Commuter growth peaks in the north as Manchester and Glasgow lead the way

• New analysis from the UK’s largest property platform Rightmove, reveals the commuter hotspots around six major cities where average asking prices are rising the fastest 

• Affordable commuter locations around Glasgow and Manchester lead house price growth 

• Falkirk, Stirlingshire, has the highest price growth at +13.5%, with an average asking price of £183,596 

• While asking prices are rising fastest in more affordable commuter areas, some higher-priced commuter hotspots have seen asking prices fall, giving buyers more choice in some of the most expensive markets 

 

New analysis from Rightmove, the UK’s largest property platform, reveals the commuter hotspots where house prices are rising fastest around six of Great Britain’s largest cities: London, Manchester, Birmingham, Bristol, Glasgow and Cardiff. 

 

Across the six cities analysed, the strongest asking price growth is concentrated in commuter locations around Glasgow and Manchester, with 10 of the top 15 ten fastest-growing hotspots located around the two cities.  

 

Many of these locations offer easier access to a major city at a lower price point than commuter hotspots in the south. 

 

Falkirk, Stirlingshire, has the highest price growth of all commuter locations analysed at +13.5%, with an average asking prices of £183,596. 

 

11 of the top 15 fastest-growing locations have average asking prices below £250,000, including Falkirk (£183,596), Rochdale (£238,115) and St Helens (£192,570).  

 

Full data tables are included below. 

 

In comparison, many London commuter hotspots command have asking prices in excess of £500,000.  

 

Average asking price growth has generally been more subdued in the cities themselves than in many surrounding commuter areas.  

 

Across the six cities analysed, average asking prices are up by 2.9% yearly in Glasgow (£191,530), 1.8% in Manchester (£261,212) and 1.4% in Cardiff (£285,596). 

 

Meanwhile, prices have fallen annually by 0.6% in Birmingham (£251,340), 0.6% in Bristol (£375,205) and 3.1% in London (£646,451). 

 

While some of the strongest growth is being seen in more affordable commuter hotspots in the north, house price growth has been more limited in southern commuter hotspots, mirroring the macro trend. 

 

Haywards Heath in Sussex recorded the largest annual asking price decline in the analysis, down 4.8% to £461,066, followed by Maidenhead -3.9% (£571,686) and Bath -3.8% (£508,109). 

 

Top 15 commuter hotspots by annual asking price growth 

Commuter hotspots	Nearby city	Average asking price	Annual price change
Falkirk, Stirlingshire	Glasgow	£183,596	13.50%
Rochdale, Greater Manchester	Manchester	£238,115	8.70%
Broxbourne, Hertfordshire	London	£654,263	8.10%
St. Helens, Merseyside	Manchester	£192,570	7.80%
Port Talbot, Neath Port Talbot	Cardiff	£176,787	7.70%
Wishaw, Lanarkshire	Glasgow	£140,127	7.00%
Wigan, Greater Manchester	Manchester	£193,347	6.20%
Stalybridge, Greater Manchester	Manchester	£265,378	5.60%
Greenock, Inverclyde	Glasgow	£135,151	5.30%
Hamilton, Lanarkshire	Glasgow	£174,869	5.30%
Wolverhampton, West Midlands	Birmingham	£230,737	5.20%
Barry, Vale Of Glamorgan	Cardiff	£261,859	5.20%
East Kilbride, South Lanarkshire	Glasgow	£174,348	5.10%
Dumbarton, Dunbartonshire	Glasgow	£168,045	5.00%
Penarth, South Glamorgan	Cardiff	£432,414	4.70%

 

Top 15 commuter hotspots with the biggest price falls 

Commuter area	Nearby city	Average asking price	Annual price change
Haywards Heath, West Sussex	London	£461,066	-4.8%
Maidenhead, Berkshire	London	£571,686	-3.9%
Bath, Somerset	Bristol	£508,109	-3.8%
Leamington Spa, Warwickshire	Birmingham	£369,612	-3.3%
Reading, Berkshire	London	£377,211	-2.9%
Billericay, Essex	London	£558,087	-2.8%
Yate, Bristol	Bristol	£331,921	-2.3%
Slough, Berkshire	London	£405,182	-2.2%
Chelmsford, Essex	London	£402,836	-2.1%
Basingstoke, Hampshire	London	£353,642	-1.9%
Woking, Surrey	London	£509,550	-1.7%
Tonbridge, Kent	London	£483,362	-1.5%
Redhill, Surrey	London	£426,481	-1.3%
Brentwood, Essex	London	£559,908	-1.2%
Caerphilly	Cardiff	£251,142	-1.2%

 

Colleen Babcock, Rightmove’s property expert says: “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. For anyone considering a move, it’s a reminder that looking a little further beyond the main city locations can often open up more options and better value for money.” 

 

Shona Crawford, Director at Rettie said: “The continued strength of Glasgow’s commuter areas reflects the exceptional lifestyle they offer. Areas such as Bearsden, Milngavie, Newton Mearns and Giffnock combine easy access to Glasgow with larger family homes, green space, and strong local communities. They are also home to many of Scotland’s highest-performing state schools, making them particularly attractive to families seeking long-term value. When you combine excellent educational opportunities with connectivity, amenity and access to the countryside, it’s clear why demand for these locations remains so resilient.” 

 

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. The area is particularly popular with families thanks to its well-regarded schools, and many buyers see it as a place where they can put down long-term roots, even if their job circumstances change. That mix of value, convenience and lifestyle continues to drive strong demand across Falkirk and the wider central belt.” 

 

 

ENDS 

 

Notes to Editors: 

 

• Analysis based on July 2026 asking price data for commuter locations around London, Manchester, Glasgow, Birmingham, Bristol and Cardiff 

• Rankings are based on year-on-year changes in average asking prices 

• The analysis is not a ranking of every commuter location in Britain, but a comparison of commuter locations surrounding these six major cities 

• Commuter areas defined as being within 45 minutes of the target city and with a population of at least 20,000 people (ONS). Fastest peak rail times from National Rail