Ainsworth’s story
12 listed buildings, 2 of them Grade II*
Historic England lists them inside Ainsworth’s built-up area.
31% of its homes were built before 1919, against 15% in the typical UK town.
Explore the history →
AinsworthGreater Manchester
The village has 1,595 residents and lies in Greater Manchester, North West. Over-65s are 23% of the population.
7 places within 12 milesMap →
Dearden Fold Farmhouse · Photo: Phil Platt · CC BY-SA 2.0
Population
1,595
Census 2021 · Bury council
Median home
£210K
69 sales in 3 years
Median age
46.8
23% are 65+ · Greater Manchester 16%
Degree level
29%
of residents 16+ · England 34%
Walk, cycle, bus
11%
of commuters · England 27%
Is Ainsworth a good place to live?
Ainsworth’s standout strength is jobs & income: households earn a mean £54,684 a year, and 1.8% of 16 to 64s claim unemployment benefits. Walkability is its weak spot: 11% of commuters walk, cycle or take public transport. The median home sold for £210,000, 4.4 times what households in the Bury council area earn in a year. Natural hazards weigh less here than in most UK towns (A).
Figures: income, ONS · claimants, DWP · commuting, Census 2021 · prices, HM Land Registry, the last three years · flood risk, Environment Agency. Greater Manchester Police doesn’t publish street-level crime to police.uk, so Ainsworth has no Safety Grade and, without it, no overall grade. Its other subjects are graded below.
What makes Ainsworth stand out
The 3 things Ainsworth does most differently from other towns.
Walk, cycle or public transport
Getting around
11% leave the car
of commuters walk, cycle or take public transport (England’s towns 27%)
43% of commuters travel under 5 km.
Listed buildings per 10,000 residents
History
2 Grade II*, including Dearden Fold Farmhouse; 3.1 times the typical UK town for its size
Historic England’s list, October 2026.
Residents 65 and over
Who lives here
23% are 65 or over
Against 18% across England’s towns
How Ainsworth grades
Each subject compared with the 2,160 UK towns with an overall grade (schools within England), ordered by how far Ainsworth is from typical. American towns are graded separately.
Greater Manchester Police doesn’t publish street-level crime to police.uk, so Ainsworth has no Safety Grade and, without it, no overall grade. Its other subjects are graded below.
Hazard risk0% of homes at high or medium risk of flooding from rivers or the seaAOpen →Jobs & incomeAhead of most towns comparedA−Open →WalkabilityBased on walking, cycling and transit to everyday placesCOpen →Cost of livingHomes are harder to afford than in most townsC+Open →HealthLife expectancy 80.7 for men, 82 for womenC+Open →SchoolsPrimary results beat 55% of towns in England; secondary results beat 42% of towns in EnglandB−Open →
SafetyNo police.uk data–
Character Graded, but not part of the overall grade.
HistoryAbove the middle of the towns comparedB+Open →Outdoors64% live within 400 m of a park; 0.4 ha of public green space per 1,000 residentsDOpen →Civic life1.9 local charities per 1,000 residents; 100% live within 1 km of a libraryA−Open →
How TownRatings grades towns →
The data
Data highlights are ordered by what stands out in Ainsworth.
Who lives here
Children make up only 15% of Ainsworth, fewer than in both Greater Manchester’s towns and England’s towns
People aged 15 to 24 make up 10% of the town. 23% of residents are 65 or over, above Greater Manchester’s towns (16%) and England’s towns (18%) alike. At 46.8, the median resident of Ainsworth sits in the middle of the age range. Degrees are held by 29% of adults.
46.8median age
AinsworthGreater ManchesterEngland
Ages · share of residents
23%
Qualifications · residents 16 and older
No qualifications19%
Apprenticeship6%
A levels or similar17%
Degree level29%
Women and men · all residents
52% women, 48% men
About 91 men for every 100 women. Across England, 51% of residents are women. Women live longer than men, so towns with many older residents have more women.
| Ainsworth | Greater Manchester | England | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 15 | 15% | 19% | 18% |
| 15–24 | 10% | 13% | 12% |
| 25–44 | 23% | 28% | 27% |
| 45–64 | 29% | 24% | 25% |
| 65+ | 23% | 16% | 18% |
| No qualifications | 19% | 20% | 18% |
| Apprenticeship | 6.4% | 5.6% | 5.3% |
| A levels or similar | 17% | 17% | 17% |
| Degree level | 29% | 32% | 34% |
ONS Census 2021 · Greater Manchester and England: all residents of their built-up areas · OGL
SchoolsB−
Ainsworth’s schools fall behind 52% of towns in England on results
The town has one school, shown below. GCSE results at the 7 secondary schools within 3 km: 43% of pupils get a strong pass (grade 5+) in English and maths, and the Attainment 8 average is 44.8. At the 33 primary schools within 3 km, 62% of pupils reach the expected standard in reading, writing and maths (three-year average).
