Skelmersdale East
West Lancashire 013 · 4 sub-areas · 6,824 residents
West Lancashire 013 is a largely residential part of West Lancashire, home to around 6,800 people. Rents here are well below national norms — a typical two-bedroom property runs about £721 a month, roughly a third less than the UK median for a 2-bed. It's one of the more affordable corners of the North West, though public transport connections are limited and most residents drive.
Skelmersdale East is a commuter neighbourhood within West Lancashire — train into Liverpool runs in around 58 minutes, and the rhythm of weekday mornings is shaped by it.
Overview
What's it like to live in Skelmersdale East?
Day-to-day life sits close to greenery — a park or playing field is within easy walking distance of most addresses; Crime sits around the national average — neither a notable concern nor a notable selling point; rents are below the national norm, with a typical home letting at around £794 a month; gigabit broadband is effectively universal.
Generated from the latest May 2026 data · refreshed automatically
Figures are aggregated across 4 sub-areas — population-weighted means for rates, sums for counts. Sources cited beneath each section.
Skelmersdale East in West Lancashire
Living in Skelmersdale East
This part of West Lancashire sits firmly in the affordable tier of the North West rental market. It doesn't have the buzz of a city centre, and it doesn't try to — the area is predominantly suburban and residential, with a settled, community feel. Nearly four in five residents can reach green space on foot, with the nearest accessible greenspace just 190 metres away on average, which gives the area a noticeably open character compared to denser urban neighbourhoods.
On cost, it's genuinely cheap by most measures. Median rents across all property types come in at around £794 a month, and even a three-bedroom home typically lets for just over £830. That's well below what you'd pay in Manchester or any of the larger North West cities. The deposit hurdle is low too — it takes the typical resident around 2.6 years to save a purchase deposit, one of the more accessible ratios in the region. Rent-to-take-home sits at roughly 39%, which is higher than you might expect for an area at this price point, reflecting the relatively modest local salaries rather than inflated rents.
The area has a broad mix of residents. Around a quarter are under 18, pointing to a meaningful family presence, and owner-occupation accounts for just over half of households. Social housing makes up nearly 30% of tenure — well above the national average — which shapes the character of parts of the neighbourhood. Degree-level qualifications are held by around one in five residents, slightly below the national norm.
Practically speaking, the nearest mainline rail station is roughly 2.6 km away — about a 32-minute walk, though most people drive. Car use dominates here: around 62% of residents commute by car, and public transport accounts for just 2.3% of journeys. If you're relying on buses or trains, check the specific routes carefully before committing. Broadband coverage is strong, with nearly 95% of premises able to access gigabit speeds — useful if you're working from home, which around one in six residents already do. See the streets and sub-areas below for more.
What you'll need on day one
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Frequently asked
- Is West Lancashire 013 a nice place to live?
- It depends what you're after. It's genuinely affordable, green and relatively quiet, with a strong family presence and good broadband. The trade-off is limited public transport, below-average school Ofsted ratings, and a crime rate slightly above the national average. It suits people who drive and value space over urban convenience.
- What is the rent in West Lancashire 013?
- A one-bedroom property typically runs around £581 a month, a two-bedroom around £721, and a three-bedroom just over £830. These are estimates scaled from council-level data using local sale prices. Rents rose around 9.4% in the past year, so expect some continued upward pressure.
- Is West Lancashire 013 safe?
- The recorded crime rate is around 94.5 per 1,000 residents annually, which is above the UK average of roughly 80. The area sits in the more deprived end of the national deprivation index, which tends to correlate with higher crime figures. Check Police.uk for street-level detail if you're weighing up specific streets.
- What's the commute from West Lancashire 013 to Manchester?
- By public transport, Manchester takes around 87 minutes. Most residents drive rather than take public transport — only about 2% commute by bus or train — so check specific bus or rail connections before relying on them. The nearest rail station is roughly 2.6 km away.
- Who lives in West Lancashire 013?
- A broad mix — families make up a significant share, with nearly a quarter of residents under 18. Around 53% of households own their home, and almost 30% are in social housing. It's a predominantly UK-born, working-class community with around one in five residents holding a degree-level qualification.
- What schools are near West Lancashire 013?
- There are 57 schools within 2 km, so options are plentiful. However, only around 30% are rated Good or Outstanding by Ofsted — well below the national share of around 89%. The nearest Outstanding-rated school is about 3.8 km away. Individual school research is recommended rather than relying on the area average.
- How affordable is buying a home in West Lancashire 013?
- Very affordable by national standards. The median sale price is around £165,000, and it takes the typical resident roughly 2.6 years to save a deposit — one of the more accessible ratios in the North West. Council tax (Band D) comes to about £2,456 a year.