What it's like to live in Accrington

Housing in Hyndburn is mostly owner-occupied at 63.1%, with 23.1% private rented and 13.5% social rented, below the England figure of 17.1%. Within that, housing associations hold more stock than the council: 10% against 3.5%.

Onward Homes Limited is by far the biggest social landlord in the borough with 3,308 homes, followed by Your Housing Limited, Accent Housing Limited, Great Places Housing Association and Anchor Hanover Group.

Rents are among the more affordable you will find. Average weekly social rents in 2024/25 were about £82 for a one bed, £93 for two beds and £103 for three. The council's housing register held 2,002 households at March 2025, which is a reminder that a swap is often the more realistic route in.

Primary choice is strong and close. Benjamin Hargreaves C of E, Saint John with Saint Augustine C of E, St Mary Magdalen's C of E, Accrington Woodnook and Peel Park Primary all sit within half a mile of the town centre, so most families have several within pram-pushing distance.

For secondary, Accrington Academy is under a mile away, with Mount Carmel RC High School, St Christopher's C of E High School Academy and The Hollins all within about a mile.

Hyndburn skews slightly young: 20.1% of residents are under 16, above the England figure of 18.6%. For rainy days there is Accrington Library in the centre, and community spaces like The Sensory Hub Hyndburn, The Woodnook Centre and Scaitcliffe Community Centre.

Accrington railway station sits around 0.2 miles from the centre, which is unusually handy. Church & Oswaldtwistle is about a mile away and Huncoat around 1.5 miles, so if you move out towards the edges you still have a station option.

Buses are the other backbone. Accrington bus station and the Warner Street stops are right in the middle of town, with multiple stands serving local and cross-borough routes.

On foot, the centre is flat enough and compact, though Accrington is a hill town and some residential streets climb. If you drive, the town is well placed between Blackburn and Burnley; if you do not, the station and bus station together cover a lot of ground.

For a town this size, the leisure offer is better than you might expect. Vue Cinema Accrington is a few minutes from the centre, and there is a decent cluster of gyms, including The Gym Group, Jetts 24 Hour Gym, Central Fitness 24/7 and Group 1 PT.

Green space is close rather than sprawling. Woodnook Vale Nature Reserve, Milnshaw Park, Arden Hall Playing Fields and the Peel memorial seating area all sit within about half a mile.

Nights out are local and unpretentious: The Commercial Hotel, The Warner Arms, The Crafty Fox and Jax Bar in and around the centre, plus Dodge Nightclub and Berkley Club if you want a later one.

Across the Hyndburn council area, 54.3% of adults are in work, a little below the England figure of 57.4%, and unemployment sits at 3.4%, roughly in line with England's 3.5%. Claims for unemployment-related benefits ran at 5.6% of working-age people in August 2026, above the England rate of 4%.

In plain terms: work is here, but the market is tighter than the national average, and many people commute. That is where the railway station and bus station earn their keep, linking Accrington to bigger job markets in Blackburn, Burnley and beyond.

Retail, care and services in and around the town centre provide a lot of the local employment.