Postcode district · Oldham

OL1 area guide

Who lives in OL1, what homes sell for, and how it compares on crime, schools and transport.

Council: Oldham
Region: North West
Population: 50,377 (2024)

OL1Postcode district · Oldham

At a glance

What OL1 is like

The OL1 postcode district in Oldham covers 781 live postcodes and is home to about 50,377 people across 25 census neighbourhoods. 51.9% of households own their home, 18.5% rent privately and 28.7% are in social housing. The biggest age group is 10–14, and 49.1% 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 OL1 sold for a median of £187,000 over the year to August 2026.

Scores

How OL1 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

10/ 10

Higher than most — 47.7 higher-harm crimes per 1,000 people a year vs 31.3 nationally.

House pricesMore

£187,000

Median over 143 sales in OL1, +14% on the year before.

TransportMore

6.0/ 10

Very good — 5 stations within a mile, 42 bus stops within 800m.

SchoolsMore

89%

of 19 rated schools in OL1 are good or better.

Household incomeMore

£41,292

Average a year, before tax — higher than 15% 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
47.7 higher-harm crimes per 1,000 people a year, against 31.3 across England and Wales.
02
A lot of social housingLook closer
28.7% of homes are social housing, against 17.1% across England.
03
Prices risingPositive
The median sale price in OL1 is up 14% on the year before.
04
Well connectedPositive
5 stations within a mile and 42 bus stops within a ten-minute walk.

Questions

OL1 FAQs

Is OL1 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 47.7 per 1,000 people a year, band 10 of 10 nationally. 89% of the inspected schools nearby are rated good or better. Transport connectivity scores 6.0 out of 10 (very good).

How much does a house cost in OL1?

The median sale price over the last year was £187,000.

Homes in OL1 sold for a median of £187,000 across 143 sales in the year to August 2026, +14% on the year before. Prices come from HM Land Registry's record of every residential sale.

Is OL1 safe?

How crime here compares with the rest of the country.

Higher-harm crime — violence, robbery, burglary, vehicle crime and weapons offences — runs at 47.7 offences per 1,000 people a year around OL1, well above the 31.3 average across England and Wales, band 10 of 10.

Who lives in OL1?

Age, home ownership and housing from the census.

The biggest age group is 10–14, at 8.6% of residents. 51.9% of households own their home. The most common home is terraced (39.7%).

Which council covers OL1?

OL1 is in Oldham.

OL1 is in Oldham, in North West. Council tax, planning applications and bin collections are handled there.

How well connected is OL1?

Connectivity scores 6.0 out of 10.

There are 42 bus stops within 800m and 5 stations and tram stops within a mile, scoring 6.0 out of 10 (very good). The nearest station is Derker (Manchester Metrolink), 0.2 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.

Explore