Freshly released census figures have cast a spotlight on Mendip's social landscape, showing that almost 25% of households in the area rank in the highest social grade.

According to the 2021 census, 20,648 of 84,821 applicable households in Mendip were situated in the highest social grade band, known as AB, a percentage slightly higher than the England and Wales average of 23.3%.

Social grades are determined using an algorithm that includes factors like household income, economic activity, educational qualifications, and type of housing. The grading system has four categories: AB, C1, C2, and DE, with AB being the highest and DE – encompassing semi-skilled and unskilled manual workers and the unemployed – the lowest.

These findings are a part of the larger data set provided by the Office for National Statistics, showing significant regional disparities. The North East has the lowest proportion of highest-graded households at 18.3%, while London leads with 28.4%. Most of the top 20 ranked local authorities are located in London and the South East.

Interim director Aveek Bhattacharya of think tank the Social Market Foundation said, "Diagnosing the problem is one thing, but the actual task of rebalancing the economy is much trickier – though devolution of power, investment in key infrastructure and clearer regional industrial strategy could all help."

He also cautioned against perpetuating the stereotype that the North is "grim" or that the South is universally affluent, stating: "London in particular faces stubbornly high poverty, substantially driven by high housing costs, and it is notable that places like Camden, Hackney and Islington are among the least happy parts of the country according to well-being surveys."

The Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities said it is "absolutely committed to spreading opportunities and improving public services." A spokesperson clarified that the 'Levelling Up' agenda is tailored to address the unique challenges and opportunities in different parts of the UK, saying, "It is about the success of the whole country and realising the potential of every place and every person across the UK."