Postcode · Bolton

BL1 8BB area guide

Who lives in BL1 8BB, what homes sell for, and how it compares on crime, schools and transport.

Neighbourhood: Smithills
Council: Bolton
Region: North West
Neighbourhood population: 1,566 (2024)

BL1 8BBBolton

At a glance

What BL1 8BB is like

BL1 8BB is a postcode in the Smithills area of Bolton. Because census and crime data isn’t published for single postcodes, the figures here cover the surrounding neighbourhood of about 1,566 people. 68.6% of households own their home, 20.5% rent privately and 10.3% are in social housing. The largest age group is 50–54, and 59.8% of adults are in work. On deprivation, it sits near the middle of the scale for England. Higher-harm crime is above the England and Wales average. Homes in BL1 8 sold for a median of £205,000 over the year to August 2026.

Scores

How BL1 8BB compares

Headline figures for BL1 8BB, set against England as a whole.

AffluenceMore

4.0/ 10

Around the middle. Scored from 1 (most deprived in England) to 10 (least deprived).

CrimeMore

9/ 10

Higher than most: 41.4 higher-harm crimes per 1,000 people a year vs 31.3 nationally.

House pricesMore

£205,000

Median over 87 sales in BL1 8, +15.5% on the year before.

TransportMore

3.0/ 10

Limited: 0 stations within a mile, 41 bus stops within 800m.

SchoolsMore

94%

Rated good or better across 17 inspected schools within 1 mile.

Household incomeMore

£49,066

Average annual income before tax, higher than 39% of neighbourhoods in England and Wales.

What stands out

Worth knowing before you invest

Where BL1 8BB differs most from the national average.

01
Higher crime than mostLook closer
41.4 higher-harm crimes per 1,000 people a year, against 31.3 across England and Wales.
02
Prices risingPositive
The median sale price in BL1 8 is up 15.5% on the year before.
03
Well-rated schoolsPositive
94% of the inspected schools nearby are rated good or better.

Questions

BL1 8BB FAQs

Is BL1 8BB a good place to live?

Deprivation, crime, schools and transport at a glance.

It scores 4.0 out of 10 on the English Indices of Deprivation 2025, where 10 is the least deprived in England. Higher-harm crime runs at 41.4 per 1,000 people a year, band 9 of 10 nationally. 94% of the inspected schools nearby are rated good or better. Transport connectivity scores 3.0 out of 10 (limited).

How much does a house cost in BL1 8BB?

The median sale price over the last year was £205,000.

Homes in BL1 8 sold for a median of £205,000 across 87 sales in the year to August 2026, +15.5% on the year before. Prices come from HM Land Registry’s record of every residential sale.

Is BL1 8BB safe?

How recorded crime here compares with the national average.

Higher-harm crime (violence, robbery, burglary, vehicle crime and weapons offences) runs at 41.4 offences per 1,000 people a year around BL1 8BB, above the 31.3 average across England and Wales, band 9 of 10.

Who lives in BL1 8BB?

Age, home ownership and housing from the census.

The largest age group is 50–54, at 8.1% of residents. 68.6% of households own their home. The most common property type is terraced (58.1%).

Which council covers BL1 8BB?

The local authority for BL1 8BB is Bolton.

BL1 8BB comes under Bolton in the North West. Council tax, planning applications and bin collections are handled there.

How well connected is BL1 8BB?

Connectivity scores 3.0 out of 10.

There are 41 bus stops within 800m and 0 stations and tram stops within a mile, scoring 3.0 out of 10 (limited). The nearest station is Hall i' th' Wood Rail Station, 1.5 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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