![Where Are People Moving To and From in Herefordshire & Worcestershire? [2026 Data]](/userfiles/images/sys/blog_items/BB%20January%202022%20Blog%20Image.jpg)
The clearest pattern in the latest local data is a movement towards the rural and semi-rural parts of Worcestershire and Herefordshire. Malvern Hills, Wychavon and Herefordshire recorded positive net internal migration, while Worcester recorded a small domestic outflow in the comparable local-authority data.
The picture is not simply one of people leaving cities for the countryside. Worcester remains an active housing and rental market, while population growth across Herefordshire is increasingly being supported by people arriving from elsewhere in the UK.
This report brings together official migration estimates, local authority evidence and the latest 2026 property market figures to examine what the trends mean for homeowners, property professionals, removals demand, storage and downsizing.
Updated July 2026How to Read the Data
The Data Does Not All Cover the Same Period
Official migration figures are published later than housing market figures. The latest ONS internal migration release was published in July 2025 and covers the year ending June 2024.
To provide one directly comparable table across the selected local authorities, the migration table below uses ONS-derived estimates for the period from mid-2021 to mid-2022.
House prices are provisional estimates for May 2026. Rental figures cover June 2026. These figures may be revised by ONS and HM Land Registry.
Towns and the Official Areas Used
Migration and house-price data are usually published for local authorities, not individual towns. The following official areas are therefore used as the closest consistent measure.
| Place discussed | Official geography used | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Worcester | Worcester City | Direct local-authority data are available. |
| Malvern | Malvern Hills | Malvern sits within the Malvern Hills district. |
| Evesham | Wychavon | Evesham sits within the Wychavon district. |
| Hereford | Herefordshire | Herefordshire is a unitary local authority. |
| Ledbury | Herefordshire | No equivalent town-level migration series is published. |
| Ross-on-Wye | Herefordshire | No equivalent town-level migration series is published. |
Internal Migration Across the Area
Net internal migration is the difference between the number of people moving into an area from elsewhere in the UK and the number moving out. A positive figure means more people arrived than left.
| Area | Population | Net internal migration | Approximate rate | Direction |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Worcestershire | 609,216 | +4,050 | +0.66% | Net inward |
| Herefordshire | 188,719 | +1,428 | +0.76% | Net inward |
| Wychavon | 134,536 | +1,652 | +1.23% | Net inward |
| Malvern Hills | 81,024 | +1,157 | +1.43% | Net inward |
| Worcester | 104,120 | -306 | -0.29% | Net outward |
Migration period: mid-2021 to mid-2022. Population totals are mid-2022 estimates. Approximate rates were calculated by dividing net internal migration by the area's population. Source: Office for National Statistics internal migration and mid-year population estimates.
Net Internal Migration as a Share of Population
Chart shows the approximate net internal migration rate, not the percentage of residents who moved during the year.
What the Trends Show by Area
Worcestershire
Worcestershire recorded a net internal inflow of around 4,050 people in the comparable period. That means domestic movement added more people to the county than it removed.
The county-wide total masks an important difference between Worcester city and more rural districts such as Wychavon and Malvern Hills.
Worcester
Worcester recorded a small net internal outflow of 306 people in the mid-2021 to mid-2022 snapshot. This does not mean the city's total population fell. International migration and natural change also affect the final population figure.
For the removals market, Worcester is likely to produce more two-way activity than a simple inward-migration figure suggests, including renters changing properties, first-time buyers, students, families leaving the city and people arriving from outside the UK.
View removals in WorcesterMalvern and Malvern Hills
Malvern Hills recorded the strongest net internal migration rate among the selected areas, at approximately 1.43% of its mid-2022 population.
This is consistent with demand from people seeking a smaller town, rural surroundings or a different type of property after leaving a larger urban area. It can also support demand for downsizing moves and storage while households decide what to keep.
Evesham and Wychavon
Wychavon, which includes Evesham, recorded a net internal inflow of 1,652 people. Its approximate inward rate was second only to Malvern Hills among the selected areas.
The figures suggest continued demand for family moves, moves between nearby towns and relocations from larger employment centres into the Vale of Evesham and surrounding communities.
Herefordshire and Hereford
Herefordshire gained around 1,428 people through net internal migration in the comparable period.
