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Hongkong Post Circular Service - Neighborhood Type

Upper Echelons
Well-to-do
Emerging Middle Class
Suburban Locals
Compact City Life
Comfy Subsidised Homes
Grass Roots Living
Community Challenge
Grey Perspectives

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Upper Echelons
- Wealthy families with an upscale and privileged lifestyle
  8.59% of Hong Kong households
  (Type A01- A04)
  The Upper Echelons represent the wealthiest households in Hong Kong. They live in the richest areas in luxury mansions, new upscale apartments or low density houses.
  They outrank all other Groups in terms of household income, property value and career achievements. Most of them are successful business executives in professional and top managerial positions in the finance, services and public sectors.
  Members of this group are predominantly college/ tertiary educated. They are confident in their life and career. They are active in the investment market, and plan well for retirement and their children’s education. They tend to read English newspapers.
  They own more cars and high-end AV equipment, and travel abroad more frequently than other Groups.
- Type A01 Expats and the Privileged
  The most affluent local and expatriate families in luxury homes
  1.06% of Hong Kong households
  Expats and the Privileged are the most affluent, business oriented families living in expensive villas in low density areas like Shouson Hill, Repulse Bay and the Peak. They are the top 1% of Hong Kong households, with a median household income of over HK$104,000, well above Hong Kong average.
  Most of the adults are married, middle aged, degree educated, and having young children at home. About 60% of them are non-Chinese expatriates. Some live in apartments provided by their company and not owning their homes. At work they typically hold executive and management positions in finance, government and professional services.
- Type A02 Matured Wealthy
  Maturing successful families in large desirable homes
  1.38% of Hong Kong households
  Matured Wealthy is a collection of the middle-aged in extended and nuclear families enjoying an affluent lifestyle. Ranked second in terms of wealth, they have a median household income of HK$87,000. They own large desirable homes on Mount Davis Road, Jardine’s Lookout, Braemar Hill Mansion, and part of Oxford Road.
  This type consists of mature adults with tertiary / degree education, working in executive and management positions in finance, government and professional services, or as the employers of a company. There are more local Chinese in this type than the Expats and the Privileged, and also more school-aged children at home.
- Type A03 Elite Professionals
  Single and double income professionals in upscale residence
  Families in this type have median household income of $50,000 and over 26% of the individuals earning more than $40,000 per month. Housing is well-planned residential areas - either the luxury apartments in newly developed areas commanding good view or established city blocks or lower density housing in the farther part of NT. Over three-quarters own the flat they live in with 80% bearing mortgages. Nearly half of the residents are aged between 30 to 49. Three quarters are the rising or expanding families with school age children.
- Type A04 Rising Sophisticates
  Trendy and wealthy managers and associates in modern apartments
  3.92% of Hong Kong households
  MRising Sophisticates are wealthy young families who work hard and play hard, with a median household income of HK$51,000. Most have a mortgage and live in recently developed areas with modern high-rise apartments like South Horizons, Laguna City and Island Harbourview. These residences are located near transportation hubs, and are well-equipped with modern clubhouse facilities. Many of the households are married couples with one or no children. About 45% of them are aged below 40. They are college educated, and are commuting in management and executive positions.
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Well-to-do
- Well-off couples and families enjoying a comfortable lifestyle
  6.56% of Hong Kong households
  (Type B05 - B06)
  The Well-to-do’s represent the second wealthiest households in Hong Kong. They live in urban private apartments with a comfortable living environment and convenient transportation. Some residences are well-equipped with modern clubhouse facilities.
  The Well-to-do’s are college/ tertiary educated and well-qualified. They work as executives, managers and white-collar professionals. Their income and affluence level are well above average, and this gives them an upper-middle class lifestyle. They work hard and play hard. They are also active in the investment market.
- Type B05 Well-off Families
  Accomplished growing families in better quality homes
  4.15% of Hong Kong households
  Well-off Families represents a collection of middle-aged, married couples with children living in upper-middle class communities. Most adults are well educated and well paid white-collar professionals, managers and executives. They can be found in good quality homes like Bedford Gardens, Mei Foo Sun Chuen, and some buildings in Caine Road and Bonham Road built in the 1980s.
  They have a median household income of HK$38,000, and half of them are homeowners without a mortgage. Parents of this type provide good education to their school aged children, and they enjoy a comfortable and stable family life.
