Birtle on the map

Location in Greater ManchesterBirtle sits where the marker shows within the county.

54,300
Population
20,309
Households
4 / 10
Deprivation decile
Around average
12
Schools nearby
£42,817
Avg. household income
2,297
Businesses
1,638
People per km²
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About Birtle

Birtle is a village located in the Metropolitan Borough of Rochdale, within Greater Manchester, England. It lies to the north of the town of Rochdale and is part of the historic county of Lancashire. The village is situated in a rural area, surrounded by open countryside and rolling hills, with the Pennine hills forming a backdrop to the west. Birtle has a long history as a farming community, and its character remains largely residential and peaceful. The village centre includes a few local shops, a pub, and a church, reflecting its traditional community feel. It is accessible via the A671 road, which connects it to nearby towns. The postcode area for Birtle is BL9, and it falls within the postal district of Rochdale. The area is known for its quiet atmosphere and proximity to natural landscapes, making it a pleasant place to live for those seeking a rural setting within easy reach of urban amenities.

School Ratings in Birtle

There are 179 schools in and around Birtle. Hoyle Nursery School is rated Outstanding by Ofsted. A further 16 schools hold a Good rating.

House Prices in Birtle

The average property price is £220K, with terraced houses making up the majority of the housing stock at around £147K.

Crime and Anti-Social Behaviour in Birtle

Recorded crime levels are lower than the national average. Other theft is prevalent across Birtle, with 1 recorded incidents in May 2026.

Deprivation and Employment in Birtle

Birtle sits around the middle of the national deprivation scale, according to the 2025 Index of Multiple Deprivation. Employment levels are broadly typical for the area, sitting close to the national average. Household incomes are broadly in line with the national average.

Healthcare in Birtle

There are 39 GP surgeries within three miles of Birtle, the nearest being Pennine Bowel Cancer Screening Centre (1.2 miles away).

Local Data for Birtle

Dig deeper into the area around Birtle 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 6,257 sales

Average Price £220K
£200 , £15.28M
Detached £346K 768
Semi £208K 1,900
Terraced £147K 2,564
Flat £121K 587

Schools & Education 12 nearby View all schools

105 Primary
20 Secondary
54 Other
Outstanding 1
Good 16
Requires improvement 2

Ofsted ratings for schools in the BL9 postcode area.

Fairfield Community Primary School Primary Good 1.3 miles Fairfield Community Primary School Primary 1.3 miles Cambian Chesham House School Not applicable Requires Improvement 1.5 miles St Joseph and St Bede RC Primary School, a Voluntary Academy Primary 1.5 miles St Michael's Church of England Primary School, Bamford Primary Outstanding 1.6 miles Hoyle Nursery School Nursery Outstanding 1.6 miles Chesham Primary Academy Primary 1.7 miles St Paul's Church of England Primary School Primary 1.7 miles Whittaker Moss Primary School Primary Good 1.8 miles Heywood Academy Not applicable 1.8 miles Bamford Academy Primary Good 1.8 miles Derby Street Children's Centre Outstanding 1.8 miles

Household Income in Birtle ONS 2023

The average total household income in Birtle is approximately £42,817 a year before tax, 23% below the national average of £55,302. After tax and benefits, the average disposable (net) household income is around £33,349. These are modelled estimates from the Office for National Statistics for the financial year ending 2023.

Birtle £42,817
England & Wales avg. £55,302

Net (after tax) household income averages £33,349.

Businesses in Birtle ONS 2025

There are approximately 2,297 active businesses based in Birtle, around 42 for every 1,000 residents. The local economy is dominated by small firms: about 88% are micro-businesses employing fewer than 10 people, while 52 are larger employers with 50 or more staff. Figures are from the Office for National Statistics UK Business Counts.

2,297 Total businesses
42 Per 1,000 residents
Micro, 0-9 88%
Small, 10-49 10%
Medium, 50-249 2%
Large, 250+ 0%

Deprivation and Employment in Birtle IMD 2025

Birtle sits around the national average for deprivation according to the 2025 Index of Multiple Deprivation. Employment and income levels are broadly typical, reflecting a mixed local economy. The area offers a balance of residential and commercial activity common to most parts of England.

