Oldham

Affordable housing remains the primary draw in Oldham, though it comes paired with significant economic and social challenges. A median house costs 5.9 times annual pay, which aligns with the regional median, yet monthly rent consumes 30.8% of gross earnings. While property costs are accessible, weekly pay is low at £681.10, sitting well below the regional median. The trade-off is stark when looking at the wider environment, as the deprivation score is higher than 94% of England authorities and crime levels are among the highest in the North West. With council tax also reaching £2,602, the financial benefits of lower house prices are quickly offset by high living costs and limited local opportunity. This location is best suited to those strictly constrained by entry-level property prices who are prepared to navigate a difficult socio-economic landscape.

Written from the indicators on this page, 2026-10 data.

Colour shows quintile position against 361 UK Local Authorities. Green is the best position for someone moving here; red is the worst. Direction is set per indicator — higher pay, lower rent, less crime, less deprivation are all green.

Oldham head-to-heads