Socio-economic statistics for Barrow Bridge, Bolton

Socio-economic statistics for Barrow Bridge, Bolton

We have collated a series of socio-economic statistics for Barrow Bridge in Bolton from UK government sources such as the 2021 Census and the Index of Multiple Deprivation. They should give you a broad snapshot of the area and the surrounding locations. Are the residents of Barrow Bridge older than the national average or younger? What is the population of Barrow Bridge and Bolton? Is Barrow Bridge an unemployment hotspot? This page should provide you with the answers.

Barrow Bridge Education Statistics

We have taken the raw data from the 2021 census to found of the level of education Barrow Bridge residents have in terms of formal qualifications as a percentage. The UK government breaks qualifications down into 7 levels. A detailed explanation of these levels can be found here. However, the Census groups these into just 4 \'levels\'. Here are some examples of the qualifications each census level represents when not stated;

  • Level 1 - GCSE grades D, E, F, or G & below
  • Level 2 - GCSE A*, A, B, C or O Level grades A, B or C
  • Level 3 - A or AS qualification at any grade
  • Level 4 - HNC, Bachelors Degree, Masters Degree or Phd

In this first table we have compared Barrow Bridge to the national average for England.
Level Smithills England
No Qualifications 18.64% 18.08%
Level 1 10.25% 9.69%
Level 2 13.56% 13.32%
Apprenticeship 6.16% 5.32%
Level 3 17.21% 16.92%
Level 4 31.59% 33.92%

Barrow Bridge Age Distribution Statistics

We have taken the raw data from the 2021 Census and the calculated the proportion of age groups in Smithills.
Age Band Proportion
4 & under
5 - 9 years
10 - 15 years
16 - 19 years
20 - 24 years
25 - 34 years
35 - 49 years
50 - 64 years
65 - 74 years
75 - 84 years
85 years & over

How many residents own or rent their home in Barrow Bridge and Bolton

We have taken the raw data from the 2021 census and calculated what proportion of people in Barrow Bridge either own or rent their home. All percentages have been rounded to two decimal places. 67.98 of residents own their home either outright or mortgaged. 32.02 of Barrow Bridge residents rent their home either privately or through a social landlord.
Area Owned Rented
Smithills 67.98% 32.02%
Bolton 61.52% 38.48%
North West 62.33% 37.67%
England 61.31% 38.69%

Barrow Bridge has a higher level of home ownership than than the national average.

Barrow Bridge compared to other wards in Bolton

# Ward Owned Rented
1 Heaton and Lostock 84.65% 15.35%
2 Bromley Cross 82.39% 17.61%
3 Bradshaw 78.66% 21.34%
4 Westhoughton North and Chew Moor 75.5% 24.5%
5 Little Lever and Darcy Lever 72.72% 27.28%
6 Westhoughton South 71.93% 28.07%
7 Astley Bridge 71.45% 28.55%
8 Horwich and Blackrod 69.2% 30.8%
9 Horwich North East 68.54% 31.46%
10 Smithills 67.98% 32.02%
11 Hulton 64.44% 35.56%
12 Kearsley 62.58% 37.42%
13 Harper Green 56.34% 43.66%
14 Breightmet 54.42% 45.58%
15 Crompton (Bolton) 48.38% 51.62%
16 Tonge with the Haulgh 47.09% 52.91%
17 Farnworth (Bolton) 46.83% 53.17%
18 Rumworth 44.26% 55.74%
19 Great Lever 40.34% 59.66%
20 Halliwell 30.93% 69.07%
Barrow Bridge is ranked 10 out of 20 wards in Bolton for the percentage of home owners.

Barrow Bridge Unemployment Statistics

Since the introduction of Universal Credit, The Department for Work & Pensions have not issued any statistics (in our view) that can be used to ascertain the levels of unemployment or under employment in the UK, just meaningless geographic counts. However, the Office of National Statistics does publish claimant counts of people receiving out of work benefits, be that legacy Jobseeker’s Allowance or Universal Credit as a proportion of people over 16. These figures are usually updated once a month and are for Local Authority Districts and Unitary Authority Districts. So below are the figures of Bolton.
Area Unemployed Yearly Change
Bolton 5.7% -0.2%
North West 4.3% -0.3%
England 3.8% -0.3%
UK 3.7% -0.3%
Source: Office for National Statistics (ONS), Last Retrieved: March 2023
The 2021 census had data on people who were economically active (seeking work) yet unemployed on Census day (Sunday March 21st 2021). These statitics do cover Barrow Bridge on a ward level. However, it has to be noted that the Census day was during the height of the Covid19 pandemic and therefore are not reflective of normal levels of unemployment. For example, between March 2020 and June 2020 people claiming Universal Credit doubled in most areas of the United Kingdom and then steadily declined up to the day of the Census and beyond. This data also contains the proportion of people in part-time work (working between 1-35 hours per week), which maybe an indicator of under employment in Barrow Bridge.
Economic Status Proportion
In Employment 55.63%
In Part-Time Work 27.86%
Unemployed 5.14%
72.14% of the people in work, are in full-time employment in Barrow Bridge

