13 Best Manchester Commuter Towns: Find The Best Places to Live Nearby
Greater Manchester is one of the UK's most populated areas, home to businesses and employers of all sizes. As a result, it's no surprise that Manchester sees an influx of new arrivals moving to the area each year - but not all choose to reside in the city centre.
If you're looking for the best places to live near Manchester, look no further! We've compiled a list of the 10 best commuter towns in the area.
These Manchester commuter towns offer great housing options, plenty of job opportunities, and easy access to Manchester city centre.
So if you're looking for a peaceful town or village with all the amenities you need, read on!
Ashton-Under-Lyne
Ashton-Under-Lyne to Manchester: 30 minutes by car, 10 minutes by train.
Ashton-under-Lyne is a great place to live with plenty of shops, pubs and restaurants nearby. Ideally located close to the countryside and villages of Saddleworth and The Peak District, there are plenty of green options available for weekend drives and trips.
Ashton-Under-Lyne is also well-connected to Manchester, with a train station that offers regular services into the centre, as well as its own Metrolink (tram) station and regular bus services too.
Furthermore, average property prices are on the more affordable side of things as far as Manchester suburbs are concerned, making homeownership accessible to first time buyers or upsizers alike.
Urmston
Urmston to Manchester: 20 minutes by car, 15 minutes by train.
Urmston is a suburban town located in the Trafford borough, just south of Manchester, that has seen a surge in buyer demand (and average house prices) over the last decade.
This vibrant and modern town offers a great mix of urban living and green spaces, with plenty of high-street shops, restaurants and pubs as well as beautiful parks and nature reserves nearby.
Urmston is extremely well-connected too, with a staggering total of 3 train stations that all offer regular services into Manchester, as well as a Metrolink (tram) station in nearby Stretford. A commuter's dream!
Middleton
Middleton to Manchester: 20 minutes by car, 15 minutes by train.
Middleton is an ideal commuter town for those who work in Manchester as it takes just 20 minutes to get there by car or 15 minutes by train, as well as being well connected to the M60 motorway (Manchester ring road).
Middleton also has a traditional high street and plenty of green spaces and parks, including Middleton Park, which is perfect for a summer picnic or a winter walk.
If you're a first-time buyer or someone who just wants to have some cash leftover for enjoyment, Middleton could be a really cost-effective option worth considering.
Stockport
Stockport to Manchester: 25 minutes by car, 15 minutes by train.
Stockport is a large town and borough of Greater Manchester to the South of the city centre.
Stockport is an excellent commuter town for those who work in Manchester as it takes just 25 minutes by car to get into the city centre or 15 minutes by train. The fact that Stockport Train Station also offers direct connections to Birmingham and London is a selling feature for those who have a regular need to travel down to the South.
Stockport also has a great mix of high-street shops, independent stores and restaurants as well as plenty of green spaces, including the beautiful Mersey Vale Country Park.
Stalybridge
Stalybridge to Manchester: 40 minutes by car, 15 minutes by train.
Stalybridge is a small town in the East Manchester borough of Tameside and lies at the edge of the Peak District National Park.
This town is home to a number of traditional pubs and restaurants as well as independent shops, making it a great place to live if you're looking for an alternative to the hustle and bustle of city life.
Stalybridge is also is located just a 40-minute drive from Manchester, but only 15 minutes by regular train services.
This makes it an ideal Manchester commuter town for those who want to live outside of the city, with plenty of green spaces, but still be able to commute easily.
Bolton
Bolton to Manchester: 35 minutes by car, 20 minutes by train.
Bolton is a town located in Greater Manchester, about 20 minutes drive from the city centre.
Bolton is a great commuter town for those who work in Manchester as it only takes 20 minutes by car to get into the city centre or 15 minutes by train. Bolton also has a direct connection to London from its train station.
Bolton is home to a mix of high-street shops, independent stores and restaurants as well as plenty of green spaces and good schools, making it a great place to live for families with children, or those who want the best of both urban and rural lifestyles.
