Ashton-in-Makerfield, Greater Manchester

About Ashton-in-Makerfield

Ashton-in-Makerfield is a town located in the Metropolitan Borough of Wigan, within Greater Manchester, England. It lies in the historic county of Lancashire and is part of the WN4 postcode area. The town is situated near the M62 motorway, providing convenient access to nearby cities such as Manchester and Liverpool. Ashton-in-Makerfield has a mix of residential areas and local amenities, including shops, schools, and community facilities. It has a long history as a market town, with records of a market dating back to the 13th century. The town centre features a range of buildings reflecting its development over the centuries, including some structures from the Victorian era. It remains a settled community with a strong sense of local identity.

School Ratings in Ashton-in-Makerfield

Ashton-in-Makerfield is served by 172 schools. Garswood Primary and Nursery School and Nicol Mere School are each rated Outstanding by Ofsted. A further 11 schools hold a Good rating.

House Prices in Ashton-in-Makerfield

Property prices average £193K across the area, and semi-detached homes are the most common property type, typically selling for £171K.

Crime and Anti-Social Behaviour in Ashton-in-Makerfield

Local crime rates sit lower than national averages. Criminal damage & arson accounts for the highest share in Ashton-in-Makerfield, with 3 incidents logged in April 2026.

Deprivation and Employment in Ashton-in-Makerfield

Based on the 2025 Index of Multiple Deprivation, Ashton-in-Makerfield falls within the mid-range nationally for overall deprivation. Working-age employment is around the national average for the area. Income levels locally sit close to the national average.

Healthcare in Ashton-in-Makerfield

There are 31 GP surgeries within three miles of Ashton-in-Makerfield, the nearest being Medicentre (0.2 miles away).

Local Data for Ashton-in-Makerfield

Dig deeper into the area around Ashton-in-Makerfield with our free postcode tools.

Food Hygiene Ratings Hygiene scores for cafes, takeaways and shops Nearest GP Surgery Find the GP surgeries closest to a postcode Compare Areas Put two areas head to head House Prices Recent sale prices and trends

Property Prices 3,450 sales

Average Price £193K

£137 , £10.8M

Detached £270K 704

Semi £171K 1,541

Terraced £118K 931

Flat £81K 87

Schools & Education 12 nearby View all schools

100 Primary

19 Secondary

53 Other

Outstanding 2

Good 11

Requires improvement 1

Ofsted ratings for schools in the WN4 postcode area.

Ashton Sure Start Children's Centre Good 172 yards R L Hughes Primary School Primary Good 0.1 miles Cansfield High School Secondary Good 0.2 miles St Oswald's Catholic Primary School Primary Good 0.2 miles St Thomas CofE Primary School Primary Good 0.4 miles Nicol Mere School Primary Outstanding 0.6 miles St Edmund Arrowsmith Catholic High School, Ashton-in-Makerfield Secondary Good 0.6 miles The Byrchall High School Secondary Good 0.6 miles Ascent Autism Specialist College Not applicable 0.7 miles St Wilfrids Catholic Primary School Primary Good 0.8 miles Bryn Sure Start Children's Centre 0.8 miles Bryn St Peter's CofE Primary School Primary Good 0.8 miles

Household Income in Ashton-in-Makerfield ONS 2023

The average total household income in Ashton-in-Makerfield is approximately £43,769 a year before tax, 21% below the national average of £55,302. After tax and benefits, the average disposable (net) household income is around £33,739. These are modelled estimates from the Office for National Statistics for the financial year ending 2023.

Ashton-in-Makerfield £43,769

England & Wales avg. £55,302

Net (after tax) household income averages £33,739.

Businesses in Ashton-in-Makerfield ONS 2025

There are approximately 752 active businesses based in Ashton-in-Makerfield, around 26 for every 1,000 residents. The local economy is dominated by small firms: about 88% are micro-businesses employing fewer than 10 people, while 5 are larger employers with 50 or more staff. Figures are from the Office for National Statistics UK Business Counts.

752 Total businesses

26 Per 1,000 residents

Micro, 0-9 88%

Small, 10-49 12%

Medium, 50-249 1%

Large, 250+ 0%

Deprivation and Employment in Ashton-in-Makerfield IMD 2025

The 2025 Index of Multiple Deprivation places Ashton-in-Makerfield in the mid-range nationally. Employment and income levels are close to the England average, with a mix of opportunities across sectors. Overall living conditions are comparable to similar areas across the country.

Overall Deprivation

6/10

Income

6/10

Employment

5/10

Education

7/10

Health

4/10

Housing

7/10

Living Environment

5/10

Children 0-15 17%

Working age 60%

Older 65+ 23%

4,496 Children (0-15) 17%

16,129 Working Age 60%

6,465 Older (65+) 24%

Average Child Poverty (IDACI) 26.7% of children in income-deprived families

Average Older Person Poverty (IDAOPI) 15.6% of over-60s in income-deprived households

Data from English Indices of Deprivation 2025 · Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0

Crime in Ashton-in-Makerfield 21 crimes · April 2026

Low Crime Area

Reported crime in Ashton-in-Makerfield falls below the national average, suggesting a comparatively safe environment. Violence & sexual offences tops the list of recorded incidents, but figures are low overall. Residents and visitors alike tend to find this a quiet and reassuring town.

