Daylight through the yearLongest day (Jun 21): 19 h 4 min3:36 am – 10:40 pmShortest day (Dec 21): 5 h 43 min9:12 am – 2:55 pm
Sun todaySunrise –Sunset –
People2,640 residentsin the North Mainland census areaMedian age 42.11,202 households64% of homes owner-occupied41% owned outright28% social rented, 6% private rentedSource: National Records of Scotland, Census 2022
Work and commuting3.1% unemployment rate69% of adults are economically active, 1,415 in work, 21% retiredMain industries: health and social work 12%, education 10%, retail and wholesale 9%Getting to work: 23% work from home, 68% go by car, 3% take public transport, 4% walk or cycle42% of those who travel work within 10 km of homeSource: National Records of Scotland, Census 2022
Education and languages25% of adults hold a degree or higher16% have no qualifications, 13% an apprenticeshipMain language: English 96%, Scots 2%, other languages 2%Source: National Records of Scotland, Census 2022
ClimateWarmest month August: average 13°CColdest month February: average 5°C1,091 mm of rain a year, 24 days with 10 mm or morewettest month January17 days of air frost, no summer days above 25°C in a typical yearSource: Met Office HadUK-Grid 1991-2020 averages, 2 km grid
Nearby landmarksBlack Waterlake · under a mileMuckla Waterlake · under a mileBraewick Beachbeach · under a mileTang Wickbay · under a mileSandy Banksbeach · 1.0 miBrae Wickbay · under a mileSource: Ordnance Survey Open Names
Earthquakes1 of magnitude 2 or more within 50 miles since 19701 of magnitude 3+, 0 of magnitude 4+Largest: magnitude 3.0 on 15 Jan 200918 mi away, Shetland IslandsMost recent: magnitude 3.0 on 15 Jan 200918 mi away, Shetland IslandsSource: British Geological Survey earthquake database
Air qualityNO2 0.8 · PM2.5 3.0 · PM10 4.7 µg/m³annual mean concentrations, 2024Within the WHO guidelines for all threeSource: DEFRA modelled background pollution maps 2024, 1 km grid
Broadband13% of premises can get gigabit-capable broadband79% can get superfast (30 Mbit/s or more)4.9% cannot get a decent connection (below the 10 Mbit/s universal service obligation)1,348 residential premises in the census areaSource: Ofcom Connected Nations, July 2025
Elevation21 m69 ft above sea levelLand within 1 km ranges from -1 to 46 mSource: Ordnance Survey, OS Terrain 50
Local servicesHospitalGilbert Bain Hospital27 miGP surgeryHillswick Health Centre3.3 miPharmacyHillswick Health Centre3.3 miDentistBrae Dental Clinic10 miSource: NHS Organisation Data Service; Public Health Scotland
Getting aroundAirportLerwick / Tingwall Airport LWK23 miFerryPapa Stour Shetland Ferry Terminal11 miBus stops1 within a mileSources: Department for Transport NaPTAN; OurAirports
Distances in these cards are measured from the centre of the ZE2 postcode district.
