Oldham area report

Highlights

Oldham is a metropolitan district in Greater Manchester with a population of 242088. The median house price stands at 198500, having risen 42.9 per cent over five years. Terraced homes are most common, accounting for 38.5 per cent of housing stock, followed by semi-detached at 35.9 per cent. The area is affordable relative to earnings, with a price-to-income ratio of 6.1. Employment stands at 52.5 per cent, with the largest sectors being retail and wholesale at 18.4 per cent and health and social work at 15.5 per cent. There are 127 schools including 86 primary and 14 secondary establishments, of which 41 are rated good or better by Ofsted. Air quality is moderate, with nitrogen dioxide at 13.5 microgrammes per cubic metre annually and particulate matter at 7.4. The area is 42.8 per cent green belt. Life expectancy is 78.0 years for males and 81.6 years for females. Recorded crime totals 110.9 offences per 1000 residents per year, with violence against the person the highest category at 11950 incidents. Superfast broadband is available to 97.9 per cent of premises.

Data updated 2026/27 (tax); 2025 (control). Oldham, Greater Manchester — a free, sourced local-area report from Acreright. Every figure shows its source and date; where the data isn't reliable we say so rather than guess.

Within Greater Manchester, Oldham ranks 4th cheapest of 10, 4th most affordable and 4th best for schools.

What does it cost?

• £198,500 median home price (HM Land Registry Price Paid + UK HPI, Apr 2026)

Sold prices in Oldham have risen 34% over the last five years (UK House Price Index).

Who lives here?

• 242,088 residents (ONS Census 2021 (Nomis), 2021)

About 25% of neighbourhoods in England are more deprived than Oldham (English Indices of Deprivation, decile 3 of 10, national basis).

Schools

• 80% of inspected schools rated Good or Outstanding (Get Information About Schools (GIAS) + Ofsted inspections MI, 2026)

Health

• 78 · 81.6 yrs life expectancy (men · women) (NHS ODS register (GP/dentist/pharmacy) + OSM (hospitals) + IoD2025 health domain + OHID Fingertips (outcomes), 2026/2025)

Getting around

• ≈24 min fastest train to Manchester (OpenStreetMap + National Rail timetable (ATOC/RDG, GTFS), 2026)
• 88% of premises can get gigabit broadband (Ofcom Connected Nations 2024, Jul 2024)

Has it been a good investment?

Of homes in Oldham that changed hands in the last five years, 15.6% sold for less than the previous owner paid — 3.7 points below North West (19.3%) (nominal, not inflation-adjusted). Across those resales the typical gain was 23.79% over 10.29 years held.

Investment context: a gross rental yield of about 6.3% (area median rent against the median sold price) — appraise a specific property at /appraisal/oldham.

Compare every area in Greater Manchester: Greater Manchester area guide & rankings.

Nearby areas we cover: Rochdale, Tameside, Manchester.