Area report
Is West Lancashire a good place to live?
West Lancashire, North West, England
Report completeness: 75%. Score is based on the categories with data loaded for this area.
In short
West Lancashire scores 73 out of 100 overall, putting it in the top 10 per cent of the 539 UK areas we have scored. Its biggest lead is affordability, scoring 79 against the English median of 64; its biggest shortfall is lifestyle, 21 against 56.
- Nearest scored area: Ormskirk, about 3 miles away, scoring 74.
- Median overall score across the 539 areas in our index: 67 out of 100.
- Report completeness 75 per cent: categories without data are excluded rather than estimated.
How detailed is this report?
Open data is published at different levels of detail, and this report always uses the most granular level available rather than pretending otherwise.
- Point-level for this exact location: Lifestyle (amenities within about 2 km of this exact point); Transport (stops within 800 m and the nearest railway station); Air quality (the 1 km grid cell containing this point).
- Council-level, covering all of West Lancashire: Cost of living, Affordability, Housing, Employment, Broadband, Education. Every postcode and town in the council shares these figures.
- Not scored here: Weather (the nearest Met Office historic station, Bradford, is 75 km away), too far to describe this location, so it is left out of the overall score.
Research this area further with trusted open data: police.uk street-level crime map, HM Land Registry sold prices, ONS local area profiles, Ofcom broadband checker. This report is open-source intelligence: everything is built from published government and public datasets you can check yourself.
Affordability
Source: HM Land RegistryWith a ten per cent deposit, the average West Lancashire home needs borrowing of 5.3 times a single UK median full-time salary of £39,039, beyond the 4.5 times most lenders will go to, so it takes a second income or a larger deposit. Try your own figures below.
Guidance only, using standard lending multiples and typical outgoings. Not a mortgage offer or financial advice. TrackPostcode.UK is not authorised or regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority; always seek independent professional advice before financial decisions.
Housing
Source: HM Land RegistryUK House Price Index for West Lancashire, all property types. Steady growth scores best; sharp falls and overheating both score lower.
Crime and safety
Source: police.ukCrime data could not be loaded for this location.
Weather and outdoors
Source: Met OfficeNo weather score for West Lancashire. The nearest Met Office historic station, Bradford, is 75 km away, beyond the 40 km we accept, so its climate would describe somewhere else. Weather is left out of the overall score here rather than borrowed. Why.
Broadband and mobile
Source: Ofcom Connected NationsOfcom Connected Nations coverage for West Lancashire: the share of premises that can get each service, not the share that has taken it up.
Schools and education
Source: DfE and devolved governmentsLocal authority average, key stage 4, state-funded schools. Source: Department for Education. Each nation publishes its own measure, so this compares within England only. How education is scored.
Healthcare
Source: OpenStreetMapHealthcare data is being sourced. We only publish figures once they are loaded from OpenStreetMap, so nothing here is estimated or invented.
Employment
Source: ONS / NOMISONS Annual Population Survey for West Lancashire, via NOMIS. Most UK councils fall between about 62% and 82% employment.
Environment
Source: Defra UK-AIRDefra modelled background air for the 1 km grid cell around this point (Crown copyright), scored against the WHO 2021 guidelines.
Transport
Source: DfT NaPTANDfT NaPTAN stops around this exact point. Twelve or more stops within 800 m, and a station within 1 km, each earn full marks.
Cost of living
Source: ONSAverage private rent, from the ONS Price Index of Private Rents. Rent stands in for cost of living because it is the largest living cost and the one that varies most between places.
Lifestyle and amenities
Source: OpenStreetMapWhat is nearby
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Food and drink | 18 |
| Shops | 20 |
| Health services | 1 |
| Schools and learning | 2 |
| Parks and sport | 12 |
| Culture and community | 1 |
Counted from OpenStreetMap within about 2 km of this exact point; private gardens are not counted. Contains OpenStreetMap data © OpenStreetMap contributors.
Who West Lancashire suits
Of the 2 profiles we score, West Lancashire suits students best, at 71 out of 100.
