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Neighbourhood · Oldham

Waterhead: house prices and how the area is changing

Official figures for the Waterhead neighbourhood of Oldham, England (ONS area Oldham 012). Headline figures assembled 15 October 2026. Postcodes OL4. Figures that read a point use the neighbourhood's centre, near OL4 2HN.

One of the most income-deprived neighbourhoods in England, showing some signs of gentrification

Waterhead is one of the most income-deprived neighbourhoods in England; it shows some signs of gentrification against Oldham (3 of 18 signals rising, 2 falling). Houses here typically resell for £161,000 (median resale price, 2023-2025). Schools nearby are improving in line with the council's and the nearest railway station, Greenfield, is 4.6 km from the neighbourhood's centre.

The neighbourhood in brief, from the figures on this page. Summary updated 15 October 2026; source dates are shown below.

Typical house price

£161,000

Median resale price of houses in the neighbourhood, 2023-2025; +81% against 2017-2019.

Source: HM Land Registry Price Paid Data

Affluence today

Among the most income-deprived

How well off the neighbourhood is now, from household income, home prices and deprivation.

Source: ONS, HM Land Registry, MHCLG Indices of Deprivation

Signs of gentrification

Some signs

Weighted balance +0.14; 3 of 18 signals up, 2 down, against the borough.

Source: Official statistics on prices, incomes, benefits, businesses, schools and more (a full report shows every signal)

Deprivation

Decile 1 of 10

English Indices of Deprivation 2025: 1 is the most deprived tenth of neighbourhoods, 10 the least. At the neighbourhood's centre; its 5 small areas range from decile 1 to 4.

Source: MHCLG English Indices of Deprivation 2025

Average household income

£35,900

ONS estimate for the neighbourhood (modelled, with a margin of error).

Source: Office for National Statistics

Schools getting better

In line with the council's

Nearby state schools' latest Ofsted inspections and results, against the council's schools.

Source: Ofsted, Department for Education

Where Waterhead sits in Oldham

  • Typical house price: 10th lowest of 34 neighbourhoods in Oldham
  • Average household income: 4th lowest of 34 neighbourhoods in Oldham

Ranked among the council's neighbourhoods by the figures on each one's own page, checked 15 October 2026: typical prices are HM Land Registry resale medians over the latest three-year window, household income the ONS's modelled estimate, with a margin of error, so neighbourhoods a place or two apart may not really differ.

Prices over time in Waterhead

House prices: Waterhead against Oldham: This neighbourhood £32k (1995) to £160k (2026); Oldham £37k (1995) to £213k (2026).£54k£191k2026202120162011200620011995This neighbourhood£160kOldham£213k
Median resale price of houses each year here and across Oldham, 1995 to 2026 (HM Land Registry Price Paid Data: standard sales, new builds left out). Years with fewer than 10 sales here are left out. 2026 is the year so far (dashed).

Source: HM Land Registry Price Paid Data, held locally and checked 15 October 2026. Medians each year, not a valuation of any home.

How the area is changing, signal by signal

3 of 18 counted signals point towards rising affluence against Oldham, 2 the other way and 13 in line. A reading of official statistics against the borough, not a prediction; a full report shows every signal's figures and weight. Where this reading sits among every neighbourhood in England and Wales: the gentrification league table.

Rising against the borough

  • Resale prices
  • Recent price momentum
  • Catching up with neighbouring areas

Falling behind the borough

  • Home improvement applications
  • Homes selling

Stations and schools nearby

Nearest station

  • Greenfield Railway station, 4.6 km from the neighbourhood's centre in a straight line. About 3 trains an hour leave between 07:00 and 19:00 on a weekday: TransPennine Express to Manchester Piccadilly (about 25 min) and York (about 79 min).

Station locations: NaPTAN (Department for Transport). Trains: Network Rail's timetable for Tuesday 6 October 2026, with the timetabled minutes of direct trains; timetabled, not live running. Distances from the neighbourhood's centre in a straight line, walked at 4.8 km/h; the real route is longer.

Nearest state schools

  • Nearest state primary school Littlemoor Primary School 340 m from the neighbourhood's centre. Ofsted: Requires improvement (Jun 2024).
  • Nearest state secondary school Co-op Academy Strinesdale 660 m from the neighbourhood's centre. Ofsted: No overall grade: Good in 1 area, Requires improvement in 3 (Jan 2025).

Schools: Department for Education, Get Information about Schools (13 October 2026); inspections: Ofsted's management information as at 31 August 2026, in Ofsted's own words. Straight-line distances; not a catchment or admissions assessment.

Questions about Waterhead

What is the typical house price in Waterhead?

£161,000. Median resale price of houses in the neighbourhood, 2023-2025; +81% against 2017-2019.

How does Waterhead compare with the rest of Oldham?

Typical house price: 10th lowest of 34 neighbourhoods in Oldham. Average household income: 4th lowest of 34 neighbourhoods in Oldham.

Is Waterhead an affluent area?

Among the most income-deprived. How well off the neighbourhood is now, from household income, home prices and deprivation.

Is Waterhead gentrifying?

Some signs. Weighted balance +0.14; 3 of 18 signals up, 2 down, against the borough.

What is the nearest station to Waterhead?

Greenfield. Railway station, 4.6 km from the neighbourhood's centre in a straight line. About 3 trains an hour leave between 07:00 and 19:00 on a weekday: TransPennine Express to Manchester Piccadilly (about 25 min) and York (about 79 min).

Which state schools are nearest to Waterhead?

Nearest state primary school. Littlemoor Primary School. 340 m from the neighbourhood's centre. Ofsted: Requires improvement (Jun 2024). Nearest state secondary school. Co-op Academy Strinesdale. 660 m from the neighbourhood's centre. Ofsted: No overall grade: Good in 1 area, Requires improvement in 3 (Jan 2025).

Each answer repeats a figure shown above, with its source there.

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Neighbourhood names: House of Commons Library, MSOA Names, Open Parliament Licence v3.0. Contains HM Land Registry data © Crown copyright and database right 2026. This data is licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Contains National Statistics data © Crown copyright and database right 2026. Contains public sector information (MHCLG, Police.uk, Ofsted, Department for Education) licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Station locations from NaPTAN (Department for Transport), Open Government Licence v3.0. Trains: contains information of Network Rail Infrastructure Limited licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Figures describe the area, not any home, and are not a valuation or a prediction.