Area guide · West Lancashire

Living in Skelmersdale

A snapshot of life in Skelmersdale, North West — house prices, crime, schools, broadband and more, drawn straight from official UK datasets.

At a glance

Skelmersdale is a town in West Lancashire, North West with a population of 34,921. The average house price is £228,572 and the overall crime rate is 48.3 per 1,000 residents.

Where Skelmersdale ranks

Population

34,921

Avg House Price

£228,572

Crime Rate

48.3/1k

Top-Two School Inspection Bands

83.3%

Avg Download Speed

317 Mbps

EPC Rating

Median Income

£31,131

Median Age

House Prices (2025)

Average Price by Property Type (2025)

Skelmersdale's detached homes (£314,950) command roughly 2.7× the price of a flat (£115,267).

Price Trend (11 Years)

Skelmersdale prices have risen 36% over the last 9 years (£168,236 → £228,572).

Property Type	Average	Median	Sales Count
Detached	£314,950	£290,498	114
Semi-Detached	£190,310	£182,250	170
Terraced	£125,032	£115,000	219
Flat	£115,267	£90,000	15

Crime & safety

The overall crime rate in Skelmersdale is 48.3 per 1,000 residents.

Crime Rate by Category (per 1,000 residents)

Most common offence in Skelmersdale: violent crime (45% of all recorded crimes).

Schools & Education

School Inspection Breakdown

83.3% of 18 schools (16 primary, 2 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.

School Details

Total Schools	18
Primary	16
Secondary	2
% Top two bands	83.3%

Schools in this area

School	Phase	Rating
Bishop Martin Church of England Primary School	Primary	No rating available
Brookfield Park Primary School	Primary	Requires improvement
Cobbs Brow School	Primary	No rating available
Crow Orchard Primary School	Primary	Good
Delph Side Community Primary School	Primary	Good
Hillside Community Primary School	Primary	Good
Holland Moor Primary School	Primary	Good
Lathom High School : A Technology College	Secondary	Good
Little Digmoor Primary School	Primary	Good
Moorside Community Primary Academy School	Primary	Good
Our Lady Queen of Peace Catholic High School	Secondary	No rating available
St Edmund's Catholic Primary School	Primary	Good
St Francis of Assisi Catholic Primary School	Primary	No rating available
St James' Catholic Primary School, Skelmersdale	Primary	Good
St John's Catholic Primary School, Skelmersdale	Primary	Good
St Richard's Catholic Primary School, Skelmersdale	Primary	No rating available
Trinity Church of England/Methodist School	Primary	No rating available
Woodland Community Primary School	Primary	Requires improvement

Broadband & Connectivity

Skelmersdale averages 317 Mbps — 217% above the typical UK download speed.

Energy Efficiency & Running Costs

Most Skelmersdale homes sit at band C on the EPC scale. 64.7% of homes reach band C or above.

Average EPC Rating	C
Average EPC Score	70.6
% Rated C or Above	64.7%
Avg Energy Cost (per year)	£1,271

Demographics & Economy

Population	34,921
Median Age	45
Median Household Income	£31,131
Employment Rate	54.5%
Owner Occupied	70.7%
Degree-Level Qualified	30%

Common questions

Frequently asked questions

What is the average house price in Skelmersdale?

The average house price in Skelmersdale is £228,572 based on Land Registry sales in 2025.

What is the cheapest type of property to buy in Skelmersdale?

The most affordable entry point in Skelmersdale is a flat, with an average price of £115,267.

Is Skelmersdale a safe place to live?

Skelmersdale has a recorded crime rate of 48.3 per 1,000 residents. Whether that feels "safe" depends on the comparison — see how it stacks up against nearby towns in the rankings below.

How are the schools in Skelmersdale?

Skelmersdale has 18 schools in total, with 83.3% rated in the top two inspection bands by the relevant inspectorate.

What broadband speeds are available in Skelmersdale?

Average broadband download speeds in Skelmersdale are around 317 Mbps. Superfast (30 Mbps+) coverage reaches 95% of premises.

How big is Skelmersdale?

Skelmersdale is a settlement in West Lancashire with a population of approximately 34,921.

Most compared with

How does Skelmersdale stack up against its neighbours?

Adlington (Chorley)

Skelmersdale

House price: £291,217 · £228,572
Crime rate: 56.9 · 48.3
Distance: 8.6 mi

Aintree

Skelmersdale

House price: £217,565 · £228,572
Crime rate: 76.1 · 48.3
Distance: 8.1 mi

Appley Bridge

Skelmersdale

House price: £265,435 · £228,572
Crime rate: 92.4 · 48.3
Distance: 3.5 mi

Ashton-in-Makerfield

Skelmersdale

House price: £170,063 · £228,572
Crime rate: 92.3 · 48.3
Distance: 6.8 mi

Aspull

Skelmersdale

House price: £270,046 · £228,572
Crime rate: 92.4 · 48.3
Distance: 8.1 mi

Astley

Skelmersdale

House price: £276,658 · £228,572
Crime rate: 92.3 · 48.3
Distance: 13.7 mi

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