- Type B06 Young executives
  Young upwardly mobile singles and couples in comfy urban homes
  Young Executives is a cluster of new couples and small households living in newer urban apartments with convenient transportation. They are located in comfortable homes like Fortress Metro Tower on King’s Road, Whampoa Garden Block 1-12, and Nob Hill in Lai King. A quarter of them own their apartment with a mortgage.
  Younger than average and upper-middle class in status, this type has the highest composition of single-person households. They have graduated from high school or completed college, and are upwardly mobile with well-paying occupations in the finance, manufacturing or service sectors. Their median household income is HK$30,000.
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Emerging Middle Class
- Stable and educated families of moderate affluence
  15.46% of Hong Kong households
  (Type C07 - C10)
  Members of the Emerging Middle Class are better off than the average families. Many of them are managers, white collar workers, mid-ranking civil servants or disciplined service officers. They are well educated and earn an income that is above average. They live in near-urban private developments or government quarters. Half of them have an outstanding mortgage, which may explain why they tend to work hard and keep non-essential spending to a minimum.
- Type C07 New Mortgagees
  Young families with mortgages in new near-urban apartments
  5.27% of Hong Kong households
  New Mortgagees is dominated by young couples and families living in new near-urban apartments for the middle-class neighbourhoods. Many of the individuals have obtained their high school education and some with a degree. They work in white collar jobs in the service, manufacturing or community sectors. With a good median household income of HK$33,000, this type can be found in new residences built in recently developed suburban areas, including Sea Crest Villa in Tuen Mun, Coastal Skyline and Tung Chung Crescent in Tung Chung. About 71% are new homeowners with a mortgage, so they tend to work hard and keep non-essential spending a minimum.
- Type C08 Government Quarters
  Civil servant families in government quarters
  1.01% of Hong Kong households.
  Government Quarters is a community of civil servant families living in government quarters. Most of them are mid-ranking disciplined service officers serving in the Hong Kong Police Force, Fire Services and Correctional Services.
  With a median household income of HK$30,000, they live in quarters next to their workplace, such as the Western Police Married Quarters in Western District, Castle Peak Government Quarters in Tuen Mun and also Pok Fu Lam Fire Services Quarters. Their lower rent allows them to have more disposable income compared to others in the middle class.
- C10 Mature Owners
  Long-term homeowners and empty nesters in near-urban establishments
  3.62% of Hong Kong households.
  Mature Home Owners is a collection of older families who have settled in near-urban housing for many years. Majority of them are empty-nesters or nuclear families with the parents at their fifties. These neighbourhoods can be found in Healthy Gardens in North Point, Wyler Garden in Tokwawan, and Luk Yeung Sun Chuen in Tsuen Wan.
  Majority of the residents are homeowners without bearing any mortgages. Some of them are high school educated, and work as white-collar or better blue-collar jobs in the manufacturing and service sectors. Their median household income is $24,000.
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Suburban Locals
- Diverse income households in old towns and suburban outskirts
  11.45% of Hong Kong households.
  (Type D12 - D15)
  The Suburban Locals live in old towns near the city or in the suburban and countryside areas. Most of them are secondary school educated and work as blue collars or elementary-level white collars. They tend to earn an income that is slightly below average, and are more cautious in spending money than others.
- Type D12 Old Town Empty-nesters
  Small households owning or renting homes in old towns
  2.18% of Hong Kong households
  Old Town Empty-nesters is a collection of young couples, single and mid-aged empty-nesters who prefers the old-fashioned, conservative lifestyle in small towns. They are mostly tertiary educated, and work as clerks, service workers or shop sales for their living. They have a median household income of $23,000.
  These households can be found in village houses like like Pai Tau Tsuen in Shatin, Ha Ling Pei in Tung Chung, or old marketplace like Sai Wan. Household size is small, and residents are mostly homeowners without a mortgage.
- Type D13 Settled Workers
  Working homeowners and sharers in old urban communities
  4.62% of Hong Kong households
  Found in old urban industrial areas, Settled Workers consists of hard-working blue-collars who earn their living from manufacturing, construction and operations. They have low education level, and have a median household income of $15,000. These households live near their workplace, such as Kwan Yick Building in Sai Wan, Tung Fat Building in North Point, Yuen Fat House in Yuen Long, and around Tsuen Wan Market Street. A majority of the residents have reached their forties and fifties, and they tend to have a small household size. About 65% of them own their flats and are free of mortgages. Some landlords are subletting their units, hence there are relatively more co-tenants compared with other types.
