The two Greater Manchester areas named amongst the 20 'Best Places to Live' in 2024

Two areas in Greater Manchester have been named amongst the top 20 ‘Best Places to Live’ in 2024. The report, published on Monday (February 12) by buying agents Garrington Property Finders, ranks the best 1,400 cities, towns and villages across England and Wales.

Each area is ranked against seven criteria – natural beauty, wellbeing, heritage, schools, employment and connectivity, and the cost of a family home. The picturesque village of Twyford in Berkshire has been named as the best place to live in England, while the seaside town of Barry tops the list for Wales

At £767,500 for a typical family home, property prices in the village are well above the national average, but they fell by 3 percent propelling Twyford to 26^th place in the value for money category. Its pristine, pollution-free air and low crime rate also ranked the village at 15^th place in the wellbeing category.

Here are the Greater Manchester areas which made the cut, along with the reasons why they were ranked near the top of the leaderboard as the best places to live:

Bowdon, Trafford

Bowdon boasts some of the most expensive properties in Greater Manchester

Ranking in fifth-placed on the list is Bowdon, an affluent village in Trafford, which is known to be one of the most expensive places to live in the Greater Manchester region.

The area was ranked highly for its value and heritage. Garrington Property Finders said: “Chief among them is fifth-placed Bowdon, an immaculate village near Manchester with tree-lined avenues that are home to well-heeled but discreet residents including a sprinkling of footballers and celebrities.

“At £709,000 for a typical family home, Bowdon’s property prices are among the highest in Greater Manchester, but their 5.9 percent fall in the 12 months to September 2023 won the village second place in the value for money category of our ranking.”

Marple, Stockport

Marple in Stockport has ranked amongst the best places to live in the UK

Greater Manchester’s second highest ranking area was Marple in Stockport, which achieved by 15^th place. The picture-perfect town was ranked highly for its natural beauty, as it sits on the River Goyt and boasts canal towpaths and rural views of surrounding hills.

Garrington Property Finders said: “The town is within easy reach of the big city – it boasts two train stations and is just 10 miles from central Manchester – but offers a gentler pace of life. Marple’s rural location and famous canalside walks earned it 33^rd place in the natural beauty category of our ranking.”

The two Greater Manchester areas where the only parts of the north of England to rank on the list, with many areas in Surrey, Oxfordshire and Hertfordshire taking up the remaining places.

Jonathan Hopper, CEO of the buying agents said: “2023’s reset of prices redrew large swathes of the property map, with many highly desirable areas becoming better value as prices fell.

“It’s early days, but 2024 so far has seen the cost of borrowing – which led many would-be buyers to hold off in 2023 – start to come down. Suddenly the market finds itself at an inflection point, with house prices stabilising just as mortgages become more affordable.

“This combination is already translating into a surge in interest from buyers who’ve decided to restart their previously paused moving plans. If this is you, our 2024 Best Places to Live guide can help you pinpoint locations with the optimum blend of natural beauty, quality of life and value for money.

“All of the 1400 cities, towns and villages selected for our ranking score well in at least one category, and you can use our fun, interactive tool to find places that offer more of the things that matter most to you.”

Garrington’s interactive league table is available here to help those planning a move access the best locations in 2024.