Overall Deprivation
4/10
Income
4/10
Employment
4/10
Education
5/10
Health
4/10
Housing
7/10
Living Environment
4/10
Children 0-15 21%
Working age 63%
Older 65+ 16%
11,433 Children (0-15) 21%
33,993 Working Age 63%
8,870 Older (65+) 16%
Average Child Poverty (IDACI) 41.8% of children in income-deprived families
Average Older Person Poverty (IDAOPI) 22.9% 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 Birtle 5 crimes · May 2026

Low Crime Area

Birtle records relatively low levels of reported crime compared to national averages. Violence & sexual offences is the most commonly logged offence type, though overall numbers remain modest. The area is generally considered a safe and settled town with a strong sense of community.

Violence & Sexual Offences 3
Other Theft 1
Public Order 1
Local Policing
Greater Manchester Norden 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

Castleton (Manchester) Train Station 3.4 miles
Rochdale Train Station 4 miles
Smithy Bridge Train Station 5.8 miles
Mills Hill (Manchester) Train Station 5.9 miles
Littleborough Train Station 6.4 miles
Bromley Cross (Lancs) Train Station 6.6 miles

Location

Nearby Towns & Villages 12 found

Jericho 1.2 miles Chesham 1.4 miles Norden 1.4 miles Hooley Bridge 1.4 miles Fairfield 1.4 miles Woodgate Hill 1.4 miles Red Lumb 1.4 miles Summit 1.4 miles Free Town 1.8 miles Nangreaves 1.8 miles Rain Shore 1.8 miles Wolstenholme 1.8 miles

Local Government

District Bury
County Lancashire
Ward Bury East
Constituency Bury North
Parish Bury, unparished area
Region North West

Home Ownership in Birtle

Of the 22,100 households in and around Birtle, 61% are owned, 19% are socially rented and 20% are privately rented. Home ownership here is in line with the England and Wales average of 63%.

Owned 61% Social rented 19% Private rented 20%

Tenure from the 2021 Census (ONS), for the postcode districts covering Birtle.

Frequently Asked Questions about Birtle

What is the population of Birtle?
Birtle has a population of approximately 54,300 residents, based on the latest census figures for the surrounding postcode area.
What is the average house price in Birtle?
The average property in and around Birtle sold for about £220,458, based on HM Land Registry Price Paid records. That is around 37% below the England and Wales average of £349,091.
Is Birtle a deprived area?
Birtle sits around the national average for deprivation, with an Index of Multiple Deprivation decile of 4 out of 10, where 1 is the most deprived and 10 the least deprived.
What postcodes cover Birtle?
Birtle is covered by the BL9 postcode district.
How many schools are there in Birtle?
There are 12 schools within easy reach of Birtle, spanning primary, secondary and other phases.
Where is the nearest train station to Birtle?
The nearest railway station to Birtle is Castleton (Manchester) Train Station, about 3.4 miles away.

Streets in BL9 30 shown View all streets

94BUR 1 Ajax Drive 2 Albany Drive 1 Albert Street 1 Alexander Drive 1 Alfred Street 6 Alkrington Close 1 Allen Dale Drive 1 Almond Avenue 1 Alnwick Drive 1 Altham Close 1 Alton Close 1 Alum Crescent 1 Anfield Close 1 Angouleme Way 10 Apollo Avenue 1 Arbour Close 1 Arden Close 1 Argyle Street 1 Arley Avenue 1 Arlington Close 1 Ascot Meadows 1 Ash Street 1 Ashborne Drive 1 Ashlor Street 2 Astbury Close 1 Athlone Avenue 2 Audlum Court 1 Austen Avenue 1 Aviation Road 1

Postcodes in BL9 50 shown View all postcodes

BL9 0AD BL9 0AF BL9 0AH BL9 0AJ BL9 0AL BL9 0AN BL9 0AP BL9 0AQ BL9 0AR BL9 0AS BL9 0AT BL9 0AY BL9 0BB BL9 0BD BL9 0BG BL9 0BH BL9 0BJ BL9 0BL BL9 0BW BL9 0BX BL9 0BZ BL9 0DA BL9 0DB BL9 0DF BL9 0DG BL9 0DH BL9 0DL BL9 0DN BL9 0DP BL9 0DQ BL9 0DR BL9 0DS BL9 0DT BL9 0DX BL9 0DY BL9 0DZ BL9 0EA BL9 0EB BL9 0ED BL9 0EG BL9 0EJ BL9 0EL BL9 0EQ BL9 0ES BL9 0EU BL9 0EW BL9 0EX BL9 0EY BL9 0EZ BL9 0FU