Higher Croft Cottages is in Lower Darwen, Darwen and in Blackburn With Darwen district. BB3 0QS is located in the Blackburn South East electoral ward, within the English Parliamentary constituency of Blackburn. This postcode has been in use since 1980-01-01.
StreetScan combines information about Higher Croft Cottages, Lower Darwen, Darwen, BB3 0QS and displays a report on the quality of life in this place and its surroundings.
Nearby postcodes are: BB2 3UJ, BB2 3UU, BB3 0QT, BB2 3UE, BB3 0QR, BB2 3UG, BB2 3JY, BB2 3UD.
In the UK, the overall gender distribution is approximately 49% male and 51% female. However, the area surrounding BB3 0QS, has a female population slightly higher than UK average, with 54.8% of residents being female. Several factors can contribute to this. Women generally live longer than men, resulting in a higher proportion of women in neighborhoods with significant elderly populations. Typically, as people grow older, they tend to relocate from city center addresses to suburban areas, smaller towns, and rural locations. Consequently, these areas often have a higher number of females. A higher female population can also be found in areas with industries that employ more women, such as healthcare, education, and retail.
| 2011 | 2021 | 10y change (pp) | UK Average | postcode vs UK (pp) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Female | 54.9% | 54.8% | -0.1% | 51.0% | 3.8% |
| Male | 45.1% | 45.2% | 0.1% | 49.0% | -3.8% |
Across the UK, the average relationship status breakdown is roughly 44% married, 38% single, 9% divorced, 6% widowed, and 2% separated.
In the immediate area around BB3 0QS, a significant portion of the population is single, making up 59.7% of the residents. On average, approximately 38% of individuals who responded to the census in the UK were single. Areas with higher single populations are typically urban centers, university towns, regions with dynamic job markets, rich cultural offerings and entertainment facilities. These regions also tend to have a younger demographic.
| 2011 | 2021 | 10y change (pp) | UK Average | postcode vs UK (pp) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Single | 55.7% | 59.7% | 4.0% | 37.9% | 21.8% |
| Married: Opposite sex | 18.7% | 21.4% | 2.7% | 44.2% | -22.8% |
| Separated | 3.3% | 3.6% | 0.3% | 2.2% | 1.4% |
| Divorced | 17.9% | 12.1% | -5.8% | 9.1% | 3.0% |
| Widowed | 4.5% | 3.2% | -1.3% | 6.1% | -2.9% |
Across the UK, the average 48.4% rated their health as Very Good, 33.6% as Good, 12.7% as Fair, 4% as Bad, and 1.2% as Very Bad.
Population age significantly impacts residents' health. Additionally, socioeconomic status plays a crucial role: higher income levels and lower poverty rates are linked to better health outcomes. Affluent areas benefit from higher living standards, access to private healthcare, and healthier lifestyle choices.
| 2011 | 2021 | 10y change (pp) | UK Average | postcode vs UK (pp) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Very good health | 45.1% | 43.4% | -1.7% | 48.4% | -5.0% |
| Good health | 33.2% | 34.5% | 1.3% | 33.6% | 0.9% |
| Fair health | 13.7% | 13.5% | -0.2% | 12.7% | 0.8% |
| Bad health | 6.4% | 7% | 0.6% | 4.0% | 3.0% |
| Very bad health | 1.5% | 1.6% | 0.1% | 1.2% | 0.4% |
During the 2021 census, the educational qualifications of residents across the UK were as follows: 18.2% had no qualifications, 9.6% had 1-4 GCSEs, 13.4% had 5 or more GCSEs and 1-2 A/AS Levels, 16.9% had 2 or more A Levels, 33.8% held a degree (or equivalent), and 5.4% had completed an apprenticeship.
