Postcode district · Oldham

OL8 area guide

Who lives in OL8, what homes sell for, and how it compares on crime, schools and transport.

Council: Oldham
Region: North West
Population: 59,057 (2024)

OL8Postcode district · Oldham

At a glance

What OL8 is like

The OL8 postcode district in Oldham covers 847 live postcodes and is home to about 59,057 people across 30 census neighbourhoods. 47.8% of households own their home, 20.3% rent privately and 30.9% are in social housing. The biggest age group is 10–14, and 45.2% of adults are in work. It ranks among the more deprived parts of England. Higher-harm crime is in the top bands nationally. Homes in OL8 sold for a median of £181,000 over the year to August 2026.

Scores

How OL8 compares

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

AffluenceMore

1.4/ 10

More deprived than most — 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

£181,000

Median over 213 sales in OL8, +0.6% on the year before.

TransportMore

4.5/ 10

Good — 1 station within a mile, 50 bus stops within 800m.

SchoolsMore

83%

of 23 rated schools in OL8 are good or better.

Household incomeMore

£38,520

Average a year, before tax — higher than 7% 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 student area
11.4% of adults are full-time students, against 7.9% across England. Expect HMO demand and term-time turnover.
02
Higher crime than mostLook closer
47.7 higher-harm crimes per 1,000 people a year, against 31.3 across England and Wales.
03
More deprived than mostLook closer
On the English Indices of Deprivation 2025 it averages decile 1.4 of 10. Yields can be higher, but check tenant demand street by street.
04
A lot of social housingLook closer
30.9% of homes are social housing, against 17.1% across England.

Questions

OL8 FAQs

Is OL8 a good place to live?

Deprivation, crime, schools and transport at a glance.

On the English Indices of Deprivation 2025 it averages decile 1.4 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. 83% of the inspected schools nearby are rated good or better. Transport connectivity scores 4.5 out of 10 (good).

How much does a house cost in OL8?

The median sale price over the last year was £181,000.

Homes in OL8 sold for a median of £181,000 across 213 sales in the year to August 2026, +0.6% on the year before. Prices come from HM Land Registry's record of every residential sale.

Is OL8 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 OL8, well above the 31.3 average across England and Wales, band 10 of 10.

Who lives in OL8?

Age, home ownership and housing from the census.

The biggest age group is 10–14, at 8.9% of residents. 47.8% of households own their home. The most common home is terraced (45.6%).

Which council covers OL8?

OL8 is in Oldham.

OL8 is in Oldham, in North West. Council tax, planning applications and bin collections are handled there.

How well connected is OL8?

Connectivity scores 4.5 out of 10.

There are 50 bus stops within 800m and 1 station or tram stop within a mile, scoring 4.5 out of 10 (good). The nearest station is Oldham King Street (Manchester Metrolink), 0.9 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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