The Townsend Score is a measure of levels of material deprivation

The Townsend Score includes four variables: unemployment (lack of material resources and insecurity), overcrowding (material living conditions), lack of owner occupied accommodation (a proxy indicator of wealth) and lack or car ownership (a proxy indicator of income). The Townsend Score is a summation of the standardised scores (z scores) for each variable (scores greater than zero indicate greater levels of material deprivation). This score is considered the best indicator of material deprivation currently available.

Map of Townsend Material Deprivation Scores.

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