- Type D14 Comfy Countryside
  Mid income families in better suburban homes
  3.78% of Hong Kong households
  In Comfy Countryside, there is a high proportion of families with young children and teens. Parents in this type of households are mostly high school educated, and they are also commuting in white collar positions or better blue collars. With a median household income of HK$17,000, they can afford 3-storeys comfortable houses in the suburban areas such as Kam Tin, Pak Tin Pa Tsuen in Tsuen Wan.Half of these residents are homeowners without a mortgage, the lower rent in suburban areas allow them to keep a carefree and comfortable lifestyle.
- Type D15 Rural Heritage
  Traditional extended families in long-standing rural developments
  0.87% of Hong Kong households
  Rural Heritage consists of couples and families who are indigenous residents of the remote villages. There are a lot of seniors as well as young children who have their life well-beings in the rural areas. Most of them have a low education level, and they work as craft workers, machine operators or as unskilled labour. Their low-paying jobs result in a median household income of HK$14,000. Many of the households own their homes outright, whereas the renters opt for the lower rents and quieter lifestyle in these areas. They live in low density areas in the New Territories and Islands such as Cheung Chau, Peng Chau, or Lamma Island.
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Compact City Life
- Families focused on budget in high density city areas
  9.86% of Hong Kong households
  (Type E16 - E17)
  Compact City Life neighbourhoods are high density city areas in Hong Kong amidst bustling retail and trade activities. Typical properties are relatively small single blocks, situated on main streets with high traffic flow, which provide convenient access to various transportation, restaurants, shops and entertainment locations. This Group has the highest concentration of people speaking Putonghua and Chinese dialects other than Cantonese.
  Residents are mostly mature small families or young singles having moved out of their parents’ home to live independently.
- Type E16 Urban Practicals
  Mid income city dwellers in busy retail districts
  4.71% of Hong Kong households
  Urban Practicals is a mix of singles, couples and families enjoying the convenient and diversified lifestyle in the inner city areas. They are either families living in the community for a long time, or young people who move out of their parents’ home to live independently. Mostly high school educated, these households are commuted as white collars, service workers or shop sales, and they earn a median household income of $17,000. About half actually work in the same district where they live.
  This group can be found in the busy retail districts such as Nga Tsin Long Road in Kowloon City, Hollywood Road in Central, Kin Yick Mansion in Sai Wan. They are unlikely to be burdened by mortgage as they either own the flat outright or rent their apartments.
- Type E17 Bargain Seekers
  Low income co-tenants and small families in crowded city areas
  5.14% of Hong Kong households
  Bargain Seekers reflect the life of lower income households living in high-density city environment. A third of them are co-tenants sharing flats with other families. There is a high proportion of middle aged and senior singles. They have a low education level, and are mostly working in wholesale, retail and trading activities, as shopkeeper, shop sales or hawkers. Their median household income is $11,000.
  This type consists of the most people speaking Putonghua or Chinese dialects other than Cantonese. They can be found in Shanghai Street, Fa Yuen Street Mongkok, Shek Kip Mei or parts of Sham Shui Po
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Comfy Subsidised Homes
- Mid-to-low income families living in urban and suburban subsidised homes
  16.22% of Hong Kong households
  (Type F18- F21)
  Comfy Subsidised Homes are inhabited by lower-middle class families residing in better quality public apartments subsidised by the government. They either live in subsidised apartments, mostly in the new town areas, or in high-end public rental estates. Many of them are young and growing families with school-age or grown-up children, and often living with their elderly parents.
  Most of them have completed secondary school education, earning average income. They work in a variety of occupations, as white collar workers, shop sales and service workers.
- Type F18 New Couples and Kids
  Young couples and families with a mortgage in better quality subsidised homes
  6.74% of Hong Kong households
  New Couples and Kids lead a comfortable lifestyle in newly built housing estates subsidised by the government. The head of the family in many households are under 35 years old, just new couples with some having young children at home. They are concentrated in areas like On Ning Garden in Tseung Kwan O, Yu Tung Court in Tung Chung, Aldrich Garden in Shaukeiwan, and Charming Garden in Yaumatei.
