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The 10 Best Manchester Commuter Towns

Zenyx Griffiths

Written by

8th Apr 2019 (Last updated on 8th Aug 2023) 9 minute read

Over the last year, houses in Greater Manchester sold for an overall average price of £200,903 according to Zoopla. Manchester is by no means the most expensive area in the UK, especially if you're moving from London to Manchester. However, the further into the city centre you are, the higher prices rise.

This is especially daunting for first-time buyers as, according to the UK House Price Index, the average budget for a first-time buyer in Manchester was £169,671 in January 2019. This budget is rather low compared to the average property price, meaning that more and more people are deciding to commute from cheaper areas that are within their budget.

There are many towns in and surrounding Manchester that offer cheap house prices and an easy commute via train, car or even tram. To help make your Manchester removals as stress-free as possible, Compare My Move has compiled a list of the best Manchester Commuter Towns, including property and rent prices, distance to Manchester and travel costs.

  1. 1. Bury
  2. 2. Blackburn
  3. 3. Wigan
  4. 4. Todmorden
  5. 5. Halifax
  6. 6. St Helens
  7. 7. Bolton
  8. 8. Whitefield
  9. 9. Stalybridge
  10. 10. Burnley

1. Bury

Travelling from Bury to Manchester is a fairly easy commute so many have taken the opportunity to make the most of Bury’s cheaper property prices. In 2017 Bury was declared by the Happy at Home Index as the happiest place to live in Greater Manchester.

The current asking price for a 3-bedroom house in Bury is £197,745, considerably lower than Manchester’s asking price of £214,784. Bury is a great commuter town, offering a vibrant community and a variety of quaint, terraced houses to call home.

Property Prices in Bury:

Property TypeCurrent Asking Buying PriceCurrent Asking Renting Price

2-bedroom house

£133,459

£588 pcm

3-bedroom house

£197,745

£788 pcm


Bury to Manchester:

If you’re commuting by car, it takes around 40-minutes to get to Manchester via the A56, depending on traffic. By catching a tram from the Haymarket stop in Bury, you can reach Manchester within 30-minutes, it’s a quick and inexpensive way to travel.

Bury to Manchester Tram prices:

  • Weekly Season Ticket: £30.00
  • Monthly Season Ticket: £98.00
  • Annual Season Ticket: £1,110.00

2. Blackburn

Located in Lancashire, Blackburn offers a range of properties from large 3-bedroom houses with a current asking price of £134,852 to smaller 1-bedroom flats priced at £65,495 for those looking to move to Manchester alone.

The average current asking price for a 2-bedroom house in Blackburn is £92,915, meaning that even first-time buyers can afford a good-sized property whilst staying within their budget. From Blackburn Museum to the Witton Park Arena, there’s something for everyone within this little town near Manchester.

Property Prices in Blackburn:

Property TypeCurrent Asking PriceCurrent Asking Renting Price

2-bedroom house

£93,248

£471 pcm

3-bedroom house

£134,852

£568 pcm


Blackburn to Manchester:

Depending on whether you’re changing lines at Bromley Cross Station, it can take anywhere between 50 to 65-minutes to reach Manchester from Blackburn. Alternatively, you can take the M61 or the M66 to be there within 55-minutes by car.

Blackburn to Manchester Train prices:

  • Weekly Season Ticket: £48.00
  • Monthly Season Ticket: £184.00
  • Annual Season Ticket: £1,920.00

3. Wigan

A 45-minute journey by train, Wigan is a great commuter town for those working in Manchester. Property prices are fairly cheap with the current average asking price for a 3-bedroom house being an affordable £136,403.

Perfect for lovers of live music and local festivals, Wigan offers a variety of events to entertain you outside of work. From modest 2-bedroom terraced houses to larger 1930s semi-detached properties, there is plenty to choose from here.

