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Best Places to Live in Manchester

Manchester, famous for its iconic music scene, one of the most well known football teams in the world and its vibrant and cultural history. With 1.15 million international visits a year, Manchester ranks as the third most popular city in the UK to visit.

Living in Manchester offers a multicultural, diverse and creative way of life, with over 200 languages spoken in the city. Compare My Move have put together this guide of the best areas of Manchester to live to help with your Manchester removals. If you’re wondering where to live in Manchester, we’re here to help.

1. Sale

In 2018, Sale was voted the 4th best place to live in England and we can see why. Housing varies from 1930’s Victorian and Edwardian detached properties to small terraced houses with semi-detached homes selling for an average of £318,401. Terraced properties sold for an average of £242,854 in the last year and flats for £153,301 according to Rightmove.Boasting 3 stops on the Metrolink, you can be in the city centre in as little as 20 minutes from Sale. As well as a great variety of primary and secondary schools in the area, Sale offers a warm community feel perfect for families or young professionals.

2. Altrincham

Crowned the best place to live in the North West in 2018, Altrincham offers something for everyone from Altrincham Grammar School for Boys to its wealth of Victorian and Edwardian properties.

Once a failing high street, Altrincham now plays home to celebrity footballers, holding the title for England's best high street. Property isn't the cheapest with Altrincham houses for sale at an average of £415,087 for semi-detached properties, detached for a massive £751,362 and flats selling for £246,447 on average.

However, Altrincham offers good transport links with just a 13 minute drive to Manchester Airport, arguably one of the best areas to live in Manchester.

3. Rusholme

Home to the Curry Mile, a mile long street filled with a variety of Asian cuisine restaurants and takeaways, Rusholme is one of the most attractive areas of Manchester for students due to its appealingly low rent prices.

With all round affordable property, Rusholme terraced properties sold for an average of £143,986, flats at £118,802 and semi-detached properties averaged at £244,400 in the last year. If you want more property for your money, then living in Rusholme is a good idea.

4. Spinningfields

The biggest commercial district in the city with some of the largest businesses based there as well as an abundance of bars and restaurants, Spinningfields offers the perfect combination of work, culture and leisure.

It’s a particularly desirable area of Manchester for young people who can live and work in one place. Spinningfields has also previously been awarded with the most family friendly area to live in Manchester.

5. Prestwich

With an abundance of primary and secondary schools, Prestwich presents itself as one of the better areas for families in Manchester to settle down. Living in Prestwich sees semi-detached properties selling for £247,607 on average, terraced properties sold for an average price of £183,878, while detached properties fetched £379,423.

You can be in the city centre of Manchester within 15 minutes on the tram and with close proximity to the M60, Prestwich boasts great transport links.

6. Didsbury

Didsbury is one of the most sought-after places to live in Manchester, which unfortunately reflects in the price of property. The area offers a range of property types from new builds to huge Victorian houses, with flats selling for an average of £247, 872 and detached homes averaging at £782,956, according to Zoopla.

The housing market and area offers something for people of all walks of life, from the young professional to the retired. Wilmslow road plays home to a mile of independent bars and restaurants and just 4 miles from both Manchester city centre and the airport, we can see why Didsbury is one of the best areas in Manchester.

7. Castlefield

Castlefield offers its residents the perfect mixture of old and new, with high-end bars and restaurants as well as the Roman fort and old mills, this quaint, cobbled street area of Manchester has something for everyone.

With the average price of all property types selling for £235,166, it’s clear to see why so many people are drawn to the Roman heart of Manchester. 1982 saw Castlefield become the UK’s first Urban Heritage Park, which means you won’t find any traffic in Castlefield. If you prefer to live in one of Manchester’s quieter areas, Castlefield is for you.

8. Ancoats

Named Time Out’s 13th ‘coolest neighbourhood in the world’, Ancoats in Manchester, once known for its high crime rate, beat the likes of Barcelona, New York and Sydney. With an abundance of independent craft beer spots, bakeries and international cuisine spread out over the area, Ancoats is a top contender for one of the best places to live in Manchester as well as visit from around the world.

Property sells for an average of £235,757 in Ancoats, with the vast majority of those being flats sold to younger residents.

