Commuter locations around Glasgow and Manchester have dominated annual asking price growth, accounting for ten of the 15 strongest performers across six major UK cities, according to analysis by Rightmove.
The property portal examined listed price trends across London, Manchester, Birmingham, Bristol, Glasgow and Cardiff and their surrounding commuter markets, revealing a clear divide between affordable northern markets and higher-priced southern locations.
Falkirk tops growth rankings
Falkirk recorded the strongest growth, with average asking prices rising 13.5% year-on-year to £183,596. More affordable markets featured heavily among the strongest performers, with 11 of the top 15 recording average asking prices below £250,000. These included Rochdale at £238,115 and St Helens at £192,570.
Clark Gillespie, director at Forth and Clyde Property, said: “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.”
Southern commuter markets decline
Several higher-priced commuter locations in the south recorded falls. Haywards Heath saw the largest decline, with average asking prices down 4.8% to £461,066, followed by Maidenhead, down 3.9% to £571,686, and Bath, down 3.8% to £508,109.
The divergence in regional performance reflects broader shifts in buyer preferences that have emerged since the pandemic, with affordability becoming an increasingly important factor for those navigating the complexities of property transactions.
City centres show subdued growth
Asking price growth was generally more subdued in the six cities themselves. Glasgow recorded a 2.9% annual rise to £191,530, Manchester was up 1.8% to £261,212 and Cardiff increased 1.4% to £285,596. Average asking prices fell 0.6% in Birmingham to £251,340 and by the same percentage in Bristol to £375,205, while London recorded a 3.1% decline to £646,451.
Colleen Babcock, property expert at Rightmove, 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.”
Hybrid working influences location choices
Ian Harris, NAEA Propertymark president, said: “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 embrace 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.”
The data suggests that affordability constraints are reshaping commuter market dynamics, with buyers increasingly prioritising value over proximity to major employment centres. The contrast between northern and southern markets indicates a potential rebalancing of regional property values as working patterns continue to evolve.
