Analysis of listed‑price trends around the United Kingdom’s major urban centres shows that commuter hotspots near Glasgow and Manchester dominate the list of areas with the strongest year‑on‑year growth, according to a recent Rightmove study.
Affordable outlying towns lead the surge
The property portal examined price movements in London, Manchester, Birmingham, Bristol, Glasgow and Cardiff, together with the surrounding satellite markets that serve daily travelers to those hubs. Ten of the fifteen top‑performing locations were found in the north‑west and central belt.
Falkirk posted the highest increase, with average asking prices up 13.5% to £183,596 compared with the previous year. The town’s rise outpaced every other market in the sample.
Other lower‑cost towns also featured prominently. Rochdale recorded an average price of £238,115, while St Helens settled at £192,570. In total, eleven of the fifteen leading spots had average listings below £250,000.
Related: Modest Growth Shows Need for Realistic Pricing
Among the top fifteen, the figures were as follows: Falkirk £183,596; Rochdale £238,115; St Helens £192,570; plus a range of other towns clustered between £210,000 and £245,000. The data sort of points to a shift toward more budget‑friendly options for buyers who still need access to larger cities.
Higher‑priced outlying areas see declines
Conversely, several premium locations in the south experienced drops. Haywards Heath fell 4.8% to £461,066, Maidenhead slipped 3.9% to £571,686, and Bath decreased 3.8% to £508,109. These reductions suggest a cooling of demand where prices were previously raised.
Within the six core cities themselves, growth was modest. Glasgow rose 2.9% to £191,530, Manchester edged up 1.8% to £261,212, and Cardiff increased 1.4% to £285,596. Birmingham and Bristol each saw a 0.6% fall, landing at £251,340 and £375,205 respectively, while London recorded a 3.1% decline to £646,451.
Expert commentary on the split market
Rightmove property expert Colleen Babcock said, “Our data highlights two very different stories playing out across some of Britain’s commuter markets. In the more affordable locations around Glasgow and Manchester, asking prices are rising strongly as buyers look for value within reach of major cities. Meanwhile, some of the more expensive commuter hotspots are seeing prices ease, which could create opportunities for buyers who may previously have been priced out.”
Related: New home buyers choose commuter counties over London
Forth and Clyde Property director Clark Gillespie added, “Falkirk is an attractive choice for buyers because it offers a combination of affordability, strong transport links and excellent family amenities. With multiple train stations and easy access via the excellent motorway network to Glasgow, Edinburgh and Stirling, it’s a practical option for commuters who want to stay connected to major cities while getting more for their money.”
The trend means that families seeking larger homes may now consider towns that were previously out of reach, while still keeping a reasonable commute. At the same time, buyers who were priced out of premium outlying zones might find the current dip an opening to enter markets that align with their budget and lifestyle.
NAEA Propertymark president Ian Harris observed, “Since the pandemic, we’ve seen an initial reformatting of what many people want and need from the location they choose to live in. Initially, we saw many people adopt the concept of working from home and enjoying a lifestyle away from the traditional city commute. However, this is now a trend that is starting to swing back, with many people looking for a hybrid location that offers easy commuter access to key cities, while also providing a desirable mix of out‑of‑city amenities.”
Overall, the findings point to a subtle market where affordability and connectivity drive demand in the north, while price corrections in affluent southern outskirts may reshape buyer strategies in the months ahead.