9. Chorlton

The ‘liberal heart of Manchester’, Chorlton, boasts a green way of life in every sense. With plenty of green space at Chorlton Park and its abundance of organic shops, Chorlton offers something for everyone.

Property in Chorlton isn’t on the cheap side, with properties selling on average at £311,285. Although expensive, house prices come in more affordable other Manchester areas such as Didsbury.

There’s a great sense of community feel in Chorlton which is why it can be classed as one of the best areas to live in Manchester.

10. Salford

With terraced houses selling for £171,828 and semi-detached properties for just £202,266 on average, Salford gives families and professionals the opportunity of affordable property prices with the benefit of being in the city centre via the metrolink in a matter of minutes.

Home to the MediaCityUK, Salford isn’t short of job opportunities and housing but also acts as the perfect commuter town for those working in the city centre of Manchester or Liverpool.

The iconic photograph of The Smiths outside Salford Lads Club helped to put the venue on the map, bringing many international fans to see the spot each year.

The Job Sector in Manchester

Manchester’s economy is one of the strongest in the UK. Famously the world's first industrialised city, it is seen as a global city with a range of booming sectors.

Manchester is said to have a high quality of life, and attracts investment from across the world. Manchester has a large student population, which is reflected in research and technology clusters.

If you are moving to Manchester and are looking for a job, the following are core sectors of employment in the area:

Financial Services

Manchester’s banks, insurance companies and investment firms are responsible for 7% of the UK’s financial services and banking output. With 100,000 employees, the financial sector is behind only London and Edinburgh. Big employers include The Co-operative Group and the Royal Bank of Scotland, and the Spinningfields is fast becoming a renowned banking district.

Manufacturing And Engineering

Manufacturing and Engineering is a huge industry in Manchester – making up 16.1% of the city's economy. Manchester has a huge amount of aeronautics and defence workers, with a range of specialist companies focusing on a whole spectrum of materials and industry, all enforced by research clusters.

Logistics

Manchester’s location makes it an ideal place for logistics companies – it’s only a 2-hour driving radius of over 60% of UK companies. It’s also a perfect centre of distribution for national companies such as Adidas, Kellogg’s and L’Oreal. The World Freight Terminal is found in Manchester Airport, connecting the city globally.

Health

Along with its major hospitals, Manchester has a leading pharmaceutical sector with a reputation for innovation. The health and social care sector employs more than 46,000 people in the city.

Education

You may be moving for education, and Manchester has major universities (Salford, Manchester University and Manchester Metropolitan) and vibrant student life. If you are moving with children and need to find a school, there are several available - Manchester is a centre for educational services.

Creative And Digital

Over the past decade, Manchester’s creative industry has developed as a result of the £3.5 billion investment into companies and infrastructure. The city houses the regional headquarters for both ITV and the BBC, and is the home of MediaCityUK. The city has access to the best internet speeds in the UK, and in this environment digital start-ups and established companies are flourishing.

The 10 Best Primary and Secondary Schools in Manchester

We understand the difficulty that comes with moving, especially as a family. There are a variety of factors to consider, like which schools would suit your children’s needs and how affordable the catchment areas are. This is why Compare My Move has created this guide to help you with your search for the best schools in Greater Manchester.

We’ve ranked the schools by using data from School Guide, the Independent Schools Inspectorate (ISI) and Ofsted. We have also provided you with the average property prices for each of the schools’ catchment areas to help you move within your budget.

We’ve ranked the schools by using data from School Guide, the Independent Schools Inspectorate (ISI) and Ofsted. We have also provided you with the average property prices for each of the schools’ catchment areas to help you move within your budget.

The 5 Best Secondary Schools in Manchester

1. Chetham's School of Music

If you’re considering moving to Manchester, Chetham's School of Music could be your top choice for secondary schools. It’s an independent school and our number one secondary school in Greater Manchester. There are currently 305 pupils enrolled aged 8-19. Boarding services are available for extra fees, but the deposit is £300 with an added acceptance fee of £125.

Chetham's School of Music is the only specialist music school in the North of England. Up to four subjects can be chosen for A-Level students, not all centred around music. The ISI believes that the GCSE results during 2012-2015 were well above the national average, as were the A-Level results.

