St James’ population has risen steadily in each of the three broad age bands since 2011. The 65+ population has grown at the fastest rate – increasing in size by 20% between 2011 and 2018. However, numbers are low, and most growth is driven by an increasing school-age population. The ward is predominantly (94.5%) White, and indeed became more white over the previous decade.

St James’ is one of Oldham’s most deprived wards and has the second lowest median household income in the borough. Dependency on out-of-work benefits (11.2%) is roughly the same as the Oldham average (11.0%). Levels of employment (62.3%) are higher than the Oldham average (58.2%).

St James’ has a lower proportion of single person households (28.6%) than the Oldham average (30.3%). The proportion of lone parent households in the ward (18.3%) is higher than the Oldham average (13.1%). The proportion of households overcrowded in the ward (6.4%) is lower than the Oldham average (7.5%).

St James’ rate of reported Anti-Social Behaviour is similar to the average for the borough. The overall rate of reported crimes is lower than the Oldham average. Police intelligence suggests a fall in the rate of reporting. New   crime recording standards have changed the classification of certain offences, meaning we can’t compare over time.