Postcode district · Birkenhead

CH42 area guide

Who lives in CH42, what homes sell for, and how it compares on crime, schools and transport.

Council: Wirral
Region: North West
Population: 45,724 (2024)

CH42Postcode district · Birkenhead

At a glance

What CH42 is like

The CH42 postcode district in Wirral covers 688 live postcodes and is home to about 45,724 people across 27 census neighbourhoods. 51.4% of households own their home, 28% rent privately and 19.4% are in social housing. The biggest age group is 55–59, and 52% of adults are in work. On deprivation it sits close to the middle of the range for England. Higher-harm crime is around the national middle. Homes in CH42 sold for a median of £160,000 over the year to August 2026.

Scores

How CH42 compares

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

AffluenceMore

3.1/ 10

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

CrimeMore

7/ 10

Around the middle — 39.6 higher-harm crimes per 1,000 people a year vs 31.1 nationally.

House pricesMore

£160,000

Median over 306 sales in CH42, +10% on the year before.

TransportMore

7.0/ 10

Very good — 2 stations within a mile, 70 bus stops within 800m.

SchoolsMore

92%

of 12 rated schools in CH42 are good or better.

Household incomeMore

£39,770

Average a year, before tax — higher than 11% 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 big private rental marketPositive
28% of households rent privately, against 20.5% across England. Tenant demand is established here.
02
Prices risingPositive
The median sale price in CH42 is up 10% on the year before.
03
Well connectedPositive
2 stations within a mile and 70 bus stops within a ten-minute walk.
04
Well-rated schoolsPositive
92% of the inspected schools nearby are rated good or better.

Questions

CH42 FAQs

Is CH42 a good place to live?

Deprivation, crime, schools and transport at a glance.

On the English Indices of Deprivation 2025 it averages decile 3.1 of 10, where 10 is the least deprived tenth of England. Higher-harm crime runs at 39.6 per 1,000 people a year, band 7 of 10 nationally. 92% 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 CH42?

The median sale price over the last year was £160,000.

Homes in CH42 sold for a median of £160,000 across 306 sales in the year to August 2026, +10% on the year before. Prices come from HM Land Registry's record of every residential sale.

Is CH42 safe?

How crime here compares with the rest of the country.

Higher-harm crime — violence, robbery, burglary, vehicle crime and weapons offences — runs at 39.6 offences per 1,000 people a year around CH42, above the 31.1 average across England and Wales, band 7 of 10.

Who lives in CH42?

Age, home ownership and housing from the census.

The biggest age group is 55–59, at 7.3% of residents. 51.4% of households own their home. The most common home is semi-detached (38.1%).

Which council covers CH42?

CH42 is in Wirral.

CH42 is in Wirral, in North West. Council tax, planning applications and bin collections are handled there.

How well connected is CH42?

Connectivity scores 7.0 out of 10.

There are 70 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 Rock Ferry 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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