Housing in BL1 3BU
What the homes in BL1 3BU are, who owns them, how many people share them and what they rent for.
- Neighbourhood
- Smithills
- Council
- Bolton
- Region
- North West
- Neighbourhood population
- 1,668 (2024)
BL1 3BUBolton
What homes look like here
Most homes here are terraced (80.8%). Flats make up 1%, less than half the 22.2% across England.
Owning vs renting
Across England, 61.3% of households own their home; the BL1 3BU area is broadly in line with that, at 61.2%. The private rented sector is well above the national picture, at 29.7% of households against 20.5%. 33.9% own outright and 27.3% with a mortgage.
- Owned61.2%61.3%
- Shared ownership0.2%1%
- Private rented29.7%20.5%
- Social rented8.8%17.1%
- Lives rent free0.2%0.1%
Who owns, who rents from whom
How many people live in each home
The average home here has 2.6 people living in it. 29.7% of households are one person living alone, against 30.1% across England.
Who lives together
The most common household is couple with dependent children, at 24.7%. 36.4% of households include dependent children.
Private rents in Bolton
Average monthly rent for a new or renewed tenancy in Bolton, August 2026, +11.1% on a year earlier. Published by council, not by neighbourhood.
Census figures aren't published for single postcodes, so everything on this tab describes the neighbourhood BL1 3BU sits in (Smithills): about 1,668 residents.
Source: Census 2021, Office for National Statistics. Population: ONS mid-year estimates. Open Government Licence v3.0. Rents: ONS Price Index of Private Rents.