  High-school educated, these young families have a median household income of $24,000. They mostly work as white collars, clerks, service workers or shop sales, but their discretionary income is high due to a lower mortgage they pay.
- Type F19 Growing Families
  School age children families owning subsidised homes in New Towns
  5.47% of Hong Kong households
  Growing Families are homeowners of subsidised homes, with a high proportion of school-aged children. About 50% of them are not bearing mortgage anymore, these households are found mostly in the New Town areas, such as Siu Hei Court in Tuen Mun, Yan Ming Court in Tseung Kwan O. Some of these buildings were built ten years ago under the subsidised housing schemes. Most of the households bear no mortgage.
  Adults in this type are mostly middle aged, and are high-school educated. With a median household income of $20,000, they work as white collars, blue collars, service workers or shop sales.
- Type F20 Mature Stability
  Mature families with a mortgage in older subsidised apartments
  1.41% of Hong Kong households
  In Mature Stability, a lot of families with teenage or grown-up children have led a stable lifestyle in their subsidised apartments for a long time. Most adults have attained primary school education only. There is a mix of white collars, machine operators or shop sales in their occupations, which give them a median household income of HK$21,000.
  This type is found in older subsidised apartments through "Tenants Purchase Scheme" like Chuk Yuen North Estate and Fung Tak Estate in Wong Tai Sin, or Wah Kwai Estate in Aberdeen. Some of the households have traded their public housing flat upwards to purchase the subsidised apartments here.
- Type F21 Extended Family Life
  Extended families renting subsidised apartments in urban outskirts
  2.60% of Hong Kong households
  Extended Family Life is a collection of households with elderlies, parents and children living together in near-urban subsidised homes. They are located in areas like Ma Heng Estate, Wang Tau Home Estate and Siu Sai Wan Estate.
  The adults are mostly primary school educated only, and they work as craftsmen, machine operators and assemblers. They have a median household income of HK$16,000. There is also a high proportion of elderly singles in this type.
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Grass Roots Living
- Average families in affordable public blocks
  10.62% of Hong Kong households
  (Type G22 - G23)
  Grass Roots Living symbolise the average households living in large public housing complexes in urban or new town areas. In many cases, parents, children and elderlies live together.
  There is a high proportion of young and teenage children within this group. The adults tend to have relatively low education. Most of them work in manufacturing, wholesale or construction. The younger ones work as shop sales or elementary office workers. They earn an income that is below average.
  Their apartments are managed and owned by the government. The rent of those apartments is relatively low among public apartments. Some of the public blocks have a small shopping centre with supermarkets, wet markets, kindergartens and bus stations nearby.G23 Striving Young Families
  These areas represent typically residents who moved into huge housing schemes in spacious New Town areas where often public rental and subsidized sale flats are part of a complex sharing common communal facilities. These people tend to rent public blocks represented by Sheung Shui's Tai Ping Estate, Fu Heng in Tai Po, Leung King in Tuen Mun, Lee On in Ma On Shan.
- Type G22 Blue Collar Parents
  Worker families with teenage children in public blocks near transportation hubs
  5.56% of Hong Kong households
  Blue Collar Parents are the typical average families living in low to middle income public housing. Teenagers are over-represented in this type, so these housing offers more spaces for communal activities. Over half of them have a mortgage under "Tenants Purchase Scheme" while a third rent their homes with a very low rent. There is a mix of subsidised flats and better public flats in this type.
  These houses are found near transportation hubs for residences to access their workplace, such as Fu Cheong Estate in Sham Shui Po, Hin Keng Estate in Shatin, and Yat Tung Estate in Tung Chung. The adults have attended primary school only, and they are working as craftsmen, machine operators and assemblers, or other blue collars. They have a median household income of HK$16,000.
- Type G23 Basic Life Pursuits
  Worker families with young children in new town public blocks
  5.06% of Hong Kong households
  In Basic Life Pursuits, parents are occupied with low paid work to raise their school-aged children in the family. They are located in large public housing estates in New Towns, for example, Hau Tak Estate in Tseung Kwan O, Fu Tung Estate in Tung Chung, Po Lam Estate in Po Lam and Tin Shui Estate in Tin Shui Wai. Most of them are renters.
  These areas are more spacious, and there are convenient transportation for access to the cities. Most public housing estates have a small shopping centre with wet markets, supermarkets and other shops for residents.
