Preston is a city and district in Lancashire, North West England, located on the north bank of the River Ribble. It serves as the administrative centre of Lancashire and has a mix of urban and suburban areas. The district includes several neighbourhoods, such as Fulwood, Ribbleton, and Ashton-on-Ribble, each with its own character. Preston is known for its historic market square, one of the oldest in the UK, and its proximity to the Forest of Bowland and Ribble Valley.
The area has strong transport links, including the M6 motorway and West Coast Main Line, connecting it to major cities like Manchester and Liverpool. Preston is home to the University of Central Lancashire, one of the largest in the country. The district has a mix of green spaces, including Avenham and Miller Parks, alongside retail and commercial developments. Its industrial heritage includes textiles and engineering, though the economy has diversified in recent decades.
Area overview
On average Preston has high deprivation and high crime levels, with around 144 crimes per 1,000 residents per year. Approximately 16.8% of homes in this area are social housing provided by a local council or housing association. The average income of residents in Preston is £40,509 per year. There are 82 schools in Preston: 54 primary (10 Outstanding and 34 Good) and 10 secondary (3 Outstanding and 5 Good).
Crime rate
7/10
Crimes per 1k residents
144
Deprivation level
7/10
Income level
5/10
Social housing
16.8%
Connectivity
N/A
Area Profile
Preston Population
147,835
Population density
1,039 per km²
Demographics
Ethnic groups
British
97,715
66.1%
Indian
19,047
12.88%
Other White
8,321
5.63%
Pakistani
7,554
5.11%
African
2,355
1.59%
Total population: 147,834
Religion
Christian
70,424
47.64%
No religion
38,931
26.33%
Muslim
23,825
16.12%
Not answered
8,045
5.44%
Hindu
4,398
2.97%
Total population: 147,835
Education (age 16+)
Level 4+ (Degree)
37,641
31.72%
No qualifications
23,079
19.45%
Level 3 (A level)
21,665
18.26%
Level 2 (GCSEs 9-4)
15,243
12.84%
Level 1 (GCSEs 3-1)
11,143
9.39%
Total 16+ residents: 118,669
Economic activity (age 16+)
Employed
62,664
52.81%
Retired
21,298
17.95%
Student
9,397
7.92%
Looking after home or family
6,370
5.37%
Long-term sick or disabled
6,125
5.16%
Total 16+ residents: 118,670
Housing
Housing tenure
Owns outright
18,219
30.57%
Owns with a mortgage
16,524
27.72%
Private landlord or letting agency
11,923
20%
Other social rented
9,101
15.27%
Social rents from council
1,882
3.16%
Total households: 59,607
Housing type
Semi-detached
20,358
34.15%
Terraced
17,431
29.24%
Detached
11,348
19.04%
Purpose-built flat
8,318
13.95%
Converted/shared house (inc HMO)
1,238
2.08%
Total households: 59,607
Property prices in Preston
Based on 1,687 recent sales, the median property price is £185,000 in Preston area, with individual transactions ranging from £20,500 up to £1,171,027.
Price distribution per property type (last
year)
Price distribution by property type for Preston in the last year.
Median sale price and percentiles per property type (last
year)
Median sale price, sales count, and percentile information for each property type in Preston over the last year.
Type
Sales
Median
5th percentile
25th percentile (Lower quartile)
75th percentile (Upper quartile)
95th percentile
Detached
450
£325,000
£185,000
£270,000
£385,000
£582,750
Flats
132
£95,000
£43,730
£73,375
£121,325
£158,675
Semi-Detached
608
£198,475
£120,105
£165,000
£235,000
£339,300
Terraced
497
£128,000
£75,800
£102,308
£157,000
£216,300
10 years median price trend
in Preston
Ten year median sale price trend for each property type in Preston.
