Postcode · Oldbury

B68 8ST area guide

Who lives in B68 8ST, what homes sell for, and how it compares on crime, schools and transport.

Neighbourhood: Smethwick North & West
Council: Sandwell
Region: West Midlands
Neighbourhood population: 2,426 (2024)

B68 8STOldbury

At a glance

What B68 8ST is like

B68 8ST is a postcode in the Smethwick North & West neighbourhood of Sandwell. Nothing here is published for a single postcode, so these figures describe the neighbourhood around it: about 2,426 people. 47.5% of households own their home, 17.5% rent privately and 33.6% are in social housing. The biggest age group is 15–19, and 43.9% of adults are in work. It ranks among the more deprived parts of England. Higher-harm crime is around the national middle. Homes in B68 8 sold for a median of £232,500 over the year to August 2026.

Scores

How B68 8ST compares

Each figure is set against England as a whole. Follow a score for the detail behind it.

AffluenceMore

1.0/ 10

More deprived than most — decile 1 is the most deprived tenth of England, 10 the least.

CrimeMore

7/ 10

Around the middle — 32.3 higher-harm crimes per 1,000 people a year vs 31.1 nationally.

House pricesMore

£232,500

Median over 55 sales in B68 8, +4.7% on the year before.

TransportMore

10.0/ 10

Excellent — 6 stations within a mile, 37 bus stops within 800m.

SchoolsMore

100%

of 11 rated schools within 1 mile are good or better.

Household incomeMore

£39,165

Average a year, before tax — higher than 9% of neighbourhoods in England and Wales.

What stands out

Worth knowing before you invest

Only flagged where this area is materially different from the national picture.

01
A student area
15.4% of adults are full-time students, against 7.9% across England. Expect HMO demand and term-time turnover.
02
A young populationPositive
22.7% of residents are 20 to 34 — the age group that rents most — against 19.6% across England.
03
More deprived than mostLook closer
On the English Indices of Deprivation 2025 it averages decile 1.0 of 10. Yields can be higher, but check tenant demand street by street.
04
A lot of social housingLook closer
33.6% of homes are social housing, against 17.1% across England.
05
Well connectedPositive
6 stations within a mile and 37 bus stops within a ten-minute walk.

Questions

B68 8ST FAQs

Is B68 8ST a good place to live?

Deprivation, crime, schools and transport at a glance.

On the English Indices of Deprivation 2025 it averages decile 1.0 of 10, where 10 is the least deprived tenth of England. Higher-harm crime runs at 32.3 per 1,000 people a year, band 7 of 10 nationally. 100% of the inspected schools nearby are rated good or better. Transport connectivity scores 10.0 out of 10 (excellent).

How much does a house cost in B68 8ST?

The median sale price over the last year was £232,500.

Homes in B68 8 sold for a median of £232,500 across 55 sales in the year to August 2026, +4.7% on the year before. Prices come from HM Land Registry's record of every residential sale.

Is B68 8ST safe?

How crime here compares with the rest of the country.

Higher-harm crime — violence, robbery, burglary, vehicle crime and weapons offences — runs at 32.3 offences per 1,000 people a year around B68 8ST, broadly in line with the 31.1 average across England and Wales, band 7 of 10.

Who lives in B68 8ST?

Age, home ownership and housing from the census.

The biggest age group is 15–19, at 9.8% of residents. 47.5% of households own their home. The most common home is terraced (40.9%).

Which council covers B68 8ST?

B68 8ST is in Sandwell.

B68 8ST is in Sandwell, in West Midlands. Council tax, planning applications and bin collections are handled there.

How well connected is B68 8ST?

Connectivity scores 10.0 out of 10.

There are 37 bus stops within 800m and 6 stations and tram stops within a mile, scoring 10.0 out of 10 (excellent). The nearest station is Langley Green Rail Station, 0.5 miles away.

Sources: Census 2021 (ONS); ONS mid-year population estimates; police recorded crime; the English, Welsh and Scottish indices of deprivation; ONS small area income estimates; ONS private rents; DfE, Welsh and Scottish school registers and Ofsted; DfT NaPTAN; ORR estimates of station usage; HM Land Registry Price Paid Data. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Contains OS data © Crown copyright and database right.

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