Violence & Sexual Offences 9

Criminal Damage & Arson 3

Anti-Social Behaviour 2

Shoplifting 2

Burglary 1

Drugs 1

Other Theft 1

Public Order 1

Vehicle Crime 1

Local Policing

Greater Manchester Bryn [email protected] Visit force website →

Data from data.police.uk · Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0
Crime figures depend on reporting by individual police forces and may not reflect the full picture in all areas.

Nearest Train Stations 6 stations

Bryn Train Station 0.8 miles

Garswood Train Station 1.3 miles

Earlestown Train Station 2.7 miles

Newton-Le-Willows Train Station 2.8 miles

Pemberton Train Station 3 miles

Ince (Manchester) Train Station 3.7 miles

Location

Nearby Towns & Villages 12 found

Town Green 0.6 miles Stubshaw Cross 0.9 miles Bryn 0.9 miles Edge Green 1.2 miles Garswood 1.2 miles Tithe Barn Hillock 1.2 miles Old Boston 1.2 miles Land Gate 1.2 miles Downall Green 1.4 miles New Boston 1.4 miles Bamfurlong 1.8 miles Bryn Gates 1.8 miles

Local Government

District Wigan

Ward Bryn

Constituency Makerfield

Parish Wigan, unparished area

Region North West

Home Ownership in Ashton-in-Makerfield

Of the 12,297 households in and around Ashton-in-Makerfield, 76% are owned, 11% are socially rented and 13% are privately rented. Home ownership here is higher than the England and Wales average of 63%.

Owned 76% Social rented 11% Private rented 13%

Tenure from the 2021 Census (ONS), for the postcode districts covering Ashton-in-Makerfield.

Frequently Asked Questions about Ashton-in-Makerfield

What is the population of Ashton-in-Makerfield?

Ashton-in-Makerfield has a population of approximately 28,488 residents, based on the latest census figures for the surrounding postcode area.

What is the average house price in Ashton-in-Makerfield?

The average property in and around Ashton-in-Makerfield sold for about £193,335, based on HM Land Registry Price Paid records. That is around 45% below the England and Wales average of £349,091.

Is Ashton-in-Makerfield a deprived area?

Ashton-in-Makerfield sits around the national average for deprivation, with an Index of Multiple Deprivation decile of 6 out of 10, where 1 is the most deprived and 10 the least deprived.

What postcodes cover Ashton-in-Makerfield?

Ashton-in-Makerfield is covered by the WN4 postcode district.

How many schools are there in Ashton-in-Makerfield?

There are 12 schools within easy reach of Ashton-in-Makerfield, spanning primary, secondary and other phases.

Where is the nearest train station to Ashton-in-Makerfield?

The nearest railway station to Ashton-in-Makerfield is Bryn Train Station, about 0.8 miles away.

Streets in WN4 30 shown View all streets

A Court 3 Abinger Road 1 Adamson Street 1 Alder Avenue 1 Alderton Drive 3 Alexandra Road 2 Allscott Way 1 Alton Close 1 Annan Grove 1 Antler Court 1 Arch Lane 1 Argyll Close 1 Armoury Bank 1 Ashland Avenue 1 Ashton Heath 2 Ashwood Avenue 1 Aspenwood 1 Astley Court 1 Austin Avenue 1 Averham Close 1 Aviemore Close 1 Avon Road 2 Balliol Way 1 Balmoral Road 1 Bamburgh Place 1 Bankside Avenue 2 Bardale Grove 1 Barrow Street 1 Bedford Place 1 Beechwood Avenue 1

Postcodes in WN4 50 shown View all postcodes

WN4 0AA WN4 0AD WN4 0AF WN4 0AG WN4 0AH WN4 0AJ WN4 0AL WN4 0AN WN4 0AP WN4 0AQ WN4 0AR WN4 0AS WN4 0AT WN4 0AU WN4 0AW WN4 0AX WN4 0AY WN4 0AZ WN4 0BA WN4 0BB WN4 0BD WN4 0BE WN4 0BG WN4 0BH WN4 0BL WN4 0BN WN4 0BP WN4 0BQ WN4 0BS WN4 0BW WN4 0BX WN4 0BY WN4 0BZ WN4 0DA WN4 0DD WN4 0DE WN4 0DG WN4 0DH WN4 0DJ WN4 0DL WN4 0DN WN4 0DP WN4 0DQ WN4 0DR WN4 0DS WN4 0DT WN4 0DU WN4 0DW WN4 0DX WN4 0DY

Ashton-in-Makerfield on the map