West Lancashire is a markedly better fit for some households than others. It ranks in the top 3% of the 539 areas we have scored for families, and the top 33% for students. That gap comes from the same twelve categories weighted differently, which is why one overall score can never answer the question on its own.
| Household | Score | Standing | What it weights |
|---|---|---|---|
| Families | 71 | top 3% | Weighted towards schools, safety, housing and healthcare. |
| Retirees | 76 | top 3% | Weighted towards healthcare, safety, environment and cost of living. |
| Remote workers | 76 | top 9% | Weighted towards broadband, cost of living, environment and weather. |
| Young professionals | 70 | top 23% | Weighted towards employment, lifestyle, transport and broadband. |
| Students | 71 | top 33% | Weighted towards cost of living, lifestyle, transport and safety. |
The same twelve scores, weighted per household. Set your own weights in the relocation quiz.
Stands out on
- Cost of living
- Housing
- Broadband
- Environment
Worth checking carefully
- Education
- Lifestyle
Built only from the categories with data; 3 are still to load for this area.
How West Lancashire compares
| Category | West Lancashire | England median | UK median | vs England median | UK position |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cost of living | 82 | 71 | 72 | +11 | top 25% |
| Affordability | 79 | 64 | 68 | +15 | top 38% |
| Employment | 70 | 61 | 59 | +9 | top 16% |
| Housing | 88 | 83 | 83 | +5 | top 31% |
| Transport | 48 | 75 | 75 | -27 | bottom 8% |
| Broadband | 85 | 88 | 88 | -3 | bottom 38% |
| Environment | 97 | 89 | 91 | +8 | top 27% |
| Education | 39 | 39 | 40 | 0 | bottom 46% |
| Lifestyle | 21 | 56 | 54 | -35 | bottom 1% |
Medians and positions are across the 539 areas in our index. Safety and education are measured differently in each nation, so read those two rows against the England median only.
What West Lancashire does well. Measured against everywhere else in the index, the standouts are affordability (79, 15 above the median), cost of living (82, 11 above the median) and employment (70, 9 above the median).
Where it falls short. Lifestyle (21, 35 below) and transport (48, 27 below).
Near West Lancashire, and places like it
Of the 6 scored areas within about 50 miles of West Lancashire, 3 score higher: Chorley (77), Ormskirk (74) and Leyland (74). West Lancashire scores 73. Chorley is ahead mainly on lifestyle (+56), while West Lancashire keeps the advantage on environment (+8).
| Area | Distance | Where | Overall | Band |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ormskirk | 3.1 miles | West Lancashire, North West, England | 74 | Very good |
| Skelmersdale | 5.8 miles | West Lancashire, North West, England | 72 | Very good |
| Southport | 6.2 miles | Sefton, North West, England | 69 | Good |
| Formby | 8.8 miles | Sefton, North West, England | 68 | Good |
| Leyland | 8.8 miles | South Ribble, North West, England | 74 | Very good |
| Chorley | 10 miles | Chorley, North West, England | 77 | Very good |
Straight-line distances, so roads are longer. Any place not listed can be searched directly.
| Area | Where | Overall | Average gap |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stone | Stafford, West Midlands, England | 69 | 5.3 |
| Ledbury | Herefordshire, County of, West Midlands, England | 69 | 6.3 |
| Leominster | Herefordshire, County of, West Midlands, England | 69 | 6.4 |
| Mold | Flintshire, Wales | 71 | 6.6 |
| Shepton Mallet | Somerset, South West, England | 64 | 6.8 |
Average score gap across every category both areas have, so smaller is closer. Neighbouring areas are left out.