2. Loreto College

Situated in Hulme, Loreto College is an ‘Outstanding’ secondary school in Manchester according to Ofsted’s Grade 1 report. Their sixth form A-Level results were amazing in 2018, as 54% of the results were graded at A*-B, above the national average.

The students take part in a range of academic contests every year, both in and out of school. 40 students participated in the Cambridge Chemistry Challenge last year with 34 winning awards.

3. Abbey College Manchester

Located in Cheapside, Abbey College Manchester is an independent secondary school with 216 students enrolled aged 15-19. Boarding services are available but there is a registry fee of £250 to attend. You can then either pay the annual fee in 2 or 8 instalments if your child is successful.

The ISI believes that the school’s GCSE results between 2015-2016 were above the national average, as were the A-Level results. In 2018, the A-Level results had a 100% pass rate with 87.8% of students scoring A* – C Grades. 85% of GCSE results were graded at 9-4, with the overall results being, again, above the national average.

4. Trinity C of E High School

Trinity C of E High School has been awarded a Grade 1 ‘Outstanding’ report by Ofsted, with 65% of pupils achieving 5+ GCSEs graded at A*-C. There are currently 1,343 pupils enrolled aged 11-19.

There are a variety of GCSE and A-Level subjects on offer to students, including GCSE and A-Level Spanish, Enterprise & Marketing (OCR National) and A-Level Psychology. Ofsted states that the school’s academic achievement is above average as well as the diversity of beliefs and backgrounds.

5. King of Kings School

The King of Kings School, situated in Dantzic Street, is a small Christian secondary school in Manchester with only 13 students currently enrolled. It’s an independent school catering to pupils aged 3-18. In January 2019, it was awarded a Grade 2 ‘Good’ report from Ofsted. The annual fee for one child per academic year is £3,750.

It’s a highly religious school with Christ being centred in its curriculum. Oftsed praised the pupils on their politeness and good behaviour, as well as their reading abilities.

The 5 Best Primary Schools in Manchester

1. Abbott Community Primary School

2. New Islington Free School

Our second school, New Islington Free School, has been awarded a Grade 1 ‘Outstanding’ report by Ofsted and has 248 pupils aged between 4-11. Beating the national average of 9%, 14% of pupils achieved a higher standard in reading, writing and maths last year.

New Islington Free School was rated as ‘Outstanding’ in all aspects in their Ofsted report with their pupils’ behaviour described as “impeccable”. The curriculum is considered very diverse with a variety of subjects for the pupils to explore.

3. St Alphonsus RC Primary School

With a Grade 1 ‘Outstanding’ Ofsted report, St Alphonsus RC Primary School is located on Off Stretford Road with 216 pupils aged 3-11. An amazing 90% of pupils in Key Stage 2 met the expected standard in reading, writing and mathematics, well above the national average.

St Alphonsus RC Primary School is a Roman Catholic primary school in Manchester with the core value being respect. Ofsted awarded the school with an ‘Outstanding’ mark on all aspects and described the students’ results as well above the national average.

4. St Anne's RC Primary School

St Anne’s RC Primary School currently has 219 pupils enrolled aged 3-11. Ofsted has awarded the school with a Grade 2 ‘Good’ report, complementing the school on their leadership and management.

83% of pupils are meeting the expected standard in reading, writing and mathematics, another result well above the national average. Meanwhile, 21% of pupils are achieving at a higher standard in reading, writing and maths, results improving every year.

5. St Wilfrid's RC Primary School

Starting our list of the top 5 primary schools in Manchester, St Wilfrid's RC Primary School is situated in Hulme with 211 pupils enrolled aged 3-11. 91% of pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths last year, soaring above the average of 64%. Ofsted gave the school a Grade 2 ‘Good’ report, complimenting them on the students’ behaviour and the quality of teaching.

The school’s Key Stage 2 average reading progress score is 4.1 and their average maths progress score is 5.4, well above the national average for both. Their Key Stage 1 scores are also above average as the 73.3% of pupils in 2018 achieved a good level of development, 1.3% above the national average.

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