Where to move? Lancashire or Yorkshire

[Tulvander]

Ive been living in Manchester for six years and my partner and I have decided to move. We are planning on buying a house in which we will be staying long term (like, over 20-25 years) where we can start a family. We have a budget of 110,000 when it comes to buying a house, preferably a 3 bedroom house but two is also okay. I absolutely love the countryside so does the other half but we also need to be in close proximity of a big town or city 30-45 minutes drive max. Lancashire offers really affordable houses but with a little less countryside and rolling hills. Yorkshire is a bit more pricey but has more to offer. Im not very familiar of all the towns around but here are a few options of places we are possibly investing in long term:

Barnoldswick
Earby
Colne
Baxenden
Accrington
Rossendale
Clayton-le-Moors
Bacup
St Helens (not sure which part)
Todmorden
Mytholymroyd
Ripponden
Clayton
Shipley

Any better suggestions? I would also like to hear your thoughts about the places that we are planning on possibly moving to (i.e. work possibilities, good schools, community living, etc.) I've lived in Sale, Salford, and Stockport in Manchester. I have also lived in Ambleside and Edale thus my love for the country. Other half has been a Mancunian all his life. :)

[pinkdelight]

Todmorden is the best of those I reckon, a good compromise between Lancs and Yorks being right on the borders. Lovely countryside, some good schools, and nice market, decent train service to Manchester. Colne, Earby and Barnoldswick aren't bad either but not very handy for a city really. Shipley's okay. Accrington and Rossendale aren't great imho. Mytholmroyd and Ripponden are worth a look but are similar to Tod but not quite as good I don't think. You could get a three bed there on that budget but just make sure it's not in the bit that floods. I'm from east Lancs. No longer live there but go back often and if I moved back it'd prob be to that bit of west yorks.

[pinkdelight]

(I don't know Clayton, St Helens, Baxenden or Bacup, sorry. Except that the latter is a good sized town so that might suit you.)