Manchester is the second youngest area in the country, census figures have revealed. The city has a median age of just 31-years-old.
The data comes from the ONS' Census 2021 which has found the median age on census day - March 21, 2021 - in every local authority and, at a more local level, on a neighbourhood-by-neighbourhood basis. The median age, which finds the middle point so that half of the population are younger and half are older, across Greater Manchester's 10 boroughs was mainly in the late 30s to early 40s.
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Manchester, with its large student population and city centre workforce of young professionals, is the region's youngest borough. It's it the second youngest place in England and Wales behind Tower Hamlets in London, home to trendy areas such as Brick Lane and Colombia Road flower market as well as the financial hub of Canary Wharf.
Stockport, where the median age is 42, is the oldest borough in Greater Manchester. It's also home to the oldest local area, High Lane, where the median age is 55. University North and Whitworth Street, roughly the area immediately to the north and south of the Mancunian Way in Manchester city centre, is the youngest part of the region, with a median age is just 22.
Across Greater Manchester, as a general rule of thumb, the more rural, leafier parts of each borough tend to have older populations, while more central, urban areas are younger. That's also largely reflected in house prices, with areas with older populations generally paying more for their property
For example in High Lane the average house price was £416,000 over the last year. By contrast in Brinnington, Stockport's youngest area, the average house price was £180,000.
However central Manchester, which has a largely younger population but higher than average property prices, bucks that trend.
The figures also confirm the UK is continuing to see a long-term shift towards an older population, with the median age in June 2021 estimated at 40.7 years, up from 39.6 in June 2011.
Wales had the highest median age in mid-2021 at 43.1 years, up from 41.5 in mid-2011, followed by Scotland at 42.2 years (up from 41.3), England at 40.5 years (up from 39.4) and Northern Ireland at 39.8 years (up from 37.4 – the highest increase).
Median age in each Greater Manchester borough and the youngest and oldest areas in each borough
The median age in Bolton is 38. Harwood is the oldest area, with an median age of 50, while Lever Edge, where the median age is 30, is the youngest.
In Bury the median age is 40. Summerseat and Elton Vale (both 51) are the oldest parts of the borough, while Sedgeley Park (30) is the youngest.
Manchester has a median age of 31 making it the second youngest place in the country. University North and Whitworth Street is the youngest area, with a median age of just 22, while Baguley West & Brooklands and Northenden (both 40) are the joint oldest areas.
The median age in Oldham is 37. Diggle, Delph & Denshaw and Shaw & Crompton (both 50) are the joint oldest places in the borough, while Busk, Alexandra Park and Oldham Town South (all 27) are the youngest.
In Rochdale the median age is 38. Wardleworth & Newbold Brow (30) is the youngest area. Springfield Park (49) is the oldest.
The median age in Salford is 34, making it the second youngest borough in Greater Manchester. Broughton East (24) has the youngest median age, while Worsley (44) is the oldest.
Stockport, with a median age of 42, is the oldest borough in Greater Manchester. High Lane (55) is also the oldest area in the region. Brinnington, where the median age is 33, is the youngest area in the borough.
In Tameside the median age is 40. The oldest area is Mottram, Hollingworth and Broadbottom (47). Ashton Central (33) is the youngest.
Trafford also has a median age of 40. Bowdon (47) is the oldest part of the borough, while Old Trafford (31) is the youngest.
Last but not least Wigan has a median age of 41. Its oldest areas are Shevington and Ashton-in-Makerfield West (both 48). Laithwaite & Marsh Green (33) is the youngest.
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