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.
1. Hazel Grove - 13th
Hazel Grove, near Stockport, is the 13th best place to live in the North West, and the 35th best in all of England and Wales, according to Garrington Property Finders. It was ranked 49th out of 1,447 cities, towns and villages for schools, employment and connectivity, 320th for natural environment, 422nd for heritage and culture, 357th for house price, quality and value, and 758th for wellbeing. The average family home there costs £460,742, with prices having risen by 4.51% in the last year. | Google Photo: Google
2. Chester - 12th
Chester is the 12th best place to live in the North West, and the 34th best in all of England and Wales, according to Garrington Property Finders. It was ranked 183rd out of 1,447 cities, towns and villages for schools, employment and connectivity, 161st for natural environment, 195th for heritage and culture, 185th for house price, quality and value, and 1,174th for wellbeing. The average family home there costs £418,698, with prices having fallen by 0.63% in the last year. | Google Photo: Google
3. Clitheroe - 11th
The market town of Clitheroe, in the picturesque Ribble Valley, Lancashire, is the 11th best place to live in the North West, and the 31st best in all of England and Wales, according to Garrington Property Finders. It was ranked 686th out of 1,447 cities, towns and villages for schools, employment and connectivity, 118th for natural environment, 476th for heritage and culture, 195th for house price, quality and value, and 361st for wellbeing. The average family home there costs £358,208, with prices having risen by 1.63% in the last year. | Google Photo: Google
4. Greasby - 10th
Greasby, Merseyside, is the 10th best place to live in the North West, and the 29th best in all of England and Wales, according to Garrington Property Finders. It was ranked 415th for natural environment, 83rd for wellbeing, 864th for heritage and culture, 56th for schools, employment and connectivity, and 377th for house price, quality and value. The average family home there costs £405,507, with prices having risen by 2.39% in the last year. | Google Photo: Google