Postcode sector · Bolton

BL5 1 area guide

Who lives in BL5 1, what homes sell for, and how it compares on crime, schools and transport.

Council: Bolton
Region: North West
Population: 12,280 (2024)

BL5 1Postcode sector · Bolton

At a glance

What BL5 1 is like

The BL5 1 postcode sector in Bolton covers 96 live postcodes and is home to about 12,280 people across 7 census neighbourhoods. 77% of households own their home, 15.8% rent privately and 6.8% are in social housing. The biggest age group is 55–59, and 56.1% of adults are in work. On deprivation it sits close to the middle of the range for England. Higher-harm crime is in the top bands nationally. Homes in BL5 1 sold for a median of £285,000 over the year to August 2026.

Scores

How BL5 1 compares

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

AffluenceMore

5.7/ 10

Around the middle — decile 1 is the most deprived tenth of England, 10 the least.

CrimeMore

9/ 10

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

House pricesMore

£285,000

Median over 33 sales in BL5 1, +1.8% on the year before.

TransportMore

3.0/ 10

Limited — 0 stations within a mile, 23 bus stops within 800m.

SchoolsMore

50%

of 4 rated schools in BL5 1 are good or better.

Household incomeMore

£45,820

Average a year, before tax — higher than 29% 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
Higher crime than mostLook closer
41.4 higher-harm crimes per 1,000 people a year, against 31.3 across England and Wales.
02
An older population
21.2% of residents are 65 or over, against 18.4% across England.
03
Mostly owner-occupied
77% of households own their home, against 61.3% across England.

Questions

BL5 1 FAQs

Is BL5 1 a good place to live?

Deprivation, crime, schools and transport at a glance.

On the English Indices of Deprivation 2025 it averages decile 5.7 of 10, where 10 is the least deprived tenth of England. Higher-harm crime runs at 41.4 per 1,000 people a year, band 9 of 10 nationally. 50% 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 BL5 1?

The median sale price over the last year was £285,000.

Homes in BL5 1 sold for a median of £285,000 across 33 sales in the year to August 2026, +1.8% on the year before. Prices come from HM Land Registry's record of every residential sale.

Is BL5 1 safe?

How crime here compares with the rest of the country.

Higher-harm crime — violence, robbery, burglary, vehicle crime and weapons offences — runs at 41.4 offences per 1,000 people a year around BL5 1, above the 31.3 average across England and Wales, band 9 of 10.

Who lives in BL5 1?

Age, home ownership and housing from the census.

The biggest age group is 55–59, at 7.2% of residents. 77% of households own their home. The most common home is semi-detached (40.4%).

Which council covers BL5 1?

BL5 1 is in Bolton.

BL5 1 is in Bolton, in North West. Council tax, planning applications and bin collections are handled there.

How well connected is BL5 1?

Connectivity scores 3.0 out of 10.

There are 23 bus stops within 800m and 0 stations and tram stops within a mile, scoring 3.0 out of 10 (limited). The nearest station is Atherton Rail Station, 1.2 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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