Rotherham and the surrounding areas have good transport links to Sheffield, Doncaster and Barnsley.
So, if you want a short commute to work in South Yorkshire, it’s worth considering living here.
In this blog post, we’ll discuss some of the best commuter spots in Rotherham.
But before that, let’s look briefly at the top industries and employers in South Yorkshire.
Employers and industries in South Yorkshire
Rotherham
Rotherham has long held a reputation for being an industrial town. There is still a steel industry here, with Liberty Steel as one of the major local employers.
Like its neighbours, Rotherham has moved into advanced manufacturing and engineering.
Companies based here include:
- Bluetree Group
- AMG Chrome
- AES Engineering
- MTL Advanced
And more.
According to the Rotherham Advertiser, over 8,000 businesses operate in Rotherham. And as of April 2024, Indeed lists over 1,200 jobs within 10 miles of the town.
One of the biggest employers is The Rotherham NHS Foundation Trust, which employs over 5,000 people.
According to the Office for National Statistics, the unemployment rate in Rotherham was 3.7% as of September 2023, which was lower than the national average at that time.
Future outlook
Rotherham Council has exciting regeneration plans as part of the Town Centre Masterplan. The project is hoped to attract new businesses and stimulate activity in the town.
Also on the horizon is the £1.2bn Advanced Manufacturing Investment Zone, which could create 8,000 jobs across Rotherham and other parts of South Yorkshire.
Cities near Rotherham
Sheffield
Sheffield has the second fastest-growing economy in the UK and is developing three times faster than London.
Several sectors are performing well, including advanced manufacturing, energy, and digital and technology. As a result, it is one of Yorkshire’s employment hotspots alongside Leeds and is particularly attractive to science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) professionals.
Some of Sheffield’s top employers are the two universities, NHS and Sheffield City Council. It has been named the best place outside of London to start a business.
Barnsley
Many commute to Barnsley from Rotherham because it only takes a short drive of 12 miles down the M1.
Barnsley has seen impressive economic growth in recent years. In 2022, Evri opened a £60m facility which employs several hundred people locally.
Retail has significantly boosted Barnsley thanks to the council’s £220m Glass Works project. This regeneration project has brought many big-name employers into the area.
Moreover, ASOS’s state-of-the-art warehouse employs 3,500 people in Barnsley.
Doncaster
Doncaster is another town with a thriving local economy and good road and rail connections to Rotherham.
Over 14,000 people are employed in Doncaster’s engineering and manufacturing industries.
And Doncaster and Bassetlaw Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust employs over 7,000 people across three hospitals and several other sites. In April 2024, they were listed as having over 2,000 jobs within 10 miles of Doncaster.
The top 5 places to live for commuters in Rotherham
Bramley
Located 4 miles east of Rotherham, the village of Bramley is an excellent choice for commuters looking for an idyllic way of life.
From Bramley, the M18 motorway, which connects Sheffield and Doncaster, can be accessed in just minutes. A journey by car to either destination will only take about 20 minutes.
According to Rightmove, Bramley’s house prices are well below the national average, coming in at £209,510 on average. Detached houses sold for an average of £309,262, making Bramley a viable option for large families.
Brinsworth
Brinsworth is a suburb that benefits from easy access to the M1 motorway and is located just 2 ½ miles outside Rotherham town centre.
It has been rated among the five safest small towns in South Yorkshire. The local secondary school, Brinsworth Academy, is currently rated Good by Ofsted.
With a population of less than 10,000, broadband speeds in Brinsworth are better than the UK average at 77.0mbps.
In terms of house prices, the average property in Brinsworth was priced at £174,332 over the last year. This makes these suburbs considerably more affordable than the average UK house.
Whiston
Whiston is next on our list of the top commuter towns near Rotherham. It is conveniently located just 2 miles from Rotherham centre and 5 miles from Sheffield, with the M1 on its doorstep.
It is also just a 20-minute drive to Doncaster and a 10-minute drive to Sheffield’s Advanced Manufacturing Park, which contains Rolls Royce, Boeing and many other major companies.
Like many of Rotherham’s top commuter towns, Whiston is surrounded by countryside. Despite its long list of merits, the suburb’s houses are competitively priced at £221,480 on average over the last year.
Detached properties sold for £346,950 on average, which is still below the price of the average UK house.
Greasbrough
Greasbrough is a quaint village less than 2 miles from Rotherham town centre with a population of just 8,000.
It’s ideally located for South Yorkshire commuters. For example, you can arrive in Barnsley in 20-25 minutes via the M1.
Greasbrough also has a primary school rated Good by Ofsted, several traditional pubs, and all the essential amenities. It is the most affordable place on this list, with an average house price of £155,296 over the last year.
Swinton
Finally, we have Swinton, which is situated 5 miles north of Rotherham.
It’s also a 20-25-minute drive to Barnsley and Doncaster and a 25-minute train journey to Sheffield. Services run from 6 a.m. to midnight and cost as little as £2.40 per journey.
Besides the notable transport links, Swinton has plenty of green space, an academy and sixth form, and a broad selection of other amenities.
House prices are affordable in Swinton. Over the last year, houses were priced on average at just £159,149.
Terraced properties were priced on average at just £88,825, while detached houses had an average price of £253,670.
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