Postcode district · Birkenhead

L42 area guide

Who lives in L42, what homes sell for, and how it compares on crime, schools and transport.

Council: Wirral
Region: North West
Population: 9,519 (2024)

L42Postcode district · Birkenhead

At a glance

What L42 is like

The L42 postcode district in Wirral covers 0 live postcodes and is home to about 9,519 people in 4,162 households. 35.8% of households own their home, 39.8% rent privately and 22.9% are in social housing. The largest age group is 30–34, and 50.7% of adults are in work. It ranks among the more deprived parts of England. Higher-harm crime is well above the England and Wales average.

Scores

How L42 compares

Headline figures for L42, set against England as a whole.

AffluenceMore

1.2/ 10

More deprived than most. Scored from 1 (most deprived in England) to 10 (least deprived).

CrimeMore

8/ 10

Higher than most: 51.3 higher-harm crimes per 1,000 people a year vs 31.1 nationally.

TransportMore

7.0/ 10

Very good: 3 stations within a mile, 62 bus stops within 800m.

SchoolsMore

67%

Rated good or better across 3 inspected schools in L42.

Household incomeMore

£33,700

Average annual income before tax, higher than 1% of neighbourhoods in England and Wales.

What stands out

Worth knowing before you invest

Where L42 differs most from the national average.

01
A big private rental marketPositive
39.8% of households rent privately, against 20.5% across England. Tenant demand is established here.
02
Higher crime than mostLook closer
51.3 higher-harm crimes per 1,000 people a year, against 31.1 across England and Wales.
03
A young populationPositive
23.3% of residents are aged 20 to 34 (the peak renting age), against 19.6% across England.
04
More deprived than mostLook closer
Scores 1.2 out of 10 on the English Indices of Deprivation 2025 (where 1 is most deprived). Yields can be higher, but check tenant demand street by street.
05
Well connectedPositive
3 stations within a mile and 62 bus stops within a ten-minute walk.

Questions

L42 FAQs

Is L42 a good place to live?

Deprivation, crime, schools and transport at a glance.

It scores 1.2 out of 10 on the English Indices of Deprivation 2025, where 10 is the least deprived in England. Higher-harm crime runs at 51.3 per 1,000 people a year, band 8 of 10 nationally. 67% of the inspected schools nearby are rated good or better. Transport connectivity scores 7.0 out of 10 (very good).

Is L42 safe?

How recorded crime here compares with the national average.

Higher-harm crime (violence, robbery, burglary, vehicle crime and weapons offences) runs at 51.3 offences per 1,000 people a year around L42, well above the 31.1 average across England and Wales, band 8 of 10.

Who lives in L42?

Age, home ownership and housing from the census.

The largest age group is 30–34, at 8.3% of residents. 35.8% of households own their home. The most common property type is terraced (47.6%).

Which council covers L42?

The local authority for L42 is Wirral.

L42 comes under Wirral in the North West. Council tax, planning applications and bin collections are handled there.

How well connected is L42?

Connectivity scores 7.0 out of 10.

There are 62 bus stops within 800m and 3 stations and tram stops within a mile, scoring 7.0 out of 10 (very good). The nearest station is Green Lane Rail Station, 0.4 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.

Explore