Countless Greater Manchester families looked forward to spending their summer holiday at a now demolished Pontins holiday camp.
03.05.2023 - 15:53 / manchestereveningnews.co.uk
One of Greater Manchester's 10 boroughs has been listed among the top 10 places to raise a family in the UK.
Wigan ranks seventh on the list of 100 places judged on factors including education, house prices and crime levels.
The study, from EnjoyTravel.com, has used a points based system to analyse each area, with a potential 70 points overall made up of 30 points for house price to income ratio - based on property prices and average salaries, 20 points for education and 20 for safety.
It's also considered factors such as access to green spaces, transport links and family-friendly attractions.
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Explaining the study, which saw Wigan given 47 points, a spokesperson said: "These crucial factors determine how comfortable families can live in a particular city. A high house price-to-income ratio means that families are spending more than they can afford on housing expenses, leaving little room for other necessities such as food, healthcare, and education.
"Good quality education is paramount because it shapes the future of children, while a low crime rate ensures that they grow up in a secure environment."
Its findings state: "Frequently ranked as the ‘happiest town in Greater Manchester’, Wigan is a great option for families. It’s a popular commuter town, with efficient transport links to Manchester, Liverpool and Bolton though house prices have stayed low at £166,304. Wages average £35,094, giving the town a high house price-to-income ratio of 4.74.
"Along with strong employment rates, moderate crime rates and affordable housing, education ranks higher than average in Wigan. There are several outstanding schools in the area."
Siobhan Mckenny, head of
Countless Greater Manchester families looked forward to spending their summer holiday at a now demolished Pontins holiday camp.
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