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West Lancashire

Interactive map displaying West Lancashire

About

West Lancashire is a local government district in the county of Lancashire, in North West England. The area includes Ormskirk, Skelmersdale, Burscough, Tarleton and a number of villages on the coastal plain. Parts of the district are drained by the River Douglas and crossed by the Leeds and Liverpool Canal; Martin Mere Wetland Centre lies close to Burscough and provides a focal point for wetland habitat and birdlife. Ormskirk retains a market-place and a local baking tradition, gingerbread, that has been associated with the town for centuries.

Agriculture and food production shape much of the plain around Tarleton and Hesketh Bank, where fields and market gardens meet drainage channels and small meres. Rufford Abbey Country Park and its surrounding woodland and ponds form a country-park landscape within the district, with canal arms and towpaths linking settlements. Rail and road connections serve a mix of commuter and local trips, while community halls, parish churches and town centres reflect the district’s pattern of settlement and services.

Area overview

On average West Lancashire has moderate deprivation and very low crime levels, with around 47 crimes per 1,000 residents per year. Approximately 11.2% of homes in this area are social housing provided by a local council or housing association. The average income per household in West Lancashire is £48,123 per year. There are 74 schools in West Lancashire: 56 primary (11 Outstanding and 39 Good) and 8 secondary (0 Outstanding and 4 Good). West Lancashire is home to around 117,429 people, with a population density of about 338.8 per km2.

Crime rate
2/10
Crimes per 1k residents
47
Deprivation level
4/10
Income level
7/10
Social housing
11.2%
Connectivity
N/A

Area Profile

West Lancashire Population
117,429
Population density
338.8 per km²

Crime

Crime per 1,000 population

Violence and sexual offences
25.17(-32%)
Anti-social behaviour
22.37(+20%)
Criminal damage and arson
5.41(-40%)
Other theft
3.7(-44%)
Shoplifting
3.17(-44%)
North West average

Demographics

Ethnic groups

British
108,998
92.82%
Other White
4,040
3.44%
Irish
657
0.56%
White and Asian (mixed)
509
0.43%
Indian
447
0.38%
Total population: 117,429

Economics

Education (age 16+)

Level 4+ (Degree)
29,460
29.96%
Level 3 (A level)
20,675
21.03%
No qualifications
17,485
17.78%
Level 2 (GCSEs 9-4)
13,457
13.69%
Level 1 (GCSEs 3-1)
9,061
9.21%
Total 16+ residents: 98,332

Housing

Housing tenure

Owns outright
18,987
39.12%
Owns with a mortgage
15,337
31.6%
Private landlord or letting agency
5,754
11.86%
Social rents from council
5,517
11.37%
Other social rented
1,441
2.97%
Total households: 48,534

Property prices in West Lancashire

Based on 1,269 recent sales, the median property price is £237,500 in West Lancashire area, with individual transactions ranging from £48,500 up to £2,400,000.

Price distribution per property type (last year)

Price distribution by property type for West Lancashire 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 West Lancashire over the last year.
TypeSalesMedian
Detached394£360,000
Flats85£135,000
Semi-Detached524£225,000
Terraced266£158,000

10 years median price trend in West Lancashire

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

All wards in West Lancashire

Aughton & Holborn

Burscough Bridge & Rufford

Burscough Town

North Meols & Hesketh Bank

Old Skelmersdale

Ormskirk East

Ormskirk West

Rural North East

Rural South

Rural West

Skelmersdale North

Skelmersdale South

Tanhouse & Skelmersdale Town Centre

Tarleton Village

Up Holland

Data Sources

All data is sourced from official UK government agencies and public datasets. Last updated: 01/01/2026.