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Waterhead

Interactive map displaying Waterhead

About

Waterhead is an area and electoral ward at the northeastern edge of Oldham town centre, within the Metropolitan Borough of Oldham in Greater Manchester. It has a mix of housing, local shops and community facilities arranged along the main roads that link Oldham with the Pennine foothills. Regular bus services connect the ward with the town centre and with neighbouring suburbs, and primary schools and community centres serve a range of ages. The built environment includes post‑war council estates alongside older terraces from the industrial era.

The area’s history is visible in brick mill buildings and warehouses that remain along former industrial streets, and a tall mill chimney still punctures the local skyline in places. Some former mill sites have been adapted for new uses, while small recreation grounds and local parades of shops provide everyday amenities. Local voluntary groups and the ward council run events and projects aimed at improving public spaces and services for residents.

Area overview

On average Waterhead has very high deprivation and very high crime levels, with around 151 crimes per 1,000 residents per year. Approximately 30.8% of homes in this area are social housing provided by a local council or housing association. The average income per household in Waterhead is £35,879 per year. There are 1 schools in Waterhead: 1 primary (0 Outstanding and 0 Good) and 0 secondary (0 Outstanding and 0 Good). Waterhead is home to around 7,750 people, with a population density of about 4,759.0 per km2.

Crime rate
10/10
Crimes per 1k residents
151
Deprivation level
9/10
Income level
2/10
Social housing
30.8%
Connectivity
N/A

Area Profile

Waterhead Population
7,750
Population density
4,759 per km²

Crime

Crime per 1,000 population

Violence and sexual offences
57.68(+55%)
Anti-social behaviour
23.23(+29%)
Public order
17.81(+76%)
Burglary
17.42(+214%)
Criminal damage and arson
16.9(+88%)
North West average

Demographics

Ethnic groups

British
6,146
79.34%
Pakistani
671
8.66%
African
210
2.71%
Other White
138
1.78%
White and Black Caribbean (mixed)
112
1.45%
Total population: 7,746

Economics

Education (age 16+)

No qualifications
1,654
27.26%
Level 4+ (Degree)
1,230
20.27%
Level 3 (A level)
1,045
17.22%
Level 2 (GCSEs 9-4)
864
14.24%
Level 1 (GCSEs 3-1)
667
10.99%
Total 16+ residents: 6,067

Housing

Housing tenure

Owns with a mortgage
932
27.71%
Owns outright
768
22.84%
Other social rented
569
16.92%
Private landlord or letting agency
502
14.93%
Social rents from council
493
14.66%
Total households: 3,363

Property prices in Waterhead

Based on 63 recent sales, the median property price is £185,000 in Waterhead area, with individual transactions ranging from £37,000 up to £367,500.

Price distribution per property type (last year)

Price distribution by property type for Waterhead 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 Waterhead over the last year.
TypeSalesMedian
Flats1£37,000
Terraced36£155,000
Semi-Detached17£210,000
Detached9£325,000

10 years median price trend in Waterhead

Ten year median sale price trend for each property type in Waterhead.

All postcodes in Waterhead

OL42SW

South View Walk

OL42SX

Ferguson Way

OL43NS

Brideoake Street

OL42PL

Furze Lane

OL42SP

Locking Gate Rise

OL43HL

Lynwood Drive

OL42QU

Herbert Street

OL43EW

Greenacres Road

OL42DF

Cobden Street

OL42TA

Leach Walk

OL42JG

Huddersfield Road

OL42RS

Shrewsbury Street

OL42NU

Ripponden Road

OL42JH

Waterworks Road

OL42RY

Ripponden Road

OL42BH

Raper Street

OL43HA

Lynwood Drive

OL42PT

Barcombe Close

OL42PN

Crowley Lane

OL42EB

Newbreak Street

OL42DQ

Holt Street

OL42PA

Watersheddings Street

OL42SS

Violet Hill Court

OL42PQ

Bramble Avenue

OL42LY

Bainbridge Road

OL42PS

Saffron Drive

OL42NY

Ripponden Road

OL42JS

Heather Close

OL42PU

Saffron Drive

OL42SE

Littlemoor Lane

OL42NX

Rixson Street

OL42GA

Lucas Street

OL42RH

Littlemoor Lane

OL42BU

Greenacres Road

OL42EX

Huddersfield Road

OL42HA

Heywood Street

OL42ED

Ash Square

OL43EZ

Lynwood Drive

OL42SD

Longfield Crescent

OL42BD

Spring Street

OL42TB

Grove Terrace

OL42DJ

Derwent Walk

OL42QP

Edgemoor Close

OL42EN

Greenacres Road

OL42JT

Howard Street

OL42RP

Talbot Close

OL42BE

Waterhead

OL42RB

Huddersfield Road

OL42PJ

Privet Street

OL42EJ

Greenacres Road

OL42HL

Waterhead

OL42XB

Howard Street

OL43EN

Mayall Street East

OL42DL

Mardale Close

OL42EE

Beech Avenue

OL42RX

Ripponden Road

OL42JJ

Waterworks Road

OL43HD

Higgs Close

OL42HX

Peach Road

OL43HF

Manor Farm Rise

OL42SA

Zealand Street

OL42HZ

Cranleigh Close

OL42HN

Huddersfield Road

OL42UZ

Watergate Milne Court

OL42AJ

Bleasby Street

OL42JB

Locking Gate Rise

OL42DW

Buttermere Road

OL42DB

Greenwood Street

OL42LH

Ripponden Road

OL43EU

Galland Street

OL43HS

Oberlin Street

OL42SN

High Moor Crescent

OL43FU

Walter Mills Way

OL42EA

Redgrave Street

OL42TD

Sidebottom Street

OL42UY

Watergate Milne Court

OL42RF

Hutchins Lane

OL42RL

Equitable Street

OL43EJ

Hollinhall Street

OL42HJ

Waterhead

OL42PG

Briar Avenue

OL42SB

Longfield Crescent

OL43FS

Old Manor Farm Close

OL42JE

Bardsley Street

OL42JD

Morley Street

OL42RQ

Huddersfield Road

OL42HB

Brideoak Street

OL42BG

Spring Street

OL42HP

Ann Square

OL43HB

Constantine Street

OL42RJ

Huddersfield Road

OL42JP

Moordale Avenue

OL42NT

Albany Street

OL42EL

Sycamore Avenue

OL43EL

Hollinhall Street

OL42SF

Littlemoor Lane

OL43EP

Esther Street

OL42HR

Rose Hill Court

OL42EH

Chestnut Close

OL43EX

Greenacres Road

Data Sources

All data is sourced from official UK government agencies and public datasets. Last updated: 16/05/2026.