In the area around BB3 0QS this area, 31.9% of residents have no qualifications. This is significantly higher than the UK average of 18.2%. This area stands out for its low percentage of residents with higher education degree. The UK average is 33.8%, while in this area it is 15.9%.
| 2011 | 2021 | 10y change (pp) | UK Average | postcode vs UK (pp) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No qualifications | 39.4% | 31.9% | -7.5% | 18.2% | 13.7% |
| 1-4 GCSEs or Equivalent | 24.4% | 16.7% | -7.7% | 9.6% | 7.1% |
| 5 or more GCSEs, an A-Level or 1-2 AS Levels | 18.3% | 16.7% | -1.6% | 13.4% | 3.3% |
| Apprenticeship | 1.2% | 4% | 2.8% | 5.3% | -1.3% |
| HNC, HND or 2+ A Levels | 4.5% | 10.4% | 5.9% | 16.9% | -6.5% |
| Degree or Similar | 4.5% | 15.9% | 11.4% | 33.8% | -17.9% |
| Other | 7.7% | 4.4% | -3.3% | 2.8% | 1.6% |
In this area, the population is predominantly white, with 93.2% identifying as such, significantly higher than the UK average of 81.4%. This indicates a lower level of ethnic diversity compared to the broader UK population.
| 2011 | 2021 | 10y change (pp) | UK Average | postcode vs UK (pp) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bangladeshi | 0% | 0.5% | 0.5% | 1.1% | -0.6% |
| Indian | 0.3% | 0% | -0.3% | 3.1% | -3.1% |
| Pakistani | 0.5% | 0% | -0.5% | 2.7% | -2.7% |
| Other Asian | 0.3% | 0% | -0.3% | 1.6% | -1.6% |
| Black African | 1% | 2.6% | 1.6% | 2.5% | 0.1% |
| Black Caribbean | 0% | 0.3% | 0.3% | 1.0% | -0.7% |
| Mixed White and African | 0% | 1.8% | 1.8% | 0.4% | 1.4% |
| Mixed White and Caribbean | 0.8% | 0% | -0.8% | 0.9% | -0.9% |
| Mixed Other | 0.3% | 0.5% | 0.2% | 0.8% | -0.3% |
| White | 96.9% | 93.2% | -3.7% | 81.4% | 11.8% |
| Other | 0% | 1% | 1.0% | 1.6% | -0.6% |
In this area, 85.7% of the population were born in the United Kingdom, which is similar to the UK average of 83.2%.
| 2011 | 2021 | 10y change (pp) | UK Average | postcode vs UK (pp) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom | 94.6% | 85.7% | -8.9% | 83.2% | 2.5% |
| European Union | 4.4% | 13% | 8.6% | 6.1% | 6.9% |
| Africa | 1% | 1% | 0.0% | 2.7% | -1.7% |
| Middle East and Asia | 0% | 0.3% | 0.3% | 5.6% | -5.3% |
| 2011 | 2021 | 10y change (pp) | UK Average | postcode vs UK (pp) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Born in the UK | 94.1% | 85.9% | -8.2% | 83.2% | 2.7% |
| 10+ Years | 0% | 6.3% | 6.3% | 9.8% | -3.5% |
| 5-10 Years | 1.8% | 4.9% | 3.1% | 2.9% | 2.0% |
| 2-5 Years | 2.6% | 2.6% | 0.0% | 2.2% | 0.4% |
| Less than 2 years | 1.5% | 0.3% | -1.2% | 1.9% | -1.6% |
| 2021 | UK Average | postcode vs UK (pp) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom | 46.2% | 76.7% | -30.5% |
| Italy | 0.3% | 0.6% | -0.3% |
| Lithuania | 0.8% | 0.3% | 0.5% |
| Poland | 9.1% | 1.3% | 7.8% |
| Other EU countries | 1.8% | 1.5% | 0.3% |
| South and Eastern Africa | 0.3% | 0.2% | 0.1% |
| No passport held | 41.6% | 13.5% | 28.1% |
| 2021 | UK Average | postcode vs UK (pp) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| No religion | 54.3% | 37.2% | 17.1% |
| Christian | 40.8% | 46.2% | -5.4% |
| Muslim | 0.5% | 6.5% | -6.0% |
| Other religion | 0.3% | 0.6% | -0.3% |
| Not answered | 4.2% | 6.0% | -1.8% |
Over the last 12 months, the overall crime rate around Higher Croft Cottages was 401.6 per 1,000 residents, which is 197.9% higher than the Audley & Queen's Park average. The most reported crime type was Anti-social behaviour.