Herefordshire Council reports that migration has driven the county's population growth since the early 1990s because deaths have consistently exceeded births. In recent years, movement from elsewhere in the UK has become the leading contributor.
View removals in HerefordLedbury and Ross-on-Wye
Ledbury and Ross-on-Wye are included within the Herefordshire authority total. The available official migration series does not support reliable claims about separate net migration figures for each town.
Their position within a county experiencing net domestic inflow suggests a continuing market for moves into smaller towns and rural communities, but the county figure should not be presented as a town-specific rate.
Property Market Data for 2026
Migration tells us about population movement. House prices and rents show how that movement sits alongside the local property market.
| Area | Average house price | Annual change | First-time buyer price | Average monthly rent | Rent change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Malvern Hills | £338,000 | +3.9% | £260,000 | £940 | +8.3% |
| Wychavon | £321,000 | +3.5% | £245,000 | £944 | +2.4% |
| Herefordshire | £287,000 | +4.7% | £222,000 | £809 | +2.5% |
| Worcester | £252,000 | +2.1% | £224,000 | £969 | +4.4% |
House prices are provisional estimates for May 2026. Rental figures cover June 2026. Source: Office for National Statistics and HM Land Registry.
Average House Price, May 2026
What This Means for Moving Demand
Migration and property data cannot tell us exactly how many people will book a removals company. They can, however, show where the conditions for different types of moving demand are strongest.
Removals Demand
Positive internal migration in Malvern Hills, Wychavon and Herefordshire supports demand for moves into those areas, including relocations from larger towns and moves between neighbouring districts.
Storage Demand
Storage becomes more useful when completion dates do not align, a property needs renovation or a household is moving from a larger home into a smaller one.
Downsizing
Rural locations with older populations are more likely to generate moves involving downsizing, decluttering and a staged decision about furniture and long-held belongings.
Britannia Bennetts provides removals and secure self storage from its Malvern base for customers across Worcestershire and Herefordshire.
Practical Takeaways for Movers
- Begin comparing removals companies when your moving date becomes likely, rather than waiting for the final week.
- Tell the surveyor about access, parking, stairs and long carrying distances at both properties.
- Ask about storage before exchange or completion when the moving dates may not align.
- Consider part packing when you want to pack everyday belongings but need professional help with fragile, valuable or difficult items.
- When downsizing, separate items into moving, storage, donation and disposal groups before packing begins.
Moving Trends FAQs
Which parts of Worcestershire are gaining residents through internal migration?
In the comparable mid-2021 to mid-2022 data, Wychavon and Malvern Hills both recorded positive net internal migration. Worcester recorded a small net domestic outflow, although other components of population change also affected its total population.
Is Herefordshire's population growth driven by migration?
Yes. Herefordshire Council reports that migration has driven the county's population growth since the early 1990s because deaths have exceeded births. Internal migration has become the leading contributor in recent years.
Are there separate migration figures for Ledbury and Ross-on-Wye?
Not in the same directly comparable annual ONS local-authority series. Both towns form part of Herefordshire, so the county figure should be used carefully and should not be presented as a town-specific migration rate.
Why might inward migration increase storage demand?
People may need storage when sale and purchase dates do not align, when moving into a property that requires renovation or when downsizing from a larger home. Storage allows the move to take place before every item has reached its final destination.
Why are migration figures older than the 2026 housing data?
Official migration estimates require more administrative data and processing before publication. House-price and rental indicators are updated more frequently, although the newest housing figures remain provisional and can be revised.
Sources and Methodology
This article combines official and local-government sources. No attempt has been made to estimate unsupported town-level migration figures for Hereford, Ledbury, Ross-on-Wye, Malvern or Evesham.
- Office for National Statistics, Internal migration in England and Wales
- Herefordshire Council, Changing population
- Office for National Statistics, Housing prices in Worcester
- Office for National Statistics, Housing prices in Malvern Hills
- Office for National Statistics, Housing prices in Wychavon
- Office for National Statistics, Housing prices in Herefordshire
Planning a Move Across the Three Counties?
Tell us what you are moving, where you are going and whether you need packing or storage. Our team will review the requirements and provide a clear quotation.