Living in Cumbria

Cumbria is a large and largely rural county in the north west of England, known for its dramatic landscapes, open spaces and long standing rural traditions. It stretches from the Solway Firth in the north to the fringes of Lancashire in the south, with much of the county shaped by mountains, lakes and upland farmland. Settlement is generally scattered, with small towns and villages set within wide areas of countryside.

The county includes towns such as Carlisle, Kendal, Penrith and Whitehaven, each supporting surrounding rural communities and local economies. Carlisle serves as the county’s main administrative centre, while other towns grew around trade, industry or transport routes. Agriculture, tourism and local services continue to play an important role, helping to sustain communities across a wide and varied landscape.

Cumbria is perhaps best known for the Lake District, which forms the heart of the county and has long attracted visitors for its scenery and outdoor activities. Walking, farming and conservation all sit side by side, shaping daily life in many areas. Overall, Cumbria offers a calm and enduring mix of natural landscape, working rural life and historic settlement, giving it a distinctive and well rooted character within England.

Largest Towns in Cumbria 12

Carlisle
103K
Kendal
39.3K
Barrow-in-Furness, Dalton-in-Furness
38.2K
Penrith
36.1K
Workington
35.8K
Carnforth
29.3K
Whitehaven
28.8K
Wigton
23.1K
Ulverston
20K
Barrow-in-Furness
19.1K
Hawick, Newcastleton
18.4K
Maryport
16.1K

Location

Elevation & Terrain

Lowest point Bank End — 0 ft (0 m)
Highest point High Row — 1,581 ft (482 m)
Average across towns 335 ft (102 m)
Elevation range 1,581 ft (482 m)

Cumbria stretches from 0 ft at Bank End up to 1,581 ft at High Row, a span of 1,581 ft across 1,080 towns and villages. This reflects dramatic upland terrain, with a substantial climb from the lowest to the highest places.

Deprivation Index (IMD)

Average deprivation scores across 48 postcode areas in Cumbria. Higher deciles (closer to 10) indicate less deprivation.

Overall Deprivation
6/10
Income
7/10
Employment
7/10
Education
6/10
Health
6/10
Housing
4/10
Environment
3/10
126,512 Children (0-15) 15%
491,381 Working Age 60%
276,017 Older (60+) 34%

Places in Cumbria 1080

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W Y
Johnby
Vickerstown

Postcode Areas in Cumbria 3

Cumbria is served by 3 postcode areas. Each area contains multiple postcode districts covering different parts of the county.

CA 742 places
LA 337 places
TD 1 places

Neighbouring Counties 1

Dumfries and Galloway 45 miles away