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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

OL42JL

Waterworks Road

OL42RE

Watersheddings Way

OL42NS

Alva Road

OL42RR

Littlemoor Lane

OL42HF

Waterhead

OL42RT

Littlemoor Lane

OL43FT

Lynwood Drive

OL42HY

Towers Street

OL42JQ

Church Street East

OL42DT

Beresford Street

OL42HQ

Bardsley Street

OL43ER

Esther Street

OL42PF

Almond Road

OL42DR

Top Street

OL42HU

Cobden Street

OL42JR

Roundhill Way

OL43EH

Hollinhall Street

OL42QY

Adlington Street

OL42RW

Vincent Avenue

OL43JA

Greenacres Road

OL42BQ

Spring Street

OL42JU

Adswood Close

OL42PP

Willowfield Road

OL42DY

Redgrave Street

OL42DH

Waterhead

OL42HE

Ashford Court

OL42LB

Bainbridge Road

OL42EY

Heywood Street

OL43ET

Greenacres Road

OL42PW

Walden Avenue

OL42BJ

Windermere Walk

OL42DP

Greenacres Road

OL42SJ

Jackson Mews

OL42DS

Buller Street

OL42DG

Spring Street

OL42QT

Ripponden Road

OL43HT

Greenacres Road

OL42QZ

Sharples Hall Street

OL42AH

Dunkerley Street

OL42PD

Carlton Avenue

OL42DX

Palm Street

OL42JN

Charles Shaw Close

OL42SG

Winslade Close

OL42SR

Armdale Rise

OL42LJ

Ripponden Road

OL42RD

Huddersfield Road

OL42EF

Yew Crescent

OL42NR

Radcliffe Road

OL42BL

Raper Street

OL42SL

Highmoor View

OL42NZ

James Street

OL42HD

Huddersfield Road

OL42ET

Newbreak Close

OL42PB

Counthill Road

OL42EW

Linden Avenue

OL42RZ

Littlemoor Lane

OL42RU

Ripponden Road

OL42EQ

Walnut Avenue

OL42BB

Greenwood Street

OL42HT

Huddersfield Road

OL42DN

Rydal Walk

OL42QX

Herbert Street

OL42EP

Cotton Tree Close

OL43ES

Cambria Street

OL42HH

Stephenson Street

OL43HE

Constantine Street

OL42RN

Leamington Street

OL42JA

Paulden Avenue

OL42PE

Counthill Road

OL42EG

Beech Avenue

OL42PH

Furze Lane

OL42HS

Bardsley Street

OL42SH

Givvons Fold

OL42DU

Beresford Crescent

OL42PR

Lindsay Close

OL43EY

Greenacres Road

Data Sources

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