Blackburn
Blackburn to Manchester: 30 minutes by car, 25 minutes by train.
Blackburn is a large town located in the borough of Blackburn with Darwen, about 30 minutes drive from the centre of Manchester.
This former mill town has plenty to offer commuters, including a mix of high-street shops and independent stores as well as traditional pubs and restaurants.
Blackburn is also home to some beautiful parks, including Ewood Park which is perfect for a summer's day out.
Although it takes slightly longer than some of the other Manchester commuter towns on this list, Blackburn's train station offers direct lines to Manchester as well as also to London and Glasgow too - making it a great place to live for people who travel throughout the UK regularly.
Wilmslow
Wilmslow to Manchester: 35 minutes by car, 25 minutes by train.
Wilmslow is an affluent commuter town located just south of Manchester.
This charming town offers a great mix of rural and urban living, with plenty of traditional pubs and chic boutiques, foodie hotspots as well as high-street shops.
With so many parks just a stone's throw away, there's no shortage of park space to visit on weekends. Or, if you want to explore further afield, visit the rugged Peak District for stunning vistas just over an hour away.
Wilmslow is also right next door to the famous Alderley Edge, a picturesque village located just outside of the town and home to a number of footballers and local celebrities.
Wilmslow is well-connected to Manchester too, with a train station that offers regular services.
Altrincham
Altrincham to Manchester: 30 minutes by car, 30 minutes by train.
Altrincham is a historic market town located in Trafford borough, just southwest of central Manchester.
This charming, affluent town has a great mix of high-street shops and independent boutiques as well as traditional pubs and fine-dining restaurants. Altrincham is also home to a number of green spaces, making it a great place to live for those who want to escape the hustle and bustle of city life.
Altrincham is well-connected to central Manchester too, with a train station that offers regular services, a Metrolink (tram) station as well as regular buses too.
Wigan
Wigan to Manchester: 45 minutes by car, 30 minutes by train.
Wigan is a historic town in Greater Manchester, located just west of the city.
This historic town is best known for its coal mining industry and rugby team, but nowadays it's a great place to live with plenty of shops, pubs and restaurants.
Wigan is also well-connected to Manchester, with a train station that offers regular services into the city.
Saddleworth
Saddleworth to Manchester: 55 minutes by car, 30 minutes by train.
Saddleworth is a quaint civil parish located in the heart of the Pennine Hills, just outside of Manchester.
This charming collection of picturesque villages and hamlets offers a great taste of rural countryside living and lifestyle, with plenty of traditional pubs, restaurants, high-street shops and beautiful walking trails.
Situated just north of Oldham and east of Rochdale, Saddleworth is also well-connected to Manchester, with a train station that offers regular services into the city centre.
Walking through the cobbled streets of Uppermill, the largest of Saddeltworth's villages, it's hard to believe that Manchester is only half an hour away.
Macclesfield
Macclesfield to Manchester: 50 minutes by car, 35 minutes by train.
Located in the heart of Cheshire, Macclesfield is a market town known for its silk production industry.
This charming town offers a great mix of rural and urban living, with plenty of traditional pubs and restaurants as well as high-street shops.
Macclesfield is also well-connected to Manchester, with a train station that offers regular services into Manchester.
Bury
Bury to Manchester: 40 minutes by car, 40 minutes by Metrolink (tram).
A historic market town with a rich industrial history, the town of Bury is situated just ten miles north of Manchester and is a great option if you're looking for a rural escape.
This town is located in the lush Lancashire countryside and is home to plenty of green spaces and walking trails. Bury also has a great community feel, with plenty of events and activities happening throughout the year.
Bury is also well-connected to Manchester, with regular buses and trams running between the two.
Conclusion
Manchester has plenty of great commuter towns to choose from, which is why it's ranked as the second-best city in England for commuting.
So if you're looking for a town that offers affordable homes and quick commutes into Manchester - or if you want all of the benefits of living nearby but don't have enough cash left over for lifestyle activities - then there are lots of options available to suit different needs.
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