Guide to best areas to live in Manchester for first job new to the area

[Pistachiomonster]

Best areas to live near Manchester for young graduates early 20’s and best places to look for somewhere to rent needed from July? One will be commuting to Birchwood business park three days a week the other will be commuting to Manchester three days a week.

Two Uni friends new to the area want to find a house or flat to rent. Need parking for two cars, access to good public transport, social life and reasonable rent. Chat GPT comes up with Monton, Didsbury, Altrincham, Urmston, Irlam
and Stretford.

Yes, sorry I’ve just read your other posts. Best thing is they need to get a feel for some of these areas. I live in Chorlton and find the M56/M6 way to Warrington fine- but I’d leave early and come back early (or late) if possible. Chorlton, Stretford, West Didsbury, Withington, Whalley Range are the best for young people I think, and all close by and good links to the centre. Plenty of on road parking (although
some areas require a bit of a search). They could come for a weekend and see all of these areas easily Plus Castlefield and Salford Quays out that way.

Talking about commuting, the person who works in Manchester or your daughter when she’s in the Manchester office should be aware how hideous the traffic is in Wilmslow Road at peak times, especially during term time. For this reason I would only look at areas with train or tram stations although the trams don’t have many carriages so if they get on further down the line they will be standing which won’t always be ideal. All in all and especially considering they won’t be on high salaries, I would go for Stockport.

Thanks daughter Birchwood Business Park unsure whereabouts the other one will be working in Manchester but they are most keen on proximity to Manchester for getting to work and social life but aren’t realistic about parking and having a car is a luxury. Whereas, mine will definitely need a car for site visits for work and happy to live somewhere with balance of journey times to work for both of them, with some parking and public transport option for nights out.

No sensible person drives to a night out in central Manchester, definitely. They get trams or trains or Ubers there and back.

It’s not a big drama - with the new renters rights legislation after one month they can give 2 months notice - so can hop around Manchester every three months until they find somewhere suitable.

£1800 between them on rent is top of the budget (as they are unsure what the cost of bills council tax would be).

These two didn’t go to Manchester Uni. Think a top 5 Uni so they maybe out on a limb.

Urmston is not somewhere a young person wants to live.It's really boring even as a fifty year old!
Stretford would be much better choice. Really good transport links to town and near what's the motorway for warrington. Loads of cool stuff happening there, Bicep did a secret set in the closed down shopping mall last year.

Is that not just lots of high rise blocks with no parking?

Thanks but the one travelling to work in Birchwood needs a car to visit customers/sites so would need to drive there.

Where would you suggest please?

Do not move to Levy my god - what a recommendation!

Thank you where would you suggest?

Thanks.

At that age I would go with Didsbury. If you go with an apartment that’s in a converted house then could they not just park on the road? A few round the Barlow moor road area and there is loads of parking ion the side roads.
I live in Altrincham now but have lived in Didsbury when younger. I wouldn’t recommend Altrincham for two young women. You will play an absolute premium for property because of the schools and if they don’t need them I don’t see the point. It’s a lovely place to live but I would say more for families.

So to summarise what has been said. Is this correct?

Ancoats - good socially but no parking.
Altrincham - tossers/ old people/ families/ expensive
Chorlton - bad traffic
Didsbury - great socially, expensive no parking unless further out bad drive to Birchwood Park, bad traffic.
Urmston - better for Birchwood travel
Monton - better for Birchwood/family orientated
Withington - near Didsbury better for parking full of students/Grads from Manchester Uni’s.
Stretford- Good Transport
Castlefield - better for transport.

Salford Quays - central, high rises, no parking unless quite a lot further out.
West Didsbury - great socially, parking better than Didsbury Village, but still bad drive to Birchwood.
Sale - families, better commute for Birchwood, up and coming area but far from socialising.
Stretford - surburban, better for Birchwood drive.

So one must have a car for work that is a non negotiable. Journey to work one in Manchester (by public transport) and journey to Birchwood Park (using car if a site visit but would use public transport on occasions if available where no site visit) should be a fair compromise. Opportunities to socialise would ideally be factored in. Both prefer to avoid high rise flats. Budget for joint rent £1300-£1800.

When do they need the property from?

You've missed Stockport. Good social life, very easy commute on train to Manchester. Good access to M56 for travel to Birchwood. Parking ok

Loads of new apartments already and being built with parking available

I'm a 50 something from Urmston and it's definitely not boring...but yes, for youngsters it probably is

Will the person travelling to birchwood pay less rent to offset the higher commuting cost?

I really wouldn’t live in south Manchester it would be time intensive as well as costly.

Honestly look at Salford quays. Not all the flats are high rise, plenty have parking. Looking now at one £1600 a month. Two bed, has a gym and a co working space and a roof terrace. Parking available

This is a high rise but it makes Salford look lovely, view from the balcony is great

2 bedroom apartment for rent in City Loft, 94 The Quays, Salford, Lancashire, M50

Semi detached house in Salford Quays with a parking space

2 bedroom semi-detached house for rent in Vancouver Quay, Salford Quays, M50

Really?!

Three bedroom for one person, in a housing crisis??????