If commuting to Manchester to work or study is part of your routine, great transport links to the city will be top of your list when searching for your next home. Fortunately, Greater Manchester has excellent connections by road, rail and bus, so you have plenty of options for new homes in the North West with easy access to Manchester city centre.

We’ve rounded up the best Manchester commuter towns for you to consider, including family-friendly suburbs, trendy and sought-after postcodes, and exciting new-build Bellway homes near Manchester where you could become part of a brand-new community.

Top commuter towns near Manchester

As well as boasting excellent transport links, the places on our list of the best commuter towns near Manchester also offer great cultural attractions and local amenities, with many also enjoying nearby countryside as a bonus. Most of our picks are situated within Greater Manchester, but you’ll also find a handful of towns in Cheshire and Lancashire that are ideally located for a convenient Manchester commute.

Bolton

As you’d expect from the largest town in Greater Manchester, Bolton has a rich history and an enticing culture that could almost rival that of Manchester itself, plus it enjoys spectacular scenery thanks to its location in the foothills of the West Pennine Moors. Located around 10 miles from central Manchester, Bolton is about 30 minutes away by car via the M61, or if you prefer to catch the train, direct services from Bolton to Manchester Victoria or Manchester Piccadilly stations take approximately 20 minutes. If you’re looking for the ideal Manchester commuter town, Bolton should almost certainly be at the top of your list.

Bolton is renowned to offer great value for renters and buyers alike, thanks to its wide selection of properties – whether you’re on the hunt for an urban apartment, a family home near the countryside, or a place with space to grow into. Bellway has several must-see developments of new-build homes in Bolton, including Barton Quarter in Horwich, Hazel Fold in Lostock, and Royal Bowland Park in Westhoughton, all of which are thoughtfully located within easy reach of key transport links to Manchester.

Bury

Also within reach of the picturesque West Pennine Moors is Bury, a charming and sought-after market town on the River Irwell that is about 10 miles from the heart of Manchester. You’re spoiled for options when commuting to Manchester from Bury, as you have the super-convenient Metrolink tram service that directly connects you to Manchester Victoria station, with a journey time of just 30 minutes; for those that prefer to drive, the M66 and A56 are within close reach to link you to the M60 Manchester Outer Ring Road.

Salford

Thanks to major investments such as the Salford Quays regeneration project, and cultural landmarks such as the Lowry arts centre, Salford has cemented its place as one of the most desirable places to live in Greater Manchester. While Salford is a city, home renters and buyers enjoy its very close proximity to Manchester city centre, which justifies its inclusion on our list of the top Manchester commuter towns: those travelling from Salford can hop on a train and be in central Manchester in less than 10 minutes.

Salford’s family-friendly suburban areas are also well-connected to Manchester, and Bellway’s new-build home development The Putting Green at Brackley Village offers residents exceptional transport links with junction 4 of the M61 just a few minutes’ drive away.

Wilmslow

Located in Cheshire, yet just 12 miles south of Manchester city centre, affluent and attractive Wilmslow is a town that’s as popular with footballers as it is with fashionable young professionals, and families with children taking advantage of its well-reputed schools. It has great transport links with direct trains from Wilmslow to Manchester Piccadilly station take about 30 minutes, while a car journey into central Manchester via the A34 can take 25 minutes or so.

Heywood

To the north of Manchester is historic Heywood, which has its roots in the cotton and mining industry but now has its focus firmly fixed on the future; enjoying a vibrant independent scene in its town centre, balanced with many beautiful green spaces, Heywood is quickly gathering pace in popularity as a Manchester commuter town. Heywood’s proximity to the M62 affords its residents access to the city by car in around half an hour, or the nearby Besses o’ th’ Barn Metrolink tram stop provides services into central Manchester with a journey time of about 30 minutes.

At Bellway’s Hopwood Meadows development in South Heywood, part of the exciting Masterplan local regeneration scheme, residents are ideally situated to take advantage of Heywood’s great transport links for a stress-free Manchester commute.

Blackburn

If you don’t mind a slightly longer commute, or you benefit from flexible working and aren’t required to travel to your Manchester office every day, the Lancashire town of Blackburn could be a good option for your next move. Regularly named as an affordable and family-friendly Manchester commuter town, Blackburn is exceptionally well-connected with direct rail journeys to Manchester Victoria station taking around 50 minutes, or if travelling by car, you can be in the city via the M61 or M66 in about an hour.

