Oldham: population and statistics
Oldham has a population of 251,915 (2025) across 142.3 km², or 1,770 people per km². It ranks 84 of 361 local authorities by population. Its population is growing: +8.3% between 2015 and 2025.
- 251,915 residents
- 142.3 km²
- 1,770 people/km²
- 542 m
Oldham in numbers
Population of Oldham over time
Oldham had 232,693 residents in 2015 and 251,915 in 2025.
| Year | Population |
|---|---|
| 2020 | 242,181 |
| 2021 | 242,003 |
| 2022 | 244,584 |
| 2023 | 247,251 |
| 2024 | 250,725 |
| 2025 | 251,915 |
All indicators for Oldham
Value for the area, then the regional average and the UK median (for counts: regional and UK totals). The gauge places the area between the lowest and highest value in the UK.
Population
| Indicator | Oldham | North West | UK | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Share of residents aged 65 and over (2025) | 16.0% | 19.1% | 20.4% | ranked 298 of 361 | |
| Share of residents aged under 16 (2025) | 22.2% | 18.3% | 17.4% | ranked 7 of 361 |
Housing
| Indicator | Oldham | North West | UK | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dwellings (Council Tax stock) (2026) | 99,560 dwellings | 3,492,580 | 27,429,300 | ranked 88 of 318 | |
| Dwellings built before 1940 (2026) | 41.1% | 39.3% | 31.6% | ranked 77 of 318 | |
| Dwellings built since 2000 (2026) | 9.8% | 16.5% | 18.1% | ranked 308 of 318 | |
| Households (Census 2021) (2021) | 93,140 households | 116,581 | 61,440 | ranked 87 of 318 | |
| Households living in a house or bungalow (2021) | 87.6% | 83.7% | 84.7% | ranked 110 of 318 | |
| Households living in a flat or maisonette (2021) | 12.3% | 16.0% | 14.8% | ranked 193 of 318 | |
| Owner-occupied households (incl. shared ownership) (2021) | 60.8% | 62.7% | 67.3% | ranked 238 of 318 | |
| Households renting privately (2021) | 17.7% | 19.4% | 17.6% | ranked 153 of 318 | |
| Households in social housing (2021) | 21.2% | 17.8% | 14.3% | ranked 48 of 318 | |
| Average house price (2026) | £217,171 | £227,208 | £272,474 | ranked 258 of 360 | |
| House price change over 12 months (2026) | 4.7% | 4.7% | 2.2% | ranked 70 of 360 |
Energy
| Indicator | Oldham | North West | UK | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Households without central heating (2021) | 1.2% | 1.5% | 1.2% | ranked 150 of 318 | |
| Households heated by mains gas only (2021) | 80.7% | 78.6% | 76.7% | ranked 76 of 318 | |
| Households heated by electricity only (2021) | 5.2% | 7.4% | 7.8% | ranked 250 of 318 | |
| Households heated by oil only (2021) | 0.3% | 1.3% | 0.9% | ranked 199 of 318 |
Economy
| Indicator | Oldham | North West | UK | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Business sites (local units) (2026) | 8,815 sites | 319,350 | 3,232,440 | ranked 130 of 361 | |
| Business sites per 1,000 residents (2026) | 35.0 per 1,000 | 41.1 per 1,000 | 44.4 per 1,000 | ranked 295 of 361 | |
| Registered businesses (enterprises) (2026) | 7,745 businesses | 272,085 | 2,786,975 | ranked 128 of 361 | |
| Median annual pay, full-time residents (gross) (2025) | £34,042 | £37,482 | £38,490 | ranked 315 of 348 |
Jobs
| Indicator | Oldham | North West | UK | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Employment rate, aged 16-64 (2025-2026) | 64.3% | 73.9% | 76.3% | ranked 342 of 347 | |
| Out-of-work benefit claimants, share of residents aged 16-64 (2026) | 6.5% | 4.1% | 3.2% | ranked 14 of 361 |
Transport
| Indicator | Oldham | North West | UK | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Households without a car or van (2021) | 27.6% | 24.9% | 18.5% | ranked 56 of 318 |
Key points
Among the 35 local authorities in North West, Oldham ranks 12 by population.
Employment rate, aged 16-64: 64.3% in Oldham, compared with an average of 73.9% in North West and 75.6% across the UK.
Share of residents aged under 16: 22.2% in Oldham, compared with an average of 18.3% in North West and 17.7% across the UK.
Largest business sector: Wholesale and retail trade, with 21.2% of the area's business sites.
Did you know?
- Number 1 in North West for “Elevation”.
- Number 1 in North West for “Out-of-work benefit claimants, share of residents aged 16-64”.
- “Employment rate, aged 16-64”: lower than in 99% of local authorities.
- “Share of residents aged under 16”: higher than in 98% of local authorities.
- “Dwellings built since 2000”: lower than in 97% of local authorities.
- Its area is roughly equal to 19,936 football pitches.
- 6.2 times denser than the UK average.
Business sectors: Oldham
Share of each sector in total business sites; “×1.5” means the sector is 1.5 times more common than across the UK.
- Wholesale and retail trade21.2% ×1.3
- Construction13.6% ×1.1
- Professional, scientific and technical10.5% ×0.8
- Administrative and support services8.2% ×1.0
- Accommodation and food services7.7% ×1.1
- Health and social work7.2% ×1.3
- Manufacturing6.0% ×1.4
- Other service activities4.9% ×1.2
Where is Oldham?
Frequently asked questions
What is the population of Oldham?
Oldham has 251,915 residents (2025), ranking 84 of 361 local authorities.
How big is Oldham?
Oldham covers 142.3 km², with a density of 1,770 people per km².
Is the population of Oldham growing?
Between 2015 and 2025, the population of Oldham went from 232,693 to 251,915, a change of +8.3%.
Where is Oldham?
Oldham is in North West (region). Latitude 53.542, longitude −2.119.
Employment rate, aged 16-64: what is the figure for Oldham?
In Oldham, “Employment rate, aged 16-64” stands at 64.3% (2025-2026), ranking 342 of 347 local authorities; the UK median is 76.3%.
Share of residents aged under 16: what is the figure for Oldham?
In Oldham, “Share of residents aged under 16” stands at 22.2% (2025), ranking 7 of 361 local authorities; the UK median is 17.4%.
Which local authorities border Oldham?
The nearest to Oldham are Tameside (6.0 km), Rochdale (8.7 km), Bury (13 km), Salford (15 km), Stockport (16 km).