'Underrated’ commuter town near Manchester named amongst UK's property hotspots in 2025
The area has been picked out for its affordability, commuting, school ratings, quality of life and local amenities
An 'underrated' town which is within commuting distance to Manchester has been named amongst the UK's property hotspots in 2025. With house prices in the UK’s most popular cities still out of reach for many, homebuyers are increasingly in search of nearby areas with better value.
Cities such as Manchester, London, Birmingham, Leeds and Sheffield are all in high demand, but many of their surrounding towns offer similar benefits without the hefty price tag.
New data from Sell House Fast has now identified 10 'underrated' property hotspots near to major cities that stand out for their affordability, with house prices around 25 percent less than the UK average, as well as their commuting convenience, local amenities, and quality of life.
With low crime rates, strong school ratings, and an abundance of independent cafés and restaurants, these areas are all ideal for families, first-time buyers and young professionals.
Newton-le-Willows
Newton-le-Willows, which sits just outside of the Wigan borough, ranked at 8th on the list of the UK's 10 'underrated' property hotspots this year.
The Merseyside town is around a 55 minute commute to Manchester by car, and it takes around just 20 minutes to get into the city on the train.
The average house price here is currently £217,662, according to Sell House Fast, which is much cheaper than the UK's average property price which now sits at £296,648 according to Halifax's latest data.
The majority of properties sold in Newton-Le-Willows during the last year were semi-detached properties, selling for an average price of £217,115. Terraced properties sold for an average of £173,214, with detached properties fetching £320,865, says Rightmove.
Overall, the historical sold prices in Newton-Le-Willows over the last year were 6 percent up on the previous year and 8 percent up on the 2022 peak of £204,152.
Newton-le-Willows has a crime risk score of 622 out of 1,000, and there are 72 percent of Ofsted-rated Good and Outstanding schools within five miles.
Elsewhere, Horsforth claimed the top spot on the list thanks to fast commuting times and strong educational options. Boasting more than 220 coffee shops, bars, pubs and restaurants within five miles, the town offers a vibrant local scene without a premium price tag
It's average house price of £328,259 makes Horsforth notably more affordable than some of nearby Leeds’ trendiest neighbourhoods.
Despite house prices and the crime risk score being slightly higher than those in other top-ranked towns, the town’s overall appeal keeps it at the top of the list.
Located just west of Birmingham, Rowley Regis ranked in second place. The average house price here is a very accessible £206,009, which is 23.2 percent cheaper than the national average.
In third place is Sutton Coldfield, which is found just a quick drive of 33.5 minutes away from Birmingham city centre and blends accessibility with a strong community vibe.