North-South Divide Deepens as Affordable Commuter Towns Rise

Affordable commuter towns near Glasgow and Manchester are experiencing the strongest house price growth in Britain, while more expensive hotspots around London and other southern cities are seeing asking prices fall, according to a new analysis. The research by the property website Rightmove, covering the 12 months to July 2026, reveals a stark north-south divide in the commuter property market. Falkirk, located near Glasgow, recorded the highest annual price growth across the locations studied, with average asking prices surging by 13.5 per cent to £183,596. The study found that ten of the top 15 performing commuter markets for price growth were situated around Glasgow and Manchester. Many of these locations, such as Rochdale (up 8.7 per cent to £238,115) and St Helens (up 7.8 per cent to £192,570), have average asking prices below £250,000, making them attractive to buyers seeking value within reach of major cities. In contrast, several pricier commuter towns in the south, particularly those serving London, recorded significant annual price declines. Haywards Heath in West Sussex saw the largest fall in the analysis, with average asking prices dropping by 4.