Property Prices in Wigan:

Property TypeCurrent Asking Buying PriceCurrent Asking Renting Price

2-bedroom house

£102,253

£483 pcm

3-bedroom house

£136,403

£563 pcm


Wigan to Manchester:

Wigan is a 46-minute journey to Manchester via the M61, or alternatively, you could catch the train. If you’re leaving from Wigan Wallgate Station, the journey takes around 35 to 45-minutes, whilst using Wigan North Western Station could take you around 45-minutes during peak time.

Wigan to Manchester Train prices:

  • Weekly Season Ticket: £29.80
  • Monthly Season Ticket: £114.50
  • Annual Season Ticket: £1,192.00

4. Todmorden

Todmorden is a town in West Yorkshire that’s 17 miles from Manchester city centre, a 56-minute journey by car for commuters. It’s a great area for families and nature lovers as there’s a range of green spaces to explore on sunnier days.

The current average asking price for a 3-bedroom house in Todmorden is £177,160, a fair amount lower than Manchester’s average of £214,784. By commuting that little bit further, you can find much cheaper properties to fit within your budget.

Property Prices in Todmorden:

Property TypeCurrent Asking Buying PriceCurrent Asking Renting Price

2-bedroom house

£214,784

£580 pcm

3-bedroom house

£177,160

£597 pcm


Todmorden to Manchester:

If you’re using the M62, the journey from Todmorden to Manchester takes an average of 56-minutes by car. If you’re commuting by train, it’ll take around 30-minutes to reach Manchester instead.

Todmorden to Manchester Train prices:

  • Weekly Season Ticket: £44.90
  • Monthly Season Ticket: £172.50
  • Annual Season Ticket: £1,796.00

5. Halifax

Another Manchester commuter town located in West Yorkshire, Halifax is just a 47-minute journey by car. The current average asking price for a 2-bedroom house in Manchester is £153,007. Halifax prices are significantly lower, with the current average asking price being £97,488 for a property of the same size.

Property Prices in Halifax:

Property TypeCurrent Asking Buying PriceCurrent Asking Renting Price

2-bedroom house

£97,488

£479 pcm

3-bedroom house

£161,542

£581 pcm


Halifax to Manchester:

By using the Halifax train station, you should reach Manchester within an average of 53-minutes. The fastest route from Halifax to Manchester by car is the M56 and A5103 which takes approximately 47-minutes.

Halifax to Manchester Train prices:

  • Weekly Season Ticket: £68.90
  • Monthly Season Ticket: £264.60
  • Annual Season Ticket: £2,756.00

6. St Helens

St Helens is another cheap commuter town with the average asking price for a 2-bedroom house at an affordable £90,185 and 3-bedroom houses being at an average of £145,089. This makes it a perfect commuter town to Manchester with the journey taking under an hour overall.

From famous pies and pasties to a top rugby league, there is more to this town than just an easy commute. With plenty to explore, it could be the perfect home for you.

Property Prices in St Helens:

Property TypeCurrent Asking Buying PriceCurrent Asking Renting Price

2-bedroom house

£90,185

£468 pcm

3-bedroom house

£145,089

£623 pcm


St Helens to Manchester:

The quickest route to Manchester from St Helens by car is the M62 which should take you around 49-minutes depending on traffic. If you’re looking to commute by train, the journey is slightly longer, taking around 1 hour and 15-minutes to reach Manchester city centre.

St Helens to Manchester Train prices:

  • Weekly Season Ticket: £51.10
  • Monthly Season Ticket: £196.30
  • Annual Season Ticket: £2,044.00

7. Bolton

A thriving area of Manchester, Bolton is one of the closest towns on the list being a mere 30-minutes journey away by car. From up-market, luxury detached houses to smaller properties in desirable villages, there are a number of property types to suit you.

The current average asking price for a 3-bedroom house in Bolton is £180,054, whilst the average price for a 2-bedroom property is £114,360 for those looking for something smaller.

Property Prices in Bolton:

Property TypeCurrent Asking Buying PriceCurrent Asking Renting Price

2-bedroom house

£114,360

£535 pcm

3-bedroom house

£180,054

£738 pcm


Bolton to Manchester:

There is easy access to Manchester from Bolton through the A580, which takes around 30-minutes by car. There are alternative routes like the M602 or the A56, but they can add an extra few minutes to your journey. If you commute by train, it could take up to 20-minutes to reach Manchester from Bolton Station.

