Thornwood is in Skelmersdale and in West Lancashire district. WN8 8RB is located in the Old Skelmersdale electoral ward, within the English Parliamentary constituency of West Lancashire. This postcode has been in use since 1980-01-01.
StreetScan combines information about Thornwood, Skelmersdale, WN8 8RB and displays a report on the quality of life in this place and its surroundings.
Nearby postcodes are: WN8 8RD, WN8 8QZ, WN8 8QY, WN8 8RH, WN8 8QR, WN8 8RN, WN8 8RL, WN8 8QT, WN8 8RJ.
In the UK, the overall gender distribution is approximately 49% male and 51% female. However, the area surrounding WN8 8RB, has a female population slightly higher than UK average, with 53.6% 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 | 52.7% | 53.6% | 0.9% | 51.0% | 2.6% |
| Male | 47.3% | 46.4% | -0.9% | 49.0% | -2.6% |
Across the UK, the average relationship status breakdown is roughly 44% married, 38% single, 9% divorced, 6% widowed, and 2% separated.
| 2011 | 2021 | 10y change (pp) | UK Average | postcode vs UK (pp) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Single | 18.8% | 22.6% | 3.8% | 37.9% | -15.3% |
| Married: Opposite sex | 58% | 47% | -11.0% | 44.2% | 2.8% |
| Separated | 2% | 2.2% | 0.2% | 2.2% | 0.0% |
| Divorced | 8.8% | 11.7% | 2.9% | 9.1% | 2.6% |
| Widowed | 12.4% | 16.5% | 4.1% | 6.1% | 10.4% |
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.
This area has a lower percentage of residents reporting their health as Good or Very Good (69.2%) compared to the average (82%). This typically indicates either an older population or social deprivation in the area.
| 2011 | 2021 | 10y change (pp) | UK Average | postcode vs UK (pp) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Very good health | 37.6% | 32% | -5.6% | 48.4% | -16.4% |
| Good health | 31.2% | 37.2% | 6.0% | 33.6% | 3.6% |
| Fair health | 21.5% | 16.4% | -5.1% | 12.7% | 3.7% |
| Bad health | 7.2% | 10.4% | 3.2% | 4.0% | 6.4% |
| Very bad health | 2.5% | 4% | 1.5% | 1.2% | 2.8% |
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 WN8 8RB this area, 30.3% 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 16.7%.
| 2011 | 2021 | 10y change (pp) | UK Average | postcode vs UK (pp) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No qualifications | 32% | 30.3% | -1.7% | 18.2% | 12.1% |
| 1-4 GCSEs or Equivalent | 15.2% | 12.3% | -2.9% | 9.6% | 2.7% |
| 5 or more GCSEs, an A-Level or 1-2 AS Levels | 14.4% | 12.7% | -1.7% | 13.4% | -0.7% |
| Apprenticeship | 6% | 6.1% | 0.1% | 5.3% | 0.8% |
| HNC, HND or 2+ A Levels | 12.8% | 19.7% | 6.9% | 16.9% | 2.8% |
| Degree or Similar | 11.6% | 16.7% | 5.1% | 33.8% | -17.1% |
| Other | 8% | 2.2% | -5.8% | 2.8% | -0.6% |
In this area, the population is predominantly white, with 98% 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) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mixed White and Caribbean | 0% | 1.6% | 1.6% | 0.9% | 0.7% |
| Mixed Other | 0% | 0.4% | 0.4% | 0.8% | -0.4% |
| White | 100% | 98% | -2.0% | 81.4% | 16.6% |
In this area, 98.8% of the population were born in the United Kingdom, which is higher than the UK average of 83.2%.
