Nearly 1,450 cities, towns and villages have been ranked in Garrington Property Finders’ new list of the Best Places to Live in 2026.
The charming town of Marple, near Stockport, in Greater Manchester, came out top of the pile, with three other places in the North West making the top 10.
With its pretty canal towpath walks, lush wooded valleys and rich array of independent shops, cafes and restaurants, Marple has been dubbed the ‘jewel of the Cheshire Alps'.
Garrington described Marple as a ‘picture-postcard’ town, with an ‘understated charm and calm’, despite lying just nine miles and around 25 minutes from the buzz of Manchester city centre.
Marple rose three places to top this year’s list of the best places to live, having been ranked fourth in 2025.
Garrington said its strong community spirit, two brass brands, a neighbourhood cinema and its location at the foot of the Peak District all contributed to Marple’s appeal.
Unsurprisingly, houses do not come cheap there, with a typical family home costing £517,119, having risen by 7.6% in the last year.
But Garrington said house prices in Marple remain ‘competitive’ for a ‘prime’ area of Greater Manchester, with Marple ranked 27th for ‘value for money’.
Below are the 13 best places to live in the North West in 2026, according to Garrington Property Finders, listed in reverse order.
They include a delightful village in the ‘Golden Triangle’ between Manchester and Liverpool, which is popular with Premier League footballers and celebrities, and a charming market town in Lancashire’s picturesque Ribble Valley.
If you’re looking for more North West property news, you might be interested in this list of the places within the region where houses are selling fastest.
5. Gatley - 9th
Gatley, near Stockport, is the 9th best place to live in the North West, and the 27th best in all of England and Wales, according to Garrington Property Finders. It was ranked 255th for natural environment, 374th for wellbeing, 673rd for heritage and culture, 6th for schools, employment and connectivity, and 473rd for house price, quality and value. The average family home there costs £468,274, with prices having risen by 4.13% in the last year. | Google Photo: Google
6. Wilmslow - 8th
Wilmslow, in Cheshire East, is the 8th best place to live in the North West, and the 23rd best in all of England and Wales, according to Garrington Property Finders. It was ranked 220th for natural environment, 671st for wellbeing, 554th for heritage and culture, 176th for schools, employment and connectivity, and 115th for house price, quality and value. The average family home there costs £558,179, with prices having risen by 12.96% in the last year. | Google Photo: Google
7. Sale - 7th
Sale, in Greater Manchester, is the 7th best place to live in the North West, and the 22nd best in all of England and Wales, according to Garrington Property Finders. It was ranked 257th for natural environment, 1054th for wellbeing, 294th for heritage and culture, 17th for schools, employment and connectivity, and 113th for house price, quality and value. The average family home there costs £529,979, with prices having risen by 5.59% in the last year. | Google Photo: Google
8. Stockport - 6th
Stockport is the 6th best place to live in the North West, and the 15th best in all of England and Wales, according to Garrington Property Finders. It was ranked 98th for natural environment, 1365th for wellbeing, 76th for heritage and culture, 48th for schools, employment and connectivity, and 58th for house price, quality and value. The average family home there costs £443,183, with prices having risen by 5.64% in the last year. | Google Photo: Google