Bolton to Manchester Train prices:

  • Weekly Season Ticket: £26.30
  • Monthly Season Ticket: £101.00
  • Annual Season Ticket: £1,052.00

8. Whitefield

Whitefield Tram Station is only 30-minutes away from Manchester Piccadilly. Slightly more expensive, 3-bedroom houses sold for an average asking price of £244,100. However, the current asking rent is much cheaper than Manchester’s average.

Overall, the average asking rent for a 3-bedroom house in Manchester is £886 pcm, whilst Whitefield is cheaper at £699 pcm. Although you’d have to look at various areas within Whitefield to find cheaper asking prices, the rent is fairly lower making it a great area for commuters wanting to rent before possibly buying.

Property Prices in Whitefield:

Property TypeCurrent Asking Buying PriceCurrent Asking Renting Price

2-bedroom house

£193,119

£602 pcm

3-bedroom house

£244,100

£699 pcm


Whitefield to Manchester:

Whitefield Tram Station results in a 30-minute journey to Manchester Piccadilly Tram Stop, or 60-minutes to Manchester Airport. If you’re using the A56 to drive instead, it should take an average journey of 28-minutes.

Whitefield to Manchester Tram prices:

  • Weekly Season Ticket: £24.60
  • Monthly Season Ticket: £81.00
  • Annual Season Ticket: £930.00

9. Stalybridge

For those looking to move to Manchester, Stalybridge is rather close to the city centre, being a mere 20-minutes away by train. With respectable schools and located near the Peak District, Stalybridge is perfect for families offering the best of both worlds with wide, open spaces as well as being an easy commute to the city.

Below Manchester’s average, Stalybridge offers cheaper property prices with 3-bedroom houses containing a current average asking price of £196,409.

Property Prices in Stalybridge:

Property TypeCurrent Asking Buying PriceCurrent Asking Renting Price

2-bedroom house

£129,424

£559 pcm

3-bedroom house

£196,409

£648 pcm


Stalybridge to Manchester:

It’s just a 36-minute journey to Manchester from Stalybridge via the M67 and A57, making an easy commute if you work in the city. For those looking to commute by train, it should take just under 20-minutes to reach Manchester from Stalybridge Station.

Stalybridge to Manchester Train prices:

  • Weekly Season Ticket: £23.10
  • Monthly Season Ticket: £88.80
  • Annual Season Ticket: £924.00

10. Burnley

Burnley has 4 train stations as well as excellent road links, making it a perfect commuter town to Manchester. Manchester airport is within an hour’s drive ensuring that Burnley residents have their pick of international locations too.

Current asking prices for 2-bedroom houses in Burnley is £87,805 making it an extremely affordable town. 3-bedroom houses have a current asking price of £141,495, significantly cheaper than Manchester’s average.

Property Prices in Burnley:

Property TypeCurrent Asking Buying PriceCurrent Asking Renting Price

2-bedroom house

£87,805

£395 pcm

3-bedroom house

£141,495

£483 pcm


Burnley to Manchester:

A cheaper town near Manchester, Burnley is just 54-minutes away if you’re taking the M66 route by car. As an alternative, you could take the train at Burnley Manchester Road Railway Station to reach Manchester within 46-minutes. There’s also the option of taking the bus, but this is slightly more expensive and takes just over an hour, increasing your journey.

Burnley to Manchester Train prices:

  • Weekly Season Ticket: £67.80
  • Monthly Season Ticket: £260.40
  • Annual Season Ticket: £2,712.00

All prices have been taken from Zoopla, UK House Price Index, Transport for Greater Manchester and Northern Railway. Correct as of April 2019.

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Zenyx Griffiths

Before Compare My Move, Zenyx once wrote lifestyle and entertainment articles for the online magazine, Society19 as well as news articles for Ffotogallery.

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