Barrow Bridge Health Statistics

Smithills has more residents (very_good_pc-$country_health->very_good_pc, 2)%) describing their health as very good than the national average for England.
Area VG G F B VB
Smithills 49.08% 33.17% 12.5% 4.05% 1.21%
Bolton 48% 32.7% 13.15% 4.72% 1.43%
North West 47.73% 32.71% 13.36% 4.77% 1.43%
England 48.49% 33.71% 12.65% 3.98% 1.17%
VG = Very Good, G = Good, F = Fair, B = Bad & VB = Very Bad

How has the health of residents in Bolton changed since 2011?

Bolton residents who describe their health as either good or very good has increased by 1.46% between the 2011 and 2021 census.
Year VG G F B VB
2011 45.36% 33.88% 14.14% 5.23% 1.4%
2021 48% 32.7% 13.15% 4.72% 1.43%
VG = Very Good, G = Good, F = Fair, B = Bad & VB = Very Bad

Barrow Bridge & Bolton Immigration Statistics

We have analysed the Census 2021 raw data on country of birth and compiled immigration statistics as percentages of the population. All percentages have been rounded to two decimal places. Below are the figures for Barrow Bridge in the Bolton local area district.

Area Born in UK Born outside UK
Smithills 86.77% 13.23%
Bolton 83.09% 16.91%
North West 88.33% 11.67%
England 82.65% 17.35%

Barrow Bridge compared to other wards in Bolton

# Ward Born in UK Born outside UK
1 Rumworth 54.83% 45.17%
2 Great Lever 60.56% 39.44%
3 Halliwell 61.8% 38.2%
4 Crompton 72.68% 27.32%
5 Harper Green 74.79% 25.21%
6 Hulton 80.93% 19.07%
7 Tonge with the Haulgh 84.3% 15.7%
8 Heaton and Lostock 84.53% 15.47%
9 Farnworth 84.74% 15.26%
10 Smithills 86.77% 13.23%
11 Astley Bridge 90.84% 9.16%
12 Breightmet 90.96% 9.04%
13 Kearsley 93.38% 6.62%
14 Horwich and Blackrod 94.55% 5.45%
15 Westhoughton North and Chew Moor 94.65% 5.35%
16 Horwich North East 94.69% 5.31%
17 Little Lever and Darcy Lever 95.08% 4.92%
18 Bradshaw 95.28% 4.72%
19 Westhoughton South 95.3% 4.7%
20 Bromley Cross 96.75% 3.25%
'; Barrow Bridge is ranked 10 out of 20 wards in Bolton for the number of residents born outside of the UK.

What are the occupations of the residents of Barrow Bridge?

The largest employment sector in Barrow Bridge is Professional Occupations. The smallest employment sector is Process Plant & Machine Operatives.
Sector Proportion
Professional Occupations 19.14%
Associate Professional & Technical 12.27%
Managers, Directors & Senior Officials 11.12%
Elementary Occupations 10.34%
Caring, leisure & Other Services 10.1%
Skilled Trades 10.07%
Administrative & Secretarial 10.05%
Process Plant & Machine Operatives 7.67%

What is the population of Barrow Bridge and Bolton?

The table below contains the populations figures for each ward in Bolton including Barrow Bridge. These population ONS figures are estimated are dated Mid 2020.

Ward Population
Astley Bridge 14133
Bradshaw 11331
Breightmet 14078
Bromley Cross 13503
Crompton 16828
Farnworth 16586
Great Lever 16402
Halliwell 15257
Harper Green 15275
Heaton and Lostock 14290
Horwich and Blackrod 13389
Horwich North East 12024
Hulton 14602
Kearsley 14497
Little Lever and Darcy Lever 12593
Rumworth 17707
Smithills 14595
Tonge with the Haulgh 14406
Westhoughton North and Chew Moor 13897
Westhoughton South 12855
Bolton Total 288248



Last updated: 20/02/2024, Additional Sources: Office for National Statistics & Department for Work & Pensions.

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