| 2011 | 2021 | 10y change (pp) | UK Average | postcode vs UK (pp) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom | 98.9% | 98.8% | -0.1% | 83.2% | 15.6% |
| European Union | 0.7% | 0.8% | 0.1% | 6.1% | -5.3% |
| Middle East and Asia | 0.4% | 0% | -0.4% | 5.6% | -5.6% |
| Oceania | 0% | 0.4% | 0.4% | 0.3% | 0.1% |
| 2011 | 2021 | 10y change (pp) | UK Average | postcode vs UK (pp) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Born in the UK | 97.8% | 98.8% | 1.0% | 83.2% | 15.6% |
| 10+ Years | 0% | 1.2% | 1.2% | 9.8% | -8.6% |
| 5-10 Years | 0.4% | 0% | -0.4% | 2.9% | -2.9% |
| Less than 2 years | 1.8% | 0% | -1.8% | 1.9% | -1.9% |
| 2021 | UK Average | postcode vs UK (pp) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom | 86.8% | 76.7% | 10.1% |
| Ireland | 0.4% | 0.6% | -0.2% |
| No passport held | 12.8% | 13.5% | -0.7% |
| 2021 | UK Average | postcode vs UK (pp) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| No religion | 18.4% | 37.2% | -18.8% |
| Christian | 78.8% | 46.2% | 32.6% |
| Buddhist | 0.4% | 0.5% | -0.1% |
| Not answered | 2.4% | 6.0% | -3.6% |
Over the last 12 months, the overall crime rate around Thornwood was 61.2 per 1,000 residents, which is 40.7% lower than the Old Skelmersdale average. The most reported crime type was Violence and sexual offences.
Thornwood has the 20th lowest crime rate of 69 local areas in Old Skelmersdale and the 138th highest crime rate of 328 local areas in West Lancashire .
Violent and sexual offences accounted for around 28.6 crimes per 1,000 residents and have been rising year on year. Over the last decade, overall crime has fallen by about -84.4%.

Households in this area have a slightly lower level of wealth to the average household in England and Wales. 62% of analyzed areas in England and Wales have higher average household annual income than this area.

| Address | Sale Price | Sale Date | Price Estimate 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 22 Thornwood, Skelmersdale, Lancashire Semi-Detached, an established residential building | £225,000 | 2024-11-08 | £227,177 |
| 16 Thornwood, Skelmersdale, Lancashire Semi-Detached, an established residential building | £174,000 | 2024-10-11 | £175,375 |
| 17 Thornwood, Skelmersdale, Lancashire Semi-Detached, an established residential building | £120,000 | 2024-06-04 | £132,081 |
| 28 Thornwood, Skelmersdale, Lancashire Terraced, an established residential building | £159,500 | 2024-03-01 | £170,500 |
| 37 Thornwood, Skelmersdale, Lancashire Semi-Detached, an established residential building | £175,000 | 2022-08-05 | £202,725 |
WN8 8RB area has a low unemployment rate. According to Census 2021, 0% residents of this area were unemployed, while the average in the UK was 4.83%. A low level of unemployment in an area indicates a strong job market, where most people who are seeking work can find employment. This generally reflects a healthy economy in the area.
The percentage of retired residents living in WN8 8RB area is much higher than the country's average. According to Census 2011, 48% residents of this area were retired, while the average in the UK was 14%.
| Retired | 109 |
| Full-Time Employee | 63 |
| Part-Time Employee | 27 |
| Self-Employed | 11 |
| Looking after home or family | 6 |
| Full-Time Student (with or without job) | 4 |
| Long-Term Sick or disabled | 4 |
| Student (economically inactive) | 3 |
| Unemployed | 1 |
| Other | 0 |
| Wholesale and retail trade; repair of motor vehicles and motor cycles | 27 |
| Manufacturing | 23 |
| Human health and social work activities | 17 |
| Education | 13 |
| Construction | 10 |
| Transport and storage | 10 |
| Public administration and defence; compulsory social security | 7 |
| Financial and insurance activities | 5 |
| Accommodation and food service activities | 5 |
| Administrative and support service activities | 4 |
| Professional, scientific and technical activities | 4 |
| Information and communication | 3 |
| Other | 1 |
| Ofsted Overall Effectiveness | Distance | Establishment Type | Has Nursery Classes | Gender | More Info | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crow Orchard Primary School School Lane , WN8 8QG | 3out of 4 | 211 yd | Community school | Yes | Mixed | More About School |
| Trinity Church of England/Methodist School Kiln Lane , WN8 8PW | 3out of 4 | 549 yd | Voluntary controlled school | Yes | Mixed | More About School |
