As one of the UK’s major economic hubs, living and working in Manchester has its benefits. But where there is opportunity for making your dreams come true, there is often traffic, a lot of people, and chaos pretty much around the clock.
And if you have a family or don’t want to be in the middle of all the action, it’s normal to look for a place to call home that is outside of the city centre but not too far so you can’t commute to work. So, in this article, we did all of the research for you, and will present you with all the best places you can live in Greater Manchester as a commuter.
Ashton-under-Lyne
First on our list is Ashton-under-Lyne, a historical market town close to the foothills of the Pennines that over 48,000 people call home today. Though it’s not the biggest town, there is always plenty going on, meaning you won’t have to go into the big city as often.
Another great benefit of calling Ashton-under-Lyne home is because the town is just 6.9 miles away from the Manchester city centre. And if you don’t want to commute by car, you don’t have to. There are plenty of trains that go to Manchester Victoria, which take about 15 minutes each way.
Bolton
With a wide variety of amenities and good transport links, Bolton is an affordable area to live that is close to Manchester. Crime is relatively low in the more affluent areas and there is a good range of retirement properties for those looking to make their money go further later in life.
Bolton sits close to the major motorways in the area including the M61 and M60, making getting into Manchester pretty straightforward. Alternatively, you can use the train, which takes around 25 minutes to get to Manchester Piccadilly.
The average property in Bolton last year sold for £208,439, so if you’re looking to buy, it’s a relatively affordable area, even for first time buyers. If you’re looking to rent, make sure you budget between £995 and £1,495 per month.
Bury
Named the happiest place to live in Greater Manchester, Bury rightly takes its place on our list as one of the best commuter towns for Manchester. Close to the River Irwell, Bury is within reaching distance of stunning scenery and Manchester city centre (just 9 miles out).
Popular with families and commuters, getting to Manchester city centre takes around 25 minutes on a good day. Alternatively, you can always get the train that goes straight to Manchester Victoria.
Last year, the average property in Bury sold for £224,661. If you plan on renting, expect your rent to vary between £850 – £1,350 depending on the type and size of property you want to secure.
Egerton
Egerton is a sleepy village ideally located between Bolton, Manchester and Bury. It is mostly preferred by families due to the number of excellent schools in the area and very short drive to Manchester. The train station is also within walking distance of the town centre making it easy to get to and from work.
With stone built properties in abundance, there are plenty of eye-catching homes to be found. Buying a property in Egerton would currently set you back an average of £277,405. If you plan on renting, expect the cost of your monthly rent to be around £1,100 – £1,350.
Prestwich
Another great commuter town in the area of Greater Manchester is Prestwich. This attractive, family-friendly town is located just outside the city centre, meaning it’s not in the middle of all the hustle and bustle but just close enough so you don’t need to commute for hours every day.
The average house price in Prestwich last year was £287,568 and when it comes to renting, expect the average property to cost you about £1,300 per month.
Stalybridge
Another favourite for families who want to see their money go a little further is Stalybridge.The area is deemed one of the most affordable in the whole of Greater Manchester, with properties averaging at around £231,580. Renting on the other hand will set you back around £1,100 per month for a very decent semi or even a detached house.
If you have children, it’s worth mentioning that outstanding schools in the likes of Millbrook Primary and St. Peters Primary are located not too far off. Located just 9.5 miles out of the Manchester city centre, it will take you about 35 minutes to get to the centre of the city from your home in Stalybridge.
With that said, most people in the area commute either by a bus, which takes a little longer, or a train that goes directly into Manchester’s biggest railway stations in the likes of Manchester Victoria and Piccadilly.
Stockport
One of the best commuter towns to live in Greater Manchester goes by the name of Stockport. Situated to the South of Manchester, the prominent town of Stockport is just 9.8 miles away from the city centre.
On a good day, it will take you about 30 minutes to get into the city centre by car. Alternatively, you can do exactly what the 135,000 locals in the area do – take the 9-minute train journey to Manchester Piccadilly.
The average house price in Stockport last year was £285,464, which is relatively steep, especially if you’re a first time buyer. Thankfully,there are plenty of rental properties in the area too. One of these will set you back an average of £1,100 per month.
Wigan
Wigan is another great place you can call home if the hustle and bustle of Manchester doesn’t quite suit your needs. A direct train journey to Manchester Victoria takes about 30 minutes, making it a great choice for commuters that want to live outside of Manchester.
Wigan is home to about 100,000 people, so you can expect the area to be very well developed, with plenty going on every day of the week. On the highstreet, you will find a handful of great restaurants, cafes, pubs, and nightclubs that are a hit amongst the locals.
One reason Wigan is so popular for commuters that go to work in Manchester is due to the lower property prices. The average property in Wigan last year was £166,304, which is almost half of what you’d pay in some of the other areas that we’ve covered in this article. When it comes to renting, expect to find a very decent property for £600 – £900 per month.
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