What a home in West Lancashire actually costs
Source: HM Land Registry UK HPIThe average home in West Lancashire is £231,816, 14 per cent below the median of the areas we have scored. With a ten per cent deposit of £23,182, repaying the rest costs about £1,344 a month, £542 more than renting at the local average of £802, and needs a household income of about £46,400 to borrow.
| Measure | Figure |
|---|---|
| Average property price | £231,816 (June 2026) |
| Change over 12 months | +4.3%, rising |
| Against our index median | 14% below the £270,569 median across every area we have scored |
| 10% deposit | £23,182 |
| 15% deposit | £34,772 |
| Price to earnings | 5.9 times UK median full-time earnings of £39,039 |
| Monthly repayment | £1,344 on a £208,634 mortgage (10% deposit, 6% over 25 years) |
| Against renting | £542 more than the £802 average monthly rent |
| Income to borrow it | About £46,400 a year at 4.5 times income |
Council-wide average across all property types; the multiple uses UK median full-time earnings (April 2025 (ONS ASHE)). Illustrative arithmetic, not a mortgage assessment or financial advice; TrackPostcode.UK is not authorised or regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority.
Air quality in West Lancashire, against the limits
Source: Defra modelled background mapsFine particulates, at 5.5, sit inside the UK 2040 target of 10 but above the World Health Organization guideline of 5, as in most of Britain. Nitrogen dioxide, at 4.8, is well inside the UK limit of 40 and inside the WHO guideline of 10.
| Pollutant | West Lancashire | UK objective | WHO guideline | Standing |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fine particulates (PM2.5) | 5.5 | 10 | 5 | Inside the UK target, above the WHO guideline |
| Nitrogen dioxide (NO₂) | 4.8 | 40 | 10 | Inside both |
Neighbourhood background levels from the Defra 1 km model; readings beside a busy road are higher. UK figures are the legal limit (NO₂) and 2040 target (PM2.5); WHO figures are health guidelines, not law.
Questions about West Lancashire
Is West Lancashire a good place to live?
West Lancashire has an overall liveability score of 73 out of 100 (very good) on TrackPostcode.UK, based on 75% of categories currently loaded. It scores best on housing and broadband. The score combines cost, affordability, safety, weather and more from open government data.
What is the crime rate in West Lancashire?
Recorded crime for West Lancashire is shown in the crime and safety section, from police.uk for England and Wales or Scottish Government statistics for Scotland.
What is the weather like in West Lancashire?
The weather section shows annual sunshine, rainfall and typical temperatures for West Lancashire from Met Office climate data for the location.
How expensive is it to live in West Lancashire?
Average private rent in the West Lancashire area is about £802 a month (Jun-26, ONS), giving West Lancashire a cost-of-living score of 82 out of 100. Use the affordability calculator to estimate what you could comfortably afford here.
What are house prices like in West Lancashire?
The average property price in West Lancashire is about £231,816 (2026-06, HM Land Registry). Prices changed +4.3% over the year. See the affordability section for how that compares to local earnings.
Can I afford to buy a house in West Lancashire?
The average property in West Lancashire costs about £231,816, which is 5.9 times earnings against assumed full-time earnings of £39,039 a year (ONS ASHE), giving an affordability score of 79 out of 100. Mainstream lenders usually cap borrowing at around four to four and a half times income, so a ratio above that generally means a larger deposit, a second income or a cheaper property than the local average. With a ten per cent deposit, repaying the rest costs about £1,344 a month at 6% over 25 years, £542 more than the £802 average local rent. The affordability calculator on this page estimates it from your own salary and savings.
How fast is broadband in West Lancashire?
About 97.6% of premises in West Lancashire can get superfast broadband of 30 Mbit/s or more, and 81% can get a gigabit-capable connection, giving a broadband score of 85 out of 100 (Ofcom Connected Nations). These are council-area availability figures - the share of premises able to order each service, not the speed any single line achieves - so check the exact address with the Ofcom broadband checker before committing to it.
What is the job market like in West Lancashire?
81% of 16 to 64 year olds in West Lancashire are in work (NOMIS latest, retrieved Sep 2026, ONS Annual Population Survey via NOMIS), giving an employment score of 70 out of 100. UK local authorities typically range from about 62% to 82%. This is a whole-authority figure, so it describes the local labour market rather than any one town within it.
Are the schools good in West Lancashire?
