Longsands
Preston 004 · 5 sub-areas · 7,130 residents
Preston 004 is a predominantly residential neighbourhood in Preston, home to around 7,130 people. Rents here are among the most affordable in the North West — a typical two-bedroom property lets for about £720 a month, noticeably below the UK median for a 2-bed. Over three quarters of residents own their home, which sets it apart from much of central Preston.
Longsands is a mid-density neighbourhood of Preston in the North West region. It sits between busier and quieter parts of the local authority and isn't dominated by a single use — there's a mix of workplaces, housing and local services. Most homes are owner-occupied, so turnover is low and many residents have been here a long time.
Overview
What's it like to live in Longsands?
Greenspace is reachable but isn't on the immediate doorstep — most residents walk a few blocks to reach a park; there's effectively nothing within walking distance — eating out, drinking and shopping mean a drive; The streets feel safe by national standards — police-recorded crime is well below the country-wide median; rents are below the national norm, with a typical home letting at around £778 a month; gigabit broadband is effectively universal.
Generated from the latest May 2026 data · refreshed automatically
Figures are aggregated across 5 sub-areas — population-weighted means for rates, sums for counts. Sources cited beneath each section.
Longsands in Preston
Living in Longsands
Preston 004 has the feel of a settled, owner-occupier suburb rather than a renter's market. The overwhelming majority of households — around 77% — own their home, which gives the area a stability and quietness you don't always find in the parts of Preston closer to the city centre. It's not flashy, but it's solid: well-established streets, a demographic skewing slightly older, and a sense that most people here are staying put.
On costs, this neighbourhood sits at the affordable end of the Preston spectrum. A two-bedroom property runs about £720 a month — well under half the UK median for that size, and competitive even by North West standards. A one-bedroom is typically around £570 a month. If you're buying, the median price paid is just under £200,000, and the average renter needs only around 3.3 years to save a deposit — one of the shorter timelines you'll find anywhere in England.
The population skews noticeably older than the UK average. The 50–64 bracket makes up nearly a quarter of residents, and just under one in five is over 65. Younger adults in the 18–34 range account for less than a fifth of the population. This isn't a neighbourhood of student houses and house shares — it's families, retirees, and longer-term owner-occupiers. Around 42% of residents hold a degree-level qualification, which is above the national average and suggests a reasonably skilled resident workforce.
Getting around leans heavily on the car — over half of residents drive to work, and public transport use is low at under 3%. The nearest mainline rail station is roughly 4.3 km away in straight-line distance, about a 54-minute walk or a short drive. Working from home is more common here than many comparable areas, with nearly a third of residents doing so. See the streets and sub-areas below for more detail on specific pockets within Preston 004.
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Frequently asked
- Is Preston 004 a nice place to live?
- It's a settled, predominantly owner-occupied neighbourhood that suits people looking for stability and affordability rather than city-centre buzz. Crime is above the national average, which is worth factoring in, but rents are very low — a two-bedroom runs about £720 a month — and over three quarters of residents own their homes, giving the area a quieter, established feel.
- What is the rent in Preston 004?
- A one-bedroom typically costs around £570 a month, a two-bedroom around £720, and a three-bedroom around £840. These are estimates scaled from city-level data using local sale prices. Rents rose roughly 7.8% year-on-year, but even after that increase, Preston 004 remains well below the UK median for comparable properties.
- Is Preston 004 safe?
- Crime runs at around 122 incidents per 1,000 residents annually — above the UK national rate of roughly 80. That's elevated, and it's consistent with Preston's city-wide crime picture rather than being specific to this neighbourhood. The high owner-occupancy rate does tend to mean more stable, settled streets, but it's worth checking police.uk for street-level data on specific roads.
- What's the commute from Preston 004 to Manchester?
- By public transport, Manchester is around 88 minutes away. The nearest mainline rail station is approximately 4.3 km from the neighbourhood's centre — a short drive or bus ride rather than a practical walk. Most residents here commute by car; only around 3% use public transport, and nearly a third work from home.
- Who lives in Preston 004?
- Mainly older, settled owner-occupiers. The 50–64 age group is the largest cohort, and over-65s add nearly another fifth of the population. Families with children make up around 22% of households. It's not a young professionals' area — the 18–34 group is under-represented compared to central Preston — and private renting accounts for only about 15% of homes.
- What schools are near Preston 004?
- There are 65 schools within 2 km, so options are plentiful. However, only around 39% of those are rated Good or Outstanding by Ofsted — well below the national average of approximately 89%. The nearest Outstanding-rated school is about 3.7 km away. It's worth checking individual Ofsted reports and catchment boundaries directly before making decisions.
- How affordable is Preston 004 for first-time buyers?
- Very. The median price paid for a property here is just under £200,000, and the average renter can save a deposit in around 3.3 years — one of the shorter timescales in England. Council tax (Band D) adds about £2,576 a year. For buyers priced out of larger northern cities, Preston 004 offers genuine value.