Two areas of Greater Manchester have been named among the best places to buy a home in the UK in 2026. Salford and Bolton both feature in the top 10 of a new index ranking the strongest property markets across the country.
According to the research, the strongest property markets aren't necessarily the places with the highest house prices. A combination of house price growth, affordability and quality of life can all influence whether an area is among the best places to buy a home.
How the rankings were calculated
Experts at Sell House Fast analysed major cities and towns, looking at their five and 10-year house price growth, average selling times, mortgage affordability, crime, life satisfaction and green space access.
Blackburn with Darwen was named the UK's best place to buy a home, with a score of 7.67 out of 10. House prices there have increased by 34.2 per cent over the last five years, and 72.7 per cent over the last 10 years. Properties have an average selling time of 157 days, whilst the house price to salary ratio is 6 and 34.9 per cent of a monthly salary is used for mortgages.
Salford's strong performance
Salford came joint third on the list with Sunderland, with a score of 7.05. House prices in Salford have risen by 83.3 per cent over the last 10 years, which is the biggest increase recorded in the study, while its 142-day average selling time is also the shortest. Salford has a house price to salary ratio of 7.6, with 43.9 per cent of an average monthly salary used for mortgages.
Bolton's place in the top 10
Bolton came in at 6th place, with house prices rising by 30.1 per cent over the last five years and 73.5 per cent over the last 10 years. Properties sell in an average of 234 days, and there is a house price to salary ratio of 6.8. Around 39.5 per cent of a monthly salary is used for mortgages.
Nine of the top 10 places are in northern England, including Warrington, Salford, Sunderland, Bolton, Liverpool, Newcastle upon Tyne, Bradford, and Blackpool.
Jack Malnick, Managing Director at Sell House Fast, comments: “There’s a tendency to assume that the strongest property markets are automatically the most expensive, but our findings show why that isn’t always the case.
“For buyers and landlords, strong historic growth is important, but so is the price you have to pay to enter the market. Homeowners also need to consider how quickly they may be able to sell and what an area offers day to day.
"That balance helps explain why so many northern locations perform strongly in the index. They can combine meaningful property growth with housing costs that remain more manageable relative to local earnings."