Higher Croft Cottages has the 7th highest crime rate of 77 local areas in Audley & Queen's Park and the 19th highest crime rate of 440 local areas in Blackburn with Darwen .
Violent and sexual offences accounted for around 124.0 crimes per 1,000 residents and have been rising year on year. Over the last decade, overall crime has fallen by about -27.6%.

Households in this area have a lower level of wealth compared to the average household in England and Wales. 78% of analyzed areas in England and Wales have higher average household annual income than this area.

| Address | Sale Price | Sale Date | Price Estimate 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2 Higher Croft Cottages, Darwen, Blackburn With Darwen Terraced, an established residential building | £35,500 | 2002-10-16 | £134,176 |
| Full-Time Employee | 64 |
| Part-Time Employee | 42 |
| Looking after home or family | 31 |
| Long-Term Sick or disabled | 29 |
| Other | 22 |
| Student (economically inactive) | 19 |
| Unemployed | 17 |
| Retired | 14 |
| Self-Employed | 7 |
| Full-Time Student (with or without job) | 5 |
| Human health and social work activities | 24 |
| Manufacturing | 21 |
| Wholesale and retail trade; repair of motor vehicles and motor cycles | 13 |
| Administrative and support service activities | 12 |
| Accommodation and food service activities | 6 |
| Education | 4 |
| Transport and storage | 4 |
| Professional, scientific and technical activities | 2 |
| Other | 2 |
| Water supply; sewerage, waste management and remediation activities | 1 |
| Ofsted Overall Effectiveness | Distance | Establishment Type | Has Nursery Classes | Gender | More Info | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Longshaw Nursery School Crosby Road , BB2 3NF | 3out of 4 | 681 yd | Local authority nursery school | Yes | Mixed | More About School |
| Brunel Nursery School Cambridge Street , BB1 1ES | 3out of 4 | 2,211 yd | Local authority nursery school | Yes | Mixed | More About School |
| Ashworth Nursery School Addison Close , BB2 1QU | 4out of 4 | 2,806 yd | Local authority nursery school | Yes | Mixed | More About School |
| Turncroft Nursery School Highfield Road , BB3 2DN | 4out of 4 | 4,309 yd | Local authority nursery school | Yes | Mixed | More About School |
| Ofsted Overall Effectiveness | Distance | Establishment Type | Has Nursery Classes | Gender | More Info | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Our Lady of Perpetual Succour Roman Catholic Primary School Blackburn Holmbrook Close , BB2 3UG | 3out of 4 | 345 yd | Voluntary aided school | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Longshaw Infant School Crosby Road , BB2 3NF | 3out of 4 | 528 yd | Community school | No | Mixed | More About School |
| St James' Church of England Primary School Off Stopes Brow , Lower Darwen BB3 0QP | 3out of 4 | 911 yd | Voluntary aided school | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Longshaw Community Junior School Park Lee Road , BB2 3NX | 3out of 4 | 914 yd | Community school | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Lower Darwen Primary School Milking Lane , Lower Darwen BB3 0RB | 3out of 4 | 1,039 yd | Community school | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Ofsted Overall Effectiveness | Distance | Establishment Type | Has Nursery Classes | Gender | More Info | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Blackburn Central High School Haslingden Road , BB2 3HJ | - not rated | 1,397 yd | Academy converter | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Darwen Vale High School Blackburn Road , BB3 0AL | 2out of 4 | 1,548 yd | Academy sponsor led | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Tauheedul Islam Boys' High School Sumner Street , BB2 2LD | 4out of 4 | 2,058 yd | Free schools | No | Boys | More About School |
| Our Lady and St John Catholic College North Road , BB1 1PY | 2out of 4 | 2,275 yd | Voluntary aided school | No | Mixed | More About School |
| St Wilfrid's Church of England Academy Duckworth Street , BB2 2JR | 3out of 4 | 2,327 yd | Academy converter | Not Applicable | Mixed | More About School |
