Coldhurst’s population grew by 3% between 2011 and 2017. There was particular growth in the 16-64 age bracket (7.5%) between 2011 and 2018. This ward has an unusually young age profile, with a small proportion of residents aged 45 or over. Nearly two thirds of the Ward’s residents (60%) are of Bangladeshi heritage – ten times the Oldham average. Coldhurst has the highest percent of males in any Oldham ward and is one of only two wards which has more male than female residents.

Coldhurst has the lowest median household income of any ward in the borough. (£14,315 compared to the Oldham average of £22,289). The employment rate (39.6%) is much lower than the Oldham average (58%), and many of those that are employed have only obtained part time employment. A higher proportion of people are on Out of Work Benefits in Coldhurst (17%) than in Oldham as a whole (11.0%).

Coldhurst has a higher proportion of single person households (35.3%) than the Oldham average (30.3%). The proportion of lone parent households in the ward (11.8%) is lower than the Oldham average (13.1%). The proportion of households overcrowded in the ward (21.6%) is considerably higher than the Oldham average (7.5%).

Coldhurst’s rate of reported Anti-Social Behaviour is higher than the average for the borough. The overall rate of reported crimes is considerably higher than the Oldham average. This is due to parts of the town centre falling within Coldhurst, and the town centre having a high concentration of crime due to the concentration of shops. Police intelligence suggests a fall in the rate of reporting.