The CDRC Distance of Residential Moves (DoRM) Index data are compiled from CDRC’s Linked Consumer Registers secure data, which contain annual updates of the names and addresses of adults in the UK from 1997 onwards. This Index provides yearly Lower layer Super Output Area (LSOA) estimates of the median straight-line distances of all known residential moves to, from, and within each LSOA (or equivalent unit) in the UK between 1998 and 2023. All known adult residential moves are characterised as moving out of, moving into or moving within any UK LSOA. Some LSOA boundaries changed during the 1997-2023 period based and so boundaries of 2011 Census LSOAs were used to harmonise results.

These data allow researchers to explore locality scale changes in residential mobility and migration patterns over an extended time period. The annual estimates and attribution of origins and destinations to specific LSOAs extends what is available from decennial census data. Median annual LSOA residential move data are provided for adult individuals moving out of, moving into, or moving within each UK LSOA. Estimates are triangulated with census estimates and can be used to update them during intercensal periods.

Content and Size of the Data

For detailed description of the columns contained within the data, see the Variable Dictionary; and for an overview of the characteristics of the data, see the Data Summary. These files can be downloaded from the bottom of this page. Files are separated in three, with different files available for moving out of, into and within any UK LAD.

Quality, Representation and Bias

The underpinning data are the CDRC Linked Consumer Registers (LCRs), the provenance of which is set out in two papers in the Journal of the Royal Statistical Society Series A (Lansley et al 2019; van Dijk et al 2021). Consumer and administrative data were acquired directly or indirectly from multiple data providers without warranties about accuracy or coverage, consistent with industry practice. Extensive internal and external validation procedures were developed in order to render the diverse data formats consistent and to establish the provenance of the consolidated registers. Known shortcomings in the data and over-all assessment of quality are set out in the peer-reviewed research papers.

In addition to establishing consistency of address referencing, the research papers document the completeness of the data. In terms of coverage, the LCRs tend to under-estimate LSOA adult population sizes relative to UK mid-year population estimates for 2003-2020. The research papers describe procedures developed by the CDRC to fill in known gaps where possible.

Data for Northern Ireland are estimated to be less complete because of specific administrative procedures and legislative requirements. Additional UK-wide issues are created by second-home owners and students.

Whilst collaborating value added data resellers have attempted to compile address lists that have full and accurate coverage, the research papers identify systematic biases akin to those found in similar data sources. The primary data source over the period is the public version of UK Electoral Registers, the coverage of which has been in decline since the advent of opt out provisions in 2002. Post 2002 LCRs are understood to under-represent adults drawn from ethnic minorities and those resident in rented accommodation.

CDRC research using a names-based tool to infer ethnicity, developed in collaboration with the Office for National Statistics (ONS) has quantified the slight over-representation of White British adults. Approximately 84% of LCR individuals were classed as White British, compared to 81% self-identifying as such in the 2011 UK Census. Research also identified that areas with higher proportion of adults in rented accommodation had the greatest under-representation within cities.

The counts of individuals in the original LCR data fluctuate according to data supplier in addition to actual population size changes. As such, meta data describing the annual distribution of population counts across LSOA that have been used in calculating DoRM are made available. DoRM may be out of line with census counts and users should consult census statistics if they have concerns.