Postcode district · Bolton

BL5 area guide

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

Council: Bolton
Region: North West
Population: 43,939 (2024)

BL5Postcode district · Bolton

At a glance

What BL5 is like

The BL5 postcode district in Bolton covers 702 live postcodes and is home to about 43,939 people across 25 census neighbourhoods. 73.2% of households own their home, 13.9% rent privately and 12.3% are in social housing. The biggest age group is 55–59, and 57.8% 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 sold for a median of £235,000 over the year to August 2026.

Scores

How BL5 compares

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

AffluenceMore

6.0/ 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

£235,000

Median over 341 sales in BL5, −4.1% on the year before.

TransportMore

7.0/ 10

Very good — 2 stations within a mile, 36 bus stops within 800m.

SchoolsMore

86%

of 14 rated schools in BL5 are good or better.

Household incomeMore

£47,592

Average a year, before tax — higher than 35% 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
Well connectedPositive
2 stations within a mile and 36 bus stops within a ten-minute walk.
03
Few private renters
Only 13.9% of households rent privately, against 20.5% across England.
04
Mostly owner-occupied
73.2% of households own their home, against 61.3% across England.

Questions

BL5 FAQs

Is BL5 a good place to live?

Deprivation, crime, schools and transport at a glance.

On the English Indices of Deprivation 2025 it averages decile 6.0 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. 86% of the inspected schools nearby are rated good or better. Transport connectivity scores 7.0 out of 10 (very good).

How much does a house cost in BL5?

The median sale price over the last year was £235,000.

Homes in BL5 sold for a median of £235,000 across 341 sales in the year to August 2026, −4.1% on the year before. Prices come from HM Land Registry's record of every residential sale.

Is BL5 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, above the 31.3 average across England and Wales, band 9 of 10.

Who lives in BL5?

Age, home ownership and housing from the census.

The biggest age group is 55–59, at 7.5% of residents. 73.2% of households own their home. The most common home is semi-detached (35.4%).

Which council covers BL5?

BL5 is in Bolton.

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

How well connected is BL5?

Connectivity scores 7.0 out of 10.

There are 36 bus stops within 800m and 2 stations and tram stops within a mile, scoring 7.0 out of 10 (very good). The nearest station is Daisy Hill Rail Station, 0.6 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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