Manchester continues to be one of the UK’s most in-demand cities, but plenty of buyers are choosing to base themselves just outside of it. With a short train ride into the centre, many nearby towns offer a different pace of life while keeping the city within easy reach for work, socialising or simply popping in for the day.
To find out which of these towns are proving the most popular with buyers right now, Rightmove has ranked the top 10 commuter towns near Manchester by demand, comparing the number of enquiries each property listing receives against the Manchester average.
Rightmove also looked at average property prices, benchmarked against Manchester’s own average of £261,212 (Rightmove House Price Index, August 2026), plus how quickly you could get into the city centre by train.
All Manchester locations that made Rightmove’s previous list make a reappearance in this expanded Manchester list – the only town missing is Marple, previously at number two, which has now been grouped in with Stockport, with Stockport again topping the list of Manchester commuter towns.
Stockport is the best commuter town near Manchester
Stockport, on the southern edge of Greater Manchester, is by far the most in-demand commuter town on the list. Its town centre has undergone significant regeneration in recent years, with the redevelopment of the Underbanks and the Stockport Exchange business district drawing in new residents and businesses.
The Peak District is close by, with easy access to walking and cycling routes, while Stockport Market and its independent food and drink scene have gained traction. Average house prices in Stockport are around £309,150, and with such a short commute into central Manchester – eight minutes – it’s easy to see why buyers are looking here.
Stockport was also the only town on the list where demand has grown compared to this time in 2025, with enquiries per listing up 6% compared to last year.
Other top commuter towns near Manchester
Rochdale offers some of the most affordable property on the list, as well as strong price growth over the past year. The town has a significant place in history as the birthplace of the co-operative movement, and the Rochdale Pioneers Museum tells that story in detail, and thanks to a swift 14-minute journey into Manchester Victoria, it’s proving a popular choice for buyers seeking value without a long commute.
Warrington, roughly halfway between Manchester and Liverpool, gives buyers access to both cities without committing to either. The town has a strong industrial heritage, and its riverside Bridge Street area has seen ongoing investment in recent years, and with a 19-minute journey to Manchester Oxford Road, it’s a practical option.
Average house prices across the top 10 commuter towns range from £178,641 in Preston, to £583,615 in Wilmslow, compared to £261,212 across Manchester as a whole. Commute times to central Manchester vary widely across the list, with the longest being 32 minutes by train on average.
The best commuter towns near Manchester for 2026
- Stockport, Greater Manchester
- Rochdale, Greater Manchester
- Warrington, Cheshire
- Preston, Lancashire
- Stalybridge, Greater Manchester
- Wigan, Greater Manchester
- Huddersfield, West Yorkshire
- Macclesfield, Cheshire
- St. Helens, Merseyside
- Wilmslow, Cheshire
