Stroud has a population of 13,400 and about 6,000 households in the parish, with a wider district housing mix that includes terraces, semis, detached homes and flats. The town has an economy built around manufacturing, engineering, creative industries, retail and public services, while the centre also has independent shops and arts activity. Many homes sit among Cotswold stone streets, conservation areas and the canal, so the area feels distinct from Gloucester or Cheltenham. Flood risk near the River Frome and clay-related ground movement are part of the local picture too.