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Oldham Counts / Waterhead

Waterhead · Oldham

Waterhead: your neighbourhood

Waterhead electoral ward · May 2026 boundaries. Every figure carries its own date.

What stands out here?

Homes rented privately: 22% here, compared with 18% across Oldham (4 percentage points higher).

A larger private-rented sector changes the mix of housing advice, enforcement and tenant support needed. It does not tell us whether individual homes are affordable or safe.

21 March 2021 · ward and council use the same source, measure and date.

Why this comparison is valid

The difference is in percentage points. The wider figure is the published council total, not the average of its wards. Differences describe groups, not every resident.

Source →
A proposed response →

People aged 65 or over: 12.5% here, compared with 16% across Oldham (3.5 percentage points lower).

Age helps locate demand for accessible homes, transport and support. Being older does not itself mean someone needs care.

21 March 2021 · ward and council use the same source, measure and date.

Why this comparison is valid

The difference is in percentage points. The wider figure is the published council total, not the average of its wards. Differences describe groups, not every resident.

Source →
A proposed response →

People aged 16+ with a degree or equivalent: 21.1% here, compared with 24.6% across Oldham (3.5 percentage points lower).

Qualifications show local skills, not whether people have secure jobs or use those skills at work.

21 March 2021 · ward and council use the same source, measure and date.

Why this comparison is valid

The difference is in percentage points. The wider figure is the published council total, not the average of its wards. Differences describe groups, not every resident.

Source →
A proposed response →

The ward in numbers

People aged 65 or over

12.5%

21 March 2021 · Waterhead

Show the workings

Complete Census output-area counts summed using official 2026 best-fit ward lookup

All usual residents

1,716 out of 13,768.

Source and method →

People reporting bad or very bad health

6.4%

21 March 2021 · Waterhead

Show the workings

Complete Census output-area counts summed using official 2026 best-fit ward lookup

All usual residents; self-reported, not age-standardised

886 out of 13,771.

Source and method →

People counted in the census

13,787

21 March 2021 · Waterhead

Show the workings

Complete Census output-area counts summed using official 2026 best-fit ward lookup

All usual residents

13,787 out of 13,787.

Source and method →

People aged 16+ with a degree or equivalent

21.1%

21 March 2021 · Waterhead

Show the workings

Complete Census output-area counts summed using official 2026 best-fit ward lookup

Residents aged 16 and over

2,174 out of 10,279.

Source and method →

Households facing at least one measured disadvantage

62.1%

21 March 2021 · Waterhead

The census checks education, employment, health and housing. This is not a measure of income or poverty.

Show the workings

Complete Census output-area counts summed using official 2026 best-fit ward lookup

All households

3,218 out of 5,186.

Source and method →

Households facing two or more measured disadvantages

27.8%

21 March 2021 · Waterhead

The census checks education, employment, health and housing. This is not a measure of income or poverty.

Show the workings

Complete Census output-area counts summed using official 2026 best-fit ward lookup

All households

1,440 out of 5,186.

Source and method →

Residents aged 16+ outside the labour market

44.2%

21 March 2021 · Waterhead

Show the workings

21 March 2021, residents aged 16 and over. Includes full-time students in the corresponding work/unemployment categories. Not a current labour-market estimate or the usual 16–64 employment rate. Census took place during the coronavirus pandemic; furlough and lockdown affected answers. Ward counts sum complete official output-area best-fit membership; privacy adjustment can make totals differ slightly.

All usual residents aged 16 and over

4,549 out of 10,281.

Source and method →

Residents aged 16+ in work

51.6%

21 March 2021 · Waterhead

Show the workings

21 March 2021, residents aged 16 and over. Includes full-time students in the corresponding work/unemployment categories. Not a current labour-market estimate or the usual 16–64 employment rate. Census took place during the coronavirus pandemic; furlough and lockdown affected answers. Ward counts sum complete official output-area best-fit membership; privacy adjustment can make totals differ slightly.

All usual residents aged 16 and over

5,308 out of 10,281.

Source and method →

Residents aged 16+ not working because of long-term illness or disability

6.7%

21 March 2021 · Waterhead

Show the workings

21 March 2021, residents aged 16 and over. Includes full-time students in the corresponding work/unemployment categories. Not a current labour-market estimate or the usual 16–64 employment rate. Census took place during the coronavirus pandemic; furlough and lockdown affected answers. Ward counts sum complete official output-area best-fit membership; privacy adjustment can make totals differ slightly.

All usual residents aged 16 and over

689 out of 10,281.

Source and method →

People aged 16+ with no qualifications

27.6%

21 March 2021 · Waterhead

Show the workings

Complete Census output-area counts summed using official 2026 best-fit ward lookup

Residents aged 16 and over

2,840 out of 10,279.

Source and method →

Homes rented privately

22%

21 March 2021 · Waterhead

Show the workings

Complete Census output-area counts summed using official 2026 best-fit ward lookup

All households

1,124 out of 5,178.

Source and method →

Residents aged 16+ retired

15.9%

21 March 2021 · Waterhead

Show the workings

21 March 2021, residents aged 16 and over. Includes full-time students in the corresponding work/unemployment categories. Not a current labour-market estimate or the usual 16–64 employment rate. Census took place during the coronavirus pandemic; furlough and lockdown affected answers. Ward counts sum complete official output-area best-fit membership; privacy adjustment can make totals differ slightly.

All usual residents aged 16 and over

1,638 out of 10,281.

Source and method →

Homes rented from a council or housing association

23%

21 March 2021 · Waterhead

Show the workings

Complete Census output-area counts summed using official 2026 best-fit ward lookup

All households

1,176 out of 5,178.

Source and method →

Residents aged 16+ unemployed

4.1%

21 March 2021 · Waterhead

Show the workings

21 March 2021, residents aged 16 and over. Includes full-time students in the corresponding work/unemployment categories. Not a current labour-market estimate or the usual 16–64 employment rate. Census took place during the coronavirus pandemic; furlough and lockdown affected answers. Ward counts sum complete official output-area best-fit membership; privacy adjustment can make totals differ slightly. Unemployed residents as a share of all residents aged 16+; this is not the unemployment rate among economically active people.

All usual residents aged 16 and over

424 out of 10,281.

Source and method →

Crime and safety

Police UK publication gap, checked 2026-10-17: Greater Manchester Police: Currently no crime, outcome or stop and search data is available. The force is progressing towards a new IT system and data processes which will support provision of data to police.uk in the future. Some data is available directly from GMP website here: https://www.gmp.police.uk/police-forces/greater-manchester-police/areas/greater-manchester-force-content/sd/stats-and-data/ Greater Manchester Police: Crime data not provided for August 2026. The force will provide a data refresh as soon as possible. A complete two-year ward comparison is therefore withheld; other forces’ nearby records are not substituted.

Source and coverage explanation →

Source and coverage explanation →

Projects and proposed responses

A nearby project is not proof of a benefit to the whole ward. Only source-supported ward links are attached here.

No project boundary has been verified against this ward. See projects and their stated locations →

Proposed responses across Oldham →