Wigan area report

Highlights

Wigan is a metropolitan district in Greater Manchester with a population of 329330. The median house price stands at 182500, having risen 25.9 per cent over five years. Semi-detached homes dominate at 45.6 per cent of the housing stock, with 66.4 per cent owner-occupied. The area has an affordability ratio of 5.9, based on median earnings of 33669. Employment stands at 57.5 per cent, with retail and wholesale and health and social work being major industries. Crime recorded by police in the year ending December 2025 was 96.6 per 1000 residents annually. Schools include 145 institutions across primary and secondary levels, with 55 of 58 rated Ofsted schools judged good or better. The area has 57 GP surgeries, 38 dentists and 6 hospitals. Life expectancy is 77.6 years for males and 81.9 for females. Connectivity is strong, with 86.7 per cent gigabit-capable coverage. The nearest railway station is 1.6 kilometres away, offering a 28-minute commute to Deansgate from Hindley Rail Station. Council tax for band D is 2151.54 in 2026/27. Green belt covers 55.7 per cent of the area.

Data updated 2026/27 (tax); 2025 (control). Wigan, 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, Wigan ranks 1st cheapest of 10, 1st most affordable and 1st best for schools.

What does it cost?

• £182,500 median home price (HM Land Registry Price Paid + UK HPI, Apr 2026)

Sold prices in Wigan have risen 28% over the last five years (UK House Price Index).

Who lives here?

• 329,330 residents (ONS Census 2021 (Nomis), 2021)

About 45% of neighbourhoods in England are more deprived than Wigan (English Indices of Deprivation, decile 5 of 10, national basis).

Schools

• 95% of inspected schools rated Good or Outstanding (Get Information About Schools (GIAS) + Ofsted inspections MI, 2026)

Health

• 77.6 · 81.9 yrs life expectancy (men · women) (NHS ODS register (GP/dentist/pharmacy) + OSM (hospitals) + IoD2025 health domain + OHID Fingertips (outcomes), 2026/2025)

Getting around

• ≈28 min fastest train to Manchester (OpenStreetMap + National Rail timetable (ATOC/RDG, GTFS), 2026)
• 87% of premises can get gigabit broadband (Ofcom Connected Nations 2024, Jul 2024)

Has it been a good investment?

Of homes in Wigan that changed hands in the last five years, 30.6% sold for less than the previous owner paid — 11.3 points above North West (19.3%) (nominal, not inflation-adjusted). Across those resales the typical gain was 12.12% over 10.56 years held.

Investment context: a gross rental yield of about 5.5% (area median rent against the median sold price) — appraise a specific property at /appraisal/wigan.

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

Nearby areas we cover: Bolton, Salford, Bury.