B−School Grade
| School | Level | Pupils | Letter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Christ Church Ainsworth Church of England Primary SchoolLargest primary schoolPrimary | Primary | – | B− |
Department for Education · GIAS, Key Stage 2 and GCSE resultsThe Schools page →
Work & commuteJobs & income grade A−
More commuters in Ainsworth drive than in Greater Manchester’s towns or England’s towns: 85%
The Census was taken on 21 March 2021, in lockdown, so 26% of workers were mainly at home; shares here are of those who travelled.
Ainsworth counts 0.3 jobs per working resident. 1% of commuters who live in Ainsworth also work there. After the car, walking came next, for 5% of commuters.
11%walk, cycle or ride
How commuters got to work · March 2021
Driving85%
On foot5%
Bus2%
Underground, tram1%
Bicycle1%
43%
of commuters travel under 5 km · England 45%
26%
worked mainly from home in March 2021
£55K
mean household income, before tax
1.8%
of 16 to 64s claim unemployment benefits (2026)
C
Walkability: more walkable than 29% of UK towns
ONS Census 2021, method of travel and distance to work · ONS small-area income · DWP claimant count · OGL
History
Old homes shape Ainsworth: 31% were built before 1919, more than in both Greater Manchester’s towns and England’s towns
The heritage lists give each building’s grade but not its age, so we don’t say which is oldest.
Grade II* covers 2 of them. Scaled to its population, Ainsworth has 75 listed buildings per 10,000 people, above both Greater Manchester’s towns (7) and England’s towns (39). Historic England’s list names 12 listed buildings in the town: 2 Grade II*.
12listed buildingsB+History Grade
Listed buildings by grade · Historic England
Grade I0
Grade II*2
Grade II10
Among them · Grade II*
- Dearden Fold Farmhouse Grade II*
- Presbyterian Chapel Grade II*
0
scheduled monuments
0
registered parks and gardens
31%
of homes built before 1919 · typical UK town 15%
75
listed buildings per 10,000 residents · typical UK town 24
Historic England list, October 2026 · Valuation Office Agency, homes by build period · OGL
HousingCost of living grade C+
Few households rent privately in Ainsworth: 10%, fewer than in both Greater Manchester’s towns and England’s towns
Owners make up 73% of households, above Greater Manchester’s towns (58%) and England’s towns (61%) alike. Private rents average £969 a month across the Bury council area. Also worth knowing: 17% of households live in social housing.
£210Kmedian sale
Median sale price · Sep 2023 to Aug 2026
Ainsworth£210K
Typical UK town£277K
| By type | Median | Sales |
|---|---|---|
| Detached | £320,000 | 11 |
| Semi-detached | £221,500 | 22 |
| Terraced | £195,000 | 35 |
73%
of households own their home · England 61%
10%
rent privately · England 21%
£969
average private rent a month, Bury council area
£2,555
council tax, Band D, 2026–27
HM Land Registry Price Paid · ONS private rents · MHCLG / Welsh Government council tax · ONS Census 2021 tenure · OGL
Health
More people in Ainsworth live with a disability than in Greater Manchester’s towns or across England’s towns: 21%
6.6% of residents described their health as bad or very bad, higher than both Greater Manchester’s towns (5.9%) and England’s towns (5.2%). Seeing a GP means leaving Ainsworth: the nearest practice is 0.9 miles away. Self-reported good health: four fifths of the town’s residents.
80%good or very good healthC+Health Grade
General health, self-reported
Good or very good 80%Fair 13%Bad or very bad 7%
| Census 2021 | Ainsworth | Greater Manchester | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Good or very good health | 80% | 81% | 82% |
| Bad or very bad health | 6.6% | 5.9% | 5.2% |
| Disabled (Equality Act) | 21% | 18% | 17% |
80.7
life expectancy at birth, men (2019–23)
82
life expectancy at birth, women
ONS Census 2021, general health and disability · OHID Fingertips, life expectancy 2019–23 · OGL · Self-reported health favours young towns, since these answers ignore age; the Health Grade leans on age-adjusted measures such as life expectancy and early deaths.
Nearby attractions
All attractions →Bolton Art Gallery, Library & Museum and 6 more in and around Ainsworth
Museums, castles, gardens and days out in and near Ainsworth. Best known first.
MuseumBolton Art Gallery, Library & Museum4.4 km outside town, to the west
MuseumHall i' th' Wood Museum3.4 km outside town, to the west
MuseumBury Transport Museum3.3 km outside town, to the east
Art galleryBury Art Museum & Sculpture Centre3.3 km outside town, to the east
MuseumThe Fusilier Museum3.4 km outside town, to the eastHeritage railwayHeritage railwayEast Lancashire Railway3.3 km outside town, to the eastPlaces: © OpenStreetMap contributors · Wikidata
Photos: each place’s Wikidata image, from Wikimedia Commons under the licence below (our copy, resized).
