Greater Manchester's 30 best places to live and how much homes cost in each area

A new study has revealed which parts of Greater Manchester are amongst the 'best places to live' in the UK in 2024. The report, compiled by buying agents Garrington Property Finders, ranks 1,429 cities, towns and villages which they consider to be the most desirable across England and Wales.

Two areas of the region featured in the top 20 best places to live in the whole country in 2024. Ranking in fifth place on the UK list was Bowdon, the affluent village in Trafford, which is known to be one of the most expensive places to live in Greater Manchester.

Greater Manchester's second highest-ranked area was Marple in Stockport, which was awarded 15^th place. The picture-perfect town was highly commended for its natural beauty, with its canal towpaths and rural views of surrounding hills.

READ MORE: Three Greater Manchester postcodes named amongst UK’s ‘slowest’ property markets

Garrington Property Finders ranked each area against seven criteria - natural beauty, wellbeing, heritage, schools, employment and connectivity, and the cost of a family home.

Here are the top 30 'best places to live' in Greater Manchester and how they ranked - as well as the average house price and how that's changed over the last year:

Overall rank: 5 / 1429

Average family home cost: £709,036

Average sales price change in last 12 months: -5.9%

Overall rank: 15 / 1429

Average family home cost: £513,087

Average sales price change in last 12 months: 3.3%

Overall rank: 22 / 1429

Average family home cost: £398,539

Average sales price change in last 12 months: 3.5%

Overall rank: 25 / 1429

Average family home cost: £433,887

Average sales price change in last 12 months: 1.1%

Overall rank: 46 / 1429

Average family home cost: £620,634

Average sales price