Ashton-in-Makerfield North
Wigan 032 · 5 sub-areas · 8,239 residents
Wigan 032 is a residential area within Wigan, home to around 8,200 people, with a notably older age profile and a strong owner-occupier majority. A typical two-bedroom home lets for about £686 a month — well under half the UK national median for a 2-bed, making it one of the more affordable corners of the North West.
Ashton-in-Makerfield North is a commuter neighbourhood within Wigan — train into Manchester runs in around 32 minutes, and the rhythm of weekday mornings is shaped by it.
Overview
What's it like to live in Ashton-in-Makerfield North?
Greenspace is on the doorstep — a park or playing field is within walking distance of most homes; The streets feel safe by national standards — police-recorded crime is well below the country-wide median; Public transport is genuinely strong; most errands and a fair share of social life don't need a car; rents are below the national norm, with a typical home letting at around £732 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.
Ashton-in-Makerfield North in Wigan
Living in Ashton-in-Makerfield North
This part of Wigan sits firmly in owner-occupier territory. Nearly two in three homes are owned outright or with a mortgage, which gives the streets a settled, established feel rather than the transient churn you get in higher-rental urban areas. It's the kind of neighbourhood where people tend to stay put.
On rent, you're looking at genuinely low numbers by any national yardstick. A two-bedroom property averages around £686 a month — roughly half the UK median for the same size. Even a three-bedroom comes in at about £821, which is what you'd pay for a one-bedroom in many parts of Manchester city centre. Rents did rise around 7% last year, so the affordability gap is narrowing, but this remains a significantly cheaper area to rent in.
The population skews older than most urban neighbourhoods. Around 43% of residents are aged 50 or over, and the 65-plus group alone accounts for more than one in five people. Single-person households make up nearly a third of all homes. That shapes the day-to-day feel — quieter, more residential, less student or young-professional energy than you'd find closer to Wigan town centre.
For commuters, the area works well if your job is in Manchester. The rail connection puts you into the city in around 32 minutes by public transport. Most residents drive though — nearly two in three commute by car — which tells you something about the local transport culture and infrastructure. Around one in five work from home, a share that's become a fixture of life in commuter-friendly outer areas like this. For street-level detail, see the streets and sub-areas below.
What you'll need on day one
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Frequently asked
- Is Wigan 032 a nice place to live?
- It's a quiet, settled residential area with very low crime and genuinely affordable housing. The older demographic and high owner-occupation rate give it a stable, established feel. It suits people who want calm surroundings and low costs over urban buzz — particularly families and those approaching or in retirement.
- What is the rent in Wigan 032?
- A one-bedroom averages around £531 a month, a two-bedroom about £686, and a three-bedroom roughly £821. These are estimated figures scaled from council-level data using local sale prices. Rents rose around 7% in the past year but remain well below the UK median.
- Is Wigan 032 safe?
- Very much so. The recorded crime rate here is around 0.6 incidents per 1,000 residents annually — far below typical UK levels. It's one of the lowest-crime areas in the data, driven by the settled, owner-occupied character of the neighbourhood.
- What's the commute from Wigan 032 to Manchester?
- Around 32 minutes by public transport from the nearest rail station, which is about an 8-minute walk away. Most residents commute by car rather than rail, but for Manchester workers, the train connection is a practical option that helps justify the lower local rents.
- Who lives in Wigan 032?
- Mostly older, settled residents — over 40% are aged 50 or above, and 65-plus is the single largest age band. Nearly two in three households own their home. Single-person households make up around a third of all homes. It's not a young-professional or student area.
- What schools are near Wigan 032?
- There are 51 schools within 2 kilometres of typical residents, with around 39% rated Good or Outstanding by Ofsted. The nearest Outstanding-rated school is roughly 612 metres away. Catchment rules vary, so it's worth checking specific school admission criteria directly.
- How affordable is buying a home in Wigan 032?
- Relatively accessible by UK standards. The median sale price is around £221,000, and a typical resident would need about three and a half years to save a deposit. That's one of the more manageable deposit timescales in the North West, though local salaries are also lower than in major cities.