Council tax in England
This page helps explain how council tax works across 317 local authorities
All figures from published government data. Comparisons and rankings are calculated for context.
£1,026
Band D average
£2,121
Gap between highest & lowest
+4.3%
Average increase this year
£102.6 billion
Combined council spending
Comparing like with like
Rankings grouped by council type for fair comparison
These councils provide all services - education, social care, roads, bins, and more. Their tax covers everything.
District councils handle bins, planning, housing, and local services. You also pay county council tax on top.
County councils handle education, social care, and roads. Their share is the biggest part of your bill in two-tier areas.
Why group councils this way? Comparing a district council to a unitary authority is like comparing apples to oranges. Districts appear cheaper, but you also pay county council tax. By grouping similar councils together, you can see who really charges more for equivalent services.
This year's changes
Biggest increases and smallest rises from 2024-25 to 2025-26
How council tax rates are spread
Distribution of Band D rates across all councils
The median Band D rate is £375, meaning half of all councils charge more and half charge less. The gap between the cheapest (£163) and most expensive (£2,284) is £2,121.
By council type
How rates vary across different types of local authority
Why the difference? Unitary authorities and metropolitan districts tend to have higher rates because they provide all services (social care, education, roads, bins, etc.) in one council. District councils have lower rates because county councils handle the expensive services like social care and education.
Where all the money goes
Combined spending across all 317 councils with budget data
Schools and learning support
Support for elderly and disabled adults
Protection and support for children and families
Waste and local environment
Keeping communities healthy
Running the council
Homes and homelessness prevention
Recreation and community facilities
Getting around your area
Development and land use
Education and social care dominate council budgets
Education (including school transport and special needs) is the single largest category, followed by adult and children's social care. Together, these three services account for around 80% of total council spending - and demand keeps growing.
Efficiency & value for money
How much councils spend per person and on administration
£1,030
Spent per resident annually
15.8%
Of budget on central services
73.4m
Residents with data
Administrative overhead comparison
What do these numbers mean?
Per-capita spending shows how much each council spends divided by their population. Higher isn't necessarily bad - councils with more elderly residents or deprived areas will naturally spend more on social care. Admin overhead shows what percentage of the budget goes to central services like HR, IT, and council tax collection.
How spending varies by council type
Different councils have very different spending priorities
21 councils
Provides all services including education and social care
63 councils
Provides all services including education and social care
36 councils
Provides all services including education and social care
33 councils
Provides all services including education and social care
Why such big differences? County councils and unitary authorities handle expensive services like education and social care. District councils focus on local services like bins, planning, and housing - which is why their budgets are much smaller.
Key takeaways
Council tax has risen faster than inflation for over a decade. The average increase this year is 4.3%.
Where you live makes a big difference. The gap between the highest and lowest councils is £2,121.
Education, adult social care, and children's services together make up around 80% of council spending.
Unitary authorities charge more because they do everything. District councils charge less because counties handle expensive services.
Want to see how your council compares?
Find your council