West Lancashire records 46.3 on Attainment 8 average score (202425), giving an education score of 39 out of 100. Each nation publishes its own attainment measure and they are not interchangeable, so education scores compare within England, Scotland or Wales and not across them. Attainment is published for the whole council or county rather than for a school catchment, so check individual schools with the inspectorate before deciding.
What is the air quality like in West Lancashire?
For the 1 km grid square containing West Lancashire, fine particulates (PM2.5) average 5.5 µg/m³ against a World Health Organization guideline of 5 and nitrogen dioxide averages 4.83 µg/m³ against a guideline of 10 (2024, Defra Pollution Climate Mapping, Crown copyright). That gives an environment score of 97 out of 100; an area meeting both guideline levels scores 100. These are modelled background concentrations for the square, not a reading taken at the roadside.
What is there to do in West Lancashire?
Within about two kilometres of this point there are 54 mapped amenities, including 18 places to eat and drink, 20 shops, 12 parks and sports facilities and 1 cultural and community venues, giving a lifestyle score of 21 out of 100. Counts come from OpenStreetMap and are measured at this exact location rather than averaged across the council, so they reflect how well served this particular spot is. Contains OpenStreetMap data © OpenStreetMap contributors.
Does West Lancashire have good transport links?
The nearest railway station is New Lane Rail Station, about 0.1 km away, and there are 2 bus, tram or metro stops within an 800 metre walk, giving a transport score of 48 out of 100. Stops come from the DfT NaPTAN dataset and are counted for this exact point, so the figure measures access rather than how frequently anything runs.
Which council area is West Lancashire in?
West Lancashire is in the West Lancashire local authority, North West, England. It falls within the Burscough Bridge & Rufford ward and the West Lancashire parliamentary constituency. Cost of living, housing, affordability, employment, broadband and education figures in this report are published at local-authority level, so every postcode and town inside West Lancashire shares them. Weather, crime, amenities, healthcare, transport and air quality are measured for this point instead.
Is West Lancashire a good place for students?
West Lancashire scores 71 out of 100 on our students profile, which is weighted towards cost of living, lifestyle, transport and safety. That is close to its general score of 73, so the weighting neither flatters nor penalises this area. Every area we score is ranked on this basis at /best-places-for-students/.
Is West Lancashire a good place for young professionals?
West Lancashire scores 70 out of 100 on our young professionals profile, which is weighted towards employment, lifestyle, transport and broadband. That is 3 points below its general score of 73, because this profile weights the twelve categories differently.
How does West Lancashire compare with the rest of England?
West Lancashire sits in the top 10% of the 539 UK areas we have scored. The median area in the index scores 67 out of 100. It is furthest above the benchmark for its nation on affordability, cost of living and employment. It is furthest below on lifestyle and transport. Categories are compared against the area's own nation where the samples allow it, because crime and school attainment are measured differently either side of the border.
What are the best places to live near West Lancashire?
Of the areas we have scored within about 50 miles of West Lancashire, the highest are Chorley (77 out of 100, about 10 miles away), Ormskirk (74 out of 100, about 3 miles away) and Leyland (74 out of 100, about 9 miles away). West Lancashire itself scores 73. Distances are straight-line from this point, and each of those names links to its own full report.
Which places are most similar to West Lancashire?
Across the twelve category scores, the closest matches elsewhere in Britain are Stone (Stafford, West Midlands, England), Ledbury (Herefordshire, County of, West Midlands, England) and Leominster (Herefordshire, County of, West Midlands, England). Similarity is the average gap across every category both areas have data for, with immediate neighbours excluded, so these are places that score alike rather than places that look alike or sit nearby.
What area does this report cover?
Weather, crime, local amenities, healthcare access, transport access and air quality are measured for this exact point. Cost of living, affordability, housing, employment and broadband come from official statistics for the West Lancashire council area, so nearby postcodes and towns in the same council share those figures. Education comes from the local authority, or from the county where attainment is only published at county level. The "How detailed is this report" section explains each level.