Photo credits (5)
- Bolton Art Gallery, Library & Museum: The original uploader was Austen Redman at English Wikipedia., CC BY-SA 2.5, Wikimedia Commons
- Hall i' th' Wood Museum: John Darch, CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Bury Transport Museum: Chemical Engineer, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Bury Art Museum & Sculpture Centre: Paul Anderson, CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
- The Fusilier Museum: David Dixon, CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
Keep exploring
Everything we know about Ainsworth
14pages on Ainsworth
The big questions
SafetyNo police.uk data for Greater ManchesterCost of livingC+Median home £210K · rent £969 a monthHousing20 sold in 12 months · busiest street Bradley Fold RoadSchoolsB−1 state schoolHealthC+Life expectancy 80.7 (men), 82 (women)Work & commuteA−42% of working residents work in the townFlood & hazardsA0% of homes at high or medium flood risk
Out and about
Ainsworth’s neighbours
The nearest built-up areas, from ONS’s 2022 boundaries. See them on the map →
Little LeverRadcliffeBuryBoltonKearsleyFarnworthRamsbottomAinsworth
How the neighbours grade
| Town | People | Miles | Overall | Cost | Safety | Health |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ainsworth | 1,595 | — | — | C+ | — | C+ |
| Little Lever | 12,524 | 1.6 | — | D | — | C− |
| Radcliffe | 31,114 | 2 | — | C+ | — | D |
| Bury | 81,115 | 2.1 | — | C | — | C− |
| Bolton | 184,077 | 3.2 | — | C− | — | D |
| Kearsley | 11,117 | 3.3 | — | C | — | C− |
| Farnworth | 28,761 | 3.5 | — | C | — | D− |
| Ramsbottom | 17,074 | 3.7 | — | D | — | B |
Little Lever, Radcliffe, Bury, Bolton, Kearsley, Farnworth and Ramsbottom have no Safety Grade: Greater Manchester Police doesn’t publish to police.uk. People: Census 2021. Miles: centre to centre.
Questions about Ainsworth
How many listed buildings are there in Ainsworth?
That is 3.1 times the typical UK town for its size.
Is Ainsworth safe?
We can’t say from police.uk: Greater Manchester Police doesn’t publish street-level crime data there, so Ainsworth has no Safety Grade. Greater Manchester Police’s own figures cover whole boroughs, not towns.
Is Ainsworth expensive to live in?
Homes cost less than in most UK towns: the median sale over three years was £210,000, against £277,000 in the typical UK town. By type: terraced houses £195,000, semi-detached houses £221,500 and detached houses £320,000.
About Ainsworth
Village in Greater Manchester, England
Ainsworth is a built-up area of 1,595 people, in the Bury council area. TownRatings uses ONS’s 2022 built-up areas as towns: the physical town, as people mean the word, rather than a council district, so its figures cover the town itself.
Built from ONS geography and Census 2021
- Population
- 1,595 (Census 2021)
- Council
- Bury
- County
- Greater Manchester
- Region
- North West
- Area
- 0.2 sq mi (0.5 km²)
- ONS code
- E63001111
Sources: ONS Census 2021, output areas summed to the ONS 2022 built-up area · HM Land Registry Price Paid (standard sales, September 2023 to August 2026) · ONS Price Index of Private Rents (August 2026, by council) · MHCLG and Welsh Government council tax, Band D 2026–27 (with parish precepts in England) · data.police.uk street-level crime, 36 months to August 2026, points inside the built-up-area boundary · ONS small-area life expectancy and healthy life expectancy, 2019 to 2023 (England and Wales), OHID Fingertips small-area indicators (England) and Census 2021 health, adjusted for age · ONS small-area income estimates (financial year ending 2023) · DWP claimant count via Nomis (January to August 2026) · Historic England, National Heritage List for England (listed buildings, scheduled monuments, registered parks and gardens, battlefields, World Heritage Sites), October 2026, inside the ONS 2022 built-up-area boundary · Valuation Office Agency, Council Tax: stock of properties by build period (31 March 2025) · TownRatings grades: our own summary of the data, ranked against UK towns only. All under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Contains HM Land Registry data © Crown copyright and database right 2026. Contains OS data © Crown copyright and database right 2026 (ONS boundaries). Northern Ireland: Source: NISRA; contains Land & Property Services data and Ordnance Survey of Northern Ireland information, © Crown copyright, licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Scotland: contains National Records of Scotland data, Registers of Scotland data and SEPA data, © Crown copyright / © SEPA 2025, licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.