M4 area guide
Who lives in M4, what homes sell for, and how it compares on crime, schools and transport.
- Council
- Manchester
- Region
- North West
- Population
- 28,357 (2024)
What M4 is like
The M4 postcode district in Manchester covers 526 live postcodes and is home to about 28,357 people across 16 census neighbourhoods. 21.7% of households own their home, 61.2% rent privately and 16.2% are in social housing. The biggest age group is 25–29, and 72.1% 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 M4 sold for a median of £225,000 over the year to August 2026.
How M4 compares
Each figure is set against England as a whole. Follow a score for the detail behind it.
Around the middle — decile 1 is the most deprived tenth of England, 10 the least.
Higher than most — 50.8 higher-harm crimes per 1,000 people a year vs 31.3 nationally.
Average a year, before tax — higher than 39% of neighbourhoods in England and Wales.
Worth knowing before you invest
Only flagged where this area is materially different from the national picture.
- 01A big private rental marketPositive
61.2% of households rent privately, against 20.5% across England. Tenant demand is established here.
- 02A student area
11.6% of adults are full-time students, against 7.9% across England. Expect HMO demand and term-time turnover.
- 03Higher crime than mostLook closer
50.8 higher-harm crimes per 1,000 people a year, against 31.3 across England and Wales.
- 04A young populationPositive
61.4% of residents are 20 to 34 — the age group that rents most — against 19.6% across England.
- 05Prices fallingLook closer
The median sale price in M4 is down 8.5% on the year before.
M4 FAQs
01Is M4 a good place to live?Deprivation, crime, schools and transport at a glance.
Deprivation, crime, schools and transport at a glance.
02How much does a house cost in M4?The median sale price over the last year was £225,000.
The median sale price over the last year was £225,000.
03Is M4 safe?How crime here compares with the rest of the country.
How crime here compares with the rest of the country.
04Who lives in M4?Age, home ownership and housing from the census.
Age, home ownership and housing from the census.
05Which council covers M4?M4 is in Manchester.
M4 is in Manchester.
06How well connected is M4?Connectivity scores 10.0 out of 10.
Connectivity scores 10.0 out of 10.
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.