Daylight through the yearLongest day (Jun 21): 17 h 3 min4:40 am – 9:43 pmShortest day (Dec 21): 7 h 28 min8:24 am – 3:52 pm
Sun todaySunrise –Sunset –
People8,465 residentsin the Westhoughton West census areaMedian age 41.93,783 households59% of homes owner-occupied29% owned outright25% social rented, 15% private rentedSource: Office for National Statistics, Census 2021
Work and commuting5.5% unemployment rate61% of adults are economically active, 3,948 in work, 22% retiredMain industries: retail and wholesale 18%, health and social work 14%, construction 11%Getting to work: 26% work from home, 61% go by car, 4% take public transport, 8% walk or cycle71% of those who travel work within 10 km of homeSource: Office for National Statistics, Census 2021
Education and languages25% of adults hold a degree or higher22% have no qualifications, 7% an apprenticeshipMain language: English 98%Source: Office for National Statistics, Census 2021
ClimateWarmest month July: highs 21°C, lows 12°CColdest month January: highs 7°C, lows 2°C1,168 mm of rain a year, 38 days with 10 mm or morewettest month December42 days of air frost, 6 summer days above 25°C in a typical yearSource: Met Office HadUK-Grid 1991-2020 averages, 2 km grid (highs and lows from the 12 km grid)
Parks and green spacesCentral Parkpark · under a mile · 5 haLeigh Commonpark · under a mileHall Lee Bank Parkpark · 1.1 mi · 9 haLong Island Golf Coursegolf course · under a mile · 32 haSt John's Road Recreation Groundplaying field · under a mileLostock Sports Clubsports ground · under a mile · 4 haSource: Ordnance Survey Open Greenspace
Earthquakes187 of magnitude 2 or more within 50 miles since 197016 of magnitude 3+, 2 of magnitude 4+, 3 induced by mining or drillingLargest: magnitude 4.0 on 3 Nov 19769 mi away, WidnesMost recent: magnitude 2.0 on 21 Sep 202644 mi away, Silverdale, LancashireSource: British Geological Survey earthquake database
Flood riskRivers and sea: no mapped risk within 500 m of the centreSource: Environment Agency, Risk of Flooding from Rivers and Sea
Air qualityNO2 11 · PM2.5 6.9 · PM10 13 µg/m³annual mean concentrations, 2024Within UK limits, above the WHO guideline for NO2 and PM2.5Source: DEFRA modelled background pollution maps 2024, 1 km grid
Broadband98% of premises can get gigabit-capable broadband100% can get superfast (30 Mbit/s or more)Every premises can get at least 10 Mbit/s (the universal service obligation)4,204 residential premises in the census areaSource: Ofcom Connected Nations, July 2025
Elevation118 m387 ft above sea levelLand within 1 km ranges from 94 to 136 mSource: Ordnance Survey, OS Terrain 50
Local servicesHospitalBeaumont Hospital1.7 miGP surgeryKorlipara K4 surgeries within 2 milesright herePharmacyRigby & Higginson Pharmacy8 pharmacies within 2 milesunder a mileDentistChurch Street Dental Surgeryunder a mileSource: NHS Organisation Data Service
SchoolsWithin 2 mi13 schools12 primary, 1 secondaryPrimaryThe Gates Primary Schoolages 3-11, 290 pupilsunder a milePrimarySacred Heart Roman Catholic Primary Schoolages 4-11, 417 pupilsunder a mileSecondarySt Joseph's RC High Schoolages 11-16, 1,047 pupils1.9 miCollegeBolton College3.5 miUniversityUniversity of Greater Manchester3.7 miSource: Department for Education, Get Information about Schools
Getting aroundAirportManchester Airport MAN18 miRailway stationWesthoughtonunder a mileBus stationBolton Interchange4.1 miFerryLiverpool Belfast Ferry Terminal Bootle21 miBus stops62 within a mileSources: Department for Transport NaPTAN; OurAirports
Distances in these cards are measured from the centre of the BL5 postcode district.