Leigh

With a strong community feel, world-class sports facilities that have hosted major sporting events, and excellent shopping and leisure opportunities, Leigh is a popular town in Greater Manchester for all types of buyers – from families to first-time buyers, and professionals commuting to central Manchester. While Leigh doesn’t have its own train station, this popular town benefits from a guided busway that provides direct services into Manchester with a journey time of around an hour, while driving to Manchester takes less than 45 minutes via the A580.

Situated on the outskirts of Leigh, Bellway’s Moss Bank Gardens development of new-build homes is ideally situated for taking advantage of everything that the town has to offer, including its excellent transport links to Manchester. Closer to home, you’ll be just a mile and a half from Leigh town centre, and the stunning 490-acre Pennington Flash Nature Reserve is a 10-minute drive away.

Stockport

If a super-speedy commute to Manchester is important to you, Stockport can be hard to beat as its frequent train services to Manchester Piccadilly take as little as eight minutes. If you must use the car, you can drive to central Manchester from Stockport in around half an hour. Unsurprisingly, its short distance from Manchester makes Stockport a very popular place to live among commuters, especially those looking for a taste of the city nearer to home – Stockport has some very fashionable neighbourhoods, and a fast-growing reputation as a foodie destination.

Knutsford

Named as one of the Sunday Times ‘Best Places to Live’ in 2025, Knutsford is a coveted Cheshire town that also benefits from a straightforward commute north to Manchester. Visually stunning thanks to its 17^th and 18^th-century architecture and cobbled streets, but with a distinctly contemporary vibe in its independent business-studded town centre, Knutsford attracts those who want a more luxurious standard of living close to the countryside without losing out on vital transport links around North West England.

Just five minutes’ drive outside of Knutsford town centre is Bellway’s Park Gate Village development of new-build homes, where you’ll be within easy reach of Knutsford train station for direct services to Manchester Piccadilly in under 45 minutes, as well as the M56 and M60 for getting into and around Manchester by car.

Wigan

Whether for buying or renting, Wigan is an attractive as well as affordable place to live for Manchester commuters as it is well-connected to the city, with direct train services taking around 40 minutes, and access to the M6 or M61 for travel by car. Wigan itself has plenty to offer too, from abundant green spaces and historical attractions to a vibrant nightlife that reflects the town’s popularity among younger residents.

Why choose a Bellway home in these towns?

From elegant urban apartments that are ideal for first-time buyers, to stylish houses with flexible space for families to grow, Bellway has energy-efficient new-build homes near Manchester for every type of home buyer. The desirable locations of our developments are carefully selected to ensure that you have great local amenities and attractions, schools, and open green spaces, plus key transport links nearby – so whether you’re a daily commuter to Manchester or you just like to have the city within easy reach, you can find your dream Bellway home close to Manchester.

What’s more, when you buy your new Bellway home you’ll become part of an exciting new community from its very beginning, and help shape a place that you’ll love to live in whilst all of the benefits of Manchester are just a car, train, tram or bus journey away.

Tips for commuters moving near Manchester

If you’re moving to the Manchester area for the first time, or relocating within Greater Manchester, our tips for commuters will help you to find your ideal base for travelling to Manchester.

• Research local transport options – Manchester is exceptionally well-connected to the surrounding area and the wider North West, with a range of options for travelling into the city by road or rail. Before settling on a location, research the local transport options and their schedules, to make sure that they are easily accessible and run frequently enough to meet your individual travel needs.
• Consider proximity to amenities and schools – Having access to a range of local amenities such as shops, services and gyms makes a huge impact on your day-to-day life, so take the time to look at what will be available within walking distance, or a short drive away from your new home. If you have a young family or plans for the future, nearby schools and childcare options will be important for you to research too.
• Explore the local community and lifestyle - Good commuter links from your new home near Manchester are important, but so is the local lifestyle that you’ll enjoy during your downtime, so find out what’s on offer in your area – from restaurants and bars to green parks and cultural spaces, plus local events and groups that contribute to a great sense of community. Before committing to a location, visit and explore at least once to ensure that the vibe matches up to your expectations.

If you’re ready to begin the journey of finding your perfect home for commuting to Manchester, visit Bellway to discover all of our most exciting developments of new homes in Greater Manchester and the North West. Read about the great reasons to buy an energy-efficient new-build Bellway home, and the unmissable buying schemes and incentives that could help to make your dream home even more affordable.

Here on Your Nest we also have many useful articles to support you through the home-buying process, from our ultimate house viewing checklist to a guide to the stages of building a new home, plus inspiring features on real Bellway homeowners like Georgia and Matt, who found their dream new-build Bellway Oakwood home in Manchester.