| St Edmund's Catholic Primary School Windrows , New Church Farm WN8 8NP | 3out of 4 | 643 yd | Voluntary aided school | Yes | Mixed | More About School |
| Cobbs Brow School Manfield , Ashurst WN8 6SU | 4out of 4 | 826 yd | Community school | Yes | Mixed | More About School |
| Brookfield Park Primary School School Lane , Chapel House WN8 8EH | 3out of 4 | 964 yd | Community school | Yes | Mixed | More About School |
| Ofsted Overall Effectiveness | Distance | Establishment Type | Has Nursery Classes | Gender | More Info | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lathom High School : A Technology College Glenburn Road , WN8 6JN | 2out of 4 | 661 yd | Foundation school | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Our Lady Queen of Peace Catholic Engineering College Glenburn Road , WN8 6JW | 3out of 4 | 839 yd | Voluntary aided school | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Ofsted Overall Effectiveness | Distance | Establishment Type | Has Nursery Classes | Gender | More Info | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Maharishi Free School Cobbs Brow Lane , Lathom L40 6JJ | 3out of 4 | 1,856 yd | Free schools | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Ofsted Overall Effectiveness | Distance | Establishment Type | Has Nursery Classes | Gender | More Info | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kingsbury Primary Special School School Lane , Chapel House WN8 8EH | 4out of 4 | 946 yd | Community special school | Yes | Mixed | More About School |
| West Lancashire Community High School School Lane , Chapel House WN8 8EH | 3out of 4 | 990 yd | Community special school | Not Applicable | Mixed | More About School |
| Learn 4 Life School Quarry Bank Community Centre, 364 Ormskirk Road , WN8 9AL | - not rated | 2,490 yd | Other independent special school | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Elm Tree Community Primary School Elmers Wood Road , Tanhouse WN8 6SA | 4out of 4 | 2,541 yd | Community special school | Not Applicable | Mixed | More About School |
| Hope High School Carfield , Clay Brow WN8 9DP | 3out of 4 | 3,741 yd | Community special school | Not Applicable | Mixed | More About School |
School statistics for this postcode are based on Ofsted rankings.
| Business Name | Address | Food hygiene rating | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Diner / Cafe West | West Lancashire College Skelmersdale Campus, College Way | 721 yd | |
| Cafe (Compass Group) | Asda Stores Ltd, Ingram | 933 yd | |
| Bannatyne Fitness Ltd | Bannatynes Health Club, Northway | 1,091 yd |
| Business Name | Address | Food hygiene rating | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tawd Vale Inn | 11 Berry Street, Skelmersdale | 138 yd | |
| The Busy Bee | 2 Tilcroft, Skelmersdale | 751 yd | |
| The Miners Peg | Ingram, Birch Green | 834 yd | |
| Derby Arms | 188 High Street, Skelmersdale | 917 yd |
| Business Name | Address | Food hygiene rating | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Panku | Asda Stores Ltd, Ingram | 933 yd | |
| Mike's Fish and Chips | 1-3 Woodrow, Skelmersdale | 1,030 yd | |
| Sushi Daily | Asda, Ingram | 1,065 yd |
| Business Name | Address | Food hygiene rating | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Asda Stores Ltd | Ingram, Birch Green | 834 yd |
| Facility Name | Sport Objects | Distance |
|---|---|---|
| Lathom High School : A Technology College GLENBURN ROAD | artificial grass pitch, grass pitches, health and fitness suite | 698 yd |
| West Lancashire College NORTHWAY CAMPUS NORTHWAY CAMPUS COLLEGE WAY | 798 yd | |
| Uretek Stadium THE ASHLEY TRAVEL STADIUM THE ASHLEY TRAVEL STADIUM SELBY PLACE | grass pitches | 854 yd |
| Our Lady Queen Of Peace Catholic Engineering College GLENBURN ROAD | grass pitches | 878 yd |
| Skelmersdale College Sports Complex (Closed) Westbank Campus Westbank Campus Yewdale | health and fitness suite, swimming pool | 1,072 yd |
| Bannatyne Health Club (Skelmersdale) NORTHWAY | health and fitness suite, swimming pool | 1,093 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% |
| Median download speed | 32.2 Mbit/s |
| Average download speed | 31 Mbit/s |
| Minimum download speed | 52.59 Mbit/s |
| Maximum download speed | 52.59 Mbit/s |
| Median upload speed | 5.8 Mbit/s |
| Average upload speed | 5.2 Mbit/s |
| Maximum upload speed | 10.36 Mbit/s |
Broadband statistics are based on Ofcom's Communications Market Report (CMR) 2022.