| Ofsted Overall Effectiveness | Distance | Establishment Type | Has Nursery Classes | Gender | More Info | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Blackburn College Blackburn College , Harrison Centre BB2 1LH | - not rated | 2,716 yd | Further education | Not Applicable | Mixed | More About School |
| St Mary's College Shear Brow , BB1 8DX | - not rated | 4,035 yd | Further education | Not Applicable | Mixed | More About School |
| Ofsted Overall Effectiveness | Distance | Establishment Type | Has Nursery Classes | Gender | More Info | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Queen Elizabeth's Grammar School West Park Road , BB2 6DF | 2out of 4 | 3,496 yd | Free schools | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Ofsted Overall Effectiveness | Distance | Establishment Type | Has Nursery Classes | Gender | More Info | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Noorul Uloom Park Lee Rd , Blackburn BB2 3NY | - not rated | 889 yd | Other independent school | No | Girls | More About School |
| Markazul Uloom Park Lee Road , BB2 3NY | - not rated | 889 yd | Other independent school | No | Boys | More About School |
| Crosshill Special School Haslingden Rd , BB2 3HJ | - not rated | 1,312 yd | Academy special converter | Not Applicable | Mixed | More About School |
| Newfield School Old Bank Lane , Off Shadsworth Road BB1 2PW | 4out of 4 | 1,783 yd | Community special school | Yes | Mixed | More About School |
| The Heights Free School Heys Lane , BB2 4NW | 3out of 4 | 2,036 yd | Free schools alternative provision | No | Mixed | More About School |
School statistics for this postcode are based on Ofsted rankings.
| Business Name | Address | Food hygiene rating | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| No 3 Espresso Bar | 3 Albert Place | 751 yd | |
| Splash @ Riverside | Splash At Riverside, Riverside House, Branch Road | 755 yd | |
| The Little Lancashire Village | 1a Branch Road | 774 yd |
| Business Name | Address | Food hygiene rating | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Observatory | Old Bank Lane | 1,026 yd | |
| The Fernhurst | 466 Bolton Road | 1,093 yd |
| Business Name | Address | Food hygiene rating | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fishmoor Chippery | 49 Fishmoor Drive | 164 yd | |
| Bamboo House | 9 Fore Street | 695 yd | |
| Manxman Chippy | 45 Crosby Road | 705 yd | |
| India 2 U | 6 Fore Street | 709 yd | |
| Munchies | 23 Branch Road | 774 yd |
| Facility Name | Sport Objects | Distance |
|---|---|---|
| Roman Road Cp (Closed) Fishmoor Drive | grass pitches | 59 yd |
| Roman Road Recreation Ground Fishmoor Drive | grass pitches | 101 yd |
| My Gym @ Highercroft NEWFIELD DRIVE | health and fitness suite | 352 yd |
| Our Lady Of Perpetual Succour Roman Catholic Primary School HOLMBROOK CLOSE | grass pitches | 427 yd |
| St James' Lower Darwen Church Of England Primary School STOPES BROW | grass pitches | 736 yd |
| The Mill Gym Brook Mill Complex Brook Mill Complex Branch Road | health and fitness suite | 762 yd |
| Everton Playing Fields MANXMAN ROAD | grass pitches | 797 yd |
| Poppy-Mai Fc Ground Branch Road | grass pitches | 900 yd |
| Roman Road Community Pitch MANXMAN ROAD | grass pitches | 939 yd |
| Darwen Cricket Club (Sandy Lane) UNITY MILL UNITY MILL KINGSTON PLACE | grass pitches | 942 yd |
This statistics are based on Active Places Data - Contains Data © Sport England
| Percentage of premises that have Superfast Broadband (30Mbit/s or greater) coverage from fixed broadband | 100.0% |
| Percentage of premises that have Ultrafast Broadband (100Mbit/s or greater) coverage from fixed broadband | 0.0% |
| Percentage of premises that have Ultrafast Broadband (300Mbit/s or greater) coverage from fixed broadband | 0.0% |
| Percentage of premises that have coverage from a Gigabit capable service from fixed broadband | 0.0% |
| Percentage of premises unable to receive 2Mbit/s | 0.0% |
| Percentage of premises unable to receive 5Mbit/s | 0.0% |
| Percentage of premises unable to receive 10Mbit/s | 0.0% |
| Percentage of premises unable to receive 30Mbit/s | 0.0% |
Broadband statistics are based on Ofcom's Communications Market Report (CMR) 2022.