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Community Challenge
- Unskilled older families living in urban public housing complexes
  9.74% of Hong Kong households
  (Type H24 -H26)
  Community Challenge represents the economically disadvantaged households. These households tend to be less educated and earn a low income.
  Most adults have completed primary school education only. They take up elementary jobs such as service and shop workers, craft workers, manual and construction workers. There is a high proportion of students and home-makers.
  Without much disposable income, these households tend to conduct their daily activities around the estates in which they live. The need for community activities for youngsters and retired seniors is high in these areas. The estates are government-owned and the rent is low. However, the living environment is rather crowded. Some of these households are receiving social security assistance.
- Type H24 Nuclear Renters
  Low income nuclear families in new town public blocks
  3.24% of Hong Kong households
  Nuclear Renters is a cluster of small households who moved to public housing areas in the New Towns in 1980s. They have a low education and income level, and they mainly work as craftsmen, machine operators and other blue collars.
  Most of them are nuclear families with young children. They can not afford to buy their own homes, so they rent a small apartment in areas like Yau Oi Estate and On Ting Estate in Tuen Mun, Long Ping Estate in Yuen Long or Garden Estate in Kwun Tong.
- Type H25 Striving Multi-earners
  Older blue collar families in new town and suburban public blocks
  2.61% of Hong Kong households
  Striving Multi-earners are households with a majority of family members still in the workforce and earning a low income. They are mostly engaged in the manufacturing sector as blue collars. These people typically moved to the early New Towns in the New Territories during its formative years.
  Most are empty-nesters or having grown up children living together. They can be found in suburban public estates like Lok Wah Estate in Ngau Tau Kok, Cho Yiu Estate in Lai King, and also Choi Wan Estate in Choi Hung.
- Type H26 Aging Generations
  Borderline extended families and elderly in old remote public blocks
  3.89% of Hong Kong households
  Aging Generations is the lifestyle of extended families earning a very low income in Hong Kong. They have a low education, and are commuting as blue collars in manufacturing or wholesale. Their age band is higher and a lot of seniors are living together with their grown up children.
  Residents moved to these areas during the 1970’s. Part of these areas have become urban dwellings, yet the living condition is running down as compared to that of the newer public housing estates. These households are located in Lei Tung Estate in Ap Lei Chau, Wah Fu Estate in Aberdeen, and Wang Tau Hom Estate in Wong Tai Sin.
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Grey Perspectives
- Modest seniors and retirees in very old public blocks and communities
  10.96% of Hong Kong households
  (Type I27 -I 29)
  The Grey Perspectives are comprised of a significant proportion of retirees and elderly people. They are mostly uneducated and unskilled. Almost all of them are living in the most primitive public housing owned by the government.
  They used to work as manual workers, craftsmen, and manufacturing or construction workers. Elderlies in these areas have limited activities, and most are under social security and family welfare schemes.
  The living condition in these public rental blocks is poor and crowded. The housing was built mostly before 1970s or 1980s.
- Type I27 Elders Community
  Primitive older families and seniors
  4.19% of Hong Kong households
  Elders Community is a collection of older families living in public estates where seniors are the majority. These housing areas were built in the 1960s and living condition is crowded and primitive. Residents are old, and they are either retired or earning very low pay from manual or unskilled work.
  They can be found in areas like So Uk Estate in Cheung Sha Wan, Ping Shek Estate in Wong Tai Sin and also Wong Chuk Hang Estate.
- Type I28 Retiree Families
  Extended families of very low income
  3.64% of Hong Kong households
  In Retiree Families, old people who have retired are mostly living with their grown up children in old public housing built in the 1970’s. There are larger apartments to cater for their larger family size. Family members are commuting as blue collars or manual workers due to their low education level.
  They are found in areas like Lai Kok Estate in Cheung Sha Wan, Pak Tin Estate in Shek Kip Mei and also Upper Wong Tai Sin Estate.
- Type I29 Sunset Simplicity
  Old single people retired from unskilled manual work
  3.13% of Hong Kong households
  Sunset Simplicity reflects the lifestyle of old people who are singles and are living together in very old and crowded public housing estates with a poor living condition. The residents are either retired or still working as manual workers, hawkers etc.
  These neighbourhoods are located in Chuk Yuen South Estate in Wong Tai Sin, Shek Kip Mei Estate and Lower Ngau Tau Kok Estate.
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