neighbourhood was Beauchief. Of the 2,528 households in this area, 57.3 per cent were not deprived.](https://www.thestar.co.uk/webimg/b25lY21zOjg4ODQ3OTU0LWE1NjAtNDZmNi05ZjY0LTQ0OTM1MzU2ZWVmMzo1YjAyZDdmZi04ZDQzLTQ5NjEtODMzMi04MDVhMGMzMjMzZDU=.jpg?crop=3:2&width=640)
3. Beauchief
The eleventh least deprived neighbourhood was Beauchief. Of the 2,528 households in this area, 57.3 per cent were not deprived. Photo: .
![The tenth least deprived neighbourhood was Nether Edge. Of the 4,110 households in this area, 57.5 per cent were not deprived.](https://www.thestar.co.uk/webimg/b25lY21zOjM5NTAwZGM5LWNkN2EtNDhlMi1hYzdlLTU4OGYxZWNjMjAxMzo5YmY2OTAzYy01OThhLTRlYzgtYTAxMy1iYzYxNGM1MTVlNDA=.jpg?crop=3:2&width=640)
4. Nether Edge
The tenth least deprived neighbourhood was Nether Edge. Of the 4,110 households in this area, 57.5 per cent were not deprived. Photo: .