To move from a nicer area to a rougher one

[user1498221998]

I currently live in a little village called Greenfield in Saddleworth. It would be some people's dream but I HATE it. It's lifeless, boring, isolating, inconvenient, I have to get a TRAIN to go to the local supermarket. The train goes every hour. I live on top of a hill. I'm miserable. Absolutely miserable and can honestly say I've never ever felt more lonely. I can't go anywhere without a big hill and feel trapped. Almost like I'm in prison here with my Son. I'm desperate to move nearer my work (South Manchester) so that I don't have such a long commute, we can travel to places by walking and bus, can feel less trapped and isolated and can make a life somewhere I don't feel like I'm suffocating.

Of course I'd love to be in a desirable area but so far I've had no interest from anyone in a nice area (council homeswap) so I've accepted I will be looking at a central but slightly rougher area.

Greenfield is boring as hell (to me, sorry to those from Greenfield) but it is safe. Very low crime rate.

The places I would be moving to would be anything but.

I have had interest from people living in Gorton, Hulme and Rusholme among others. All areas considered rough.

Most people have told me not to do it. That greenfield is nice, quiet and safe. Good schools for my Son and once I can drive I won't feel so isolated. But I honestly think I will. I live so far out from Manchester. Hate living semi-rurally and want to live in the city. If I wanted to live in the countryside I'd be back home in the hills with my Parents.

AIBU to move from a 'nice' rural area, to a rougher city location for the vibrancy, amenities and transport links?

Your the one living there be it semi rural or rough council estate soooo everyone else's opinions aside I think you've already described where you'd be happy. Also though if it doesn't work out for the best have you other options? No point sticking where you are just existing and being miserable. always best to be miserable but striving forward so to speak

I feel exactly the same as you OP, when my DS was born we lived in the middle of nowhere and I hated it. I hate being isolated with nothing to do.

We now live in the suburb of a city, not "rough" but certainly not a desirable area. Our standard of living is higher because our rent is cheaper, there is 24 hour public transport and plenty going on. I am beyond happy where I am.

Many might disagree but it's what is right for you!

I think you'd regret moving to a 'rough' area.

For me a huge factor would be local schools, and would I really want my kids to be going to school in a rough area. I don't know Manchester but I've heard of Gorton and it's not somewhere I would consciously move to. I would hold out for somewhere better, I'm sure there will be a swap for somewhere better than those areas.

If I were you though I would weigh up the pros and cons of both. How much faster would your commute be? It might not be faster at all. If you currently get the train versus getting a bus that might be stuck in traffic and take longer. You might not like the local supermarkets and still might have to travel further than you would like.

it is safe. Very low crime rate

That's cos they all die of boredom, by the sounds of it. Sorry...

It does look to have nice properties on Rightmove though.

Could you wait until you've passed your driving test to see how you feel then?

I can see why you would rather live in the areas you mention but I don't think I would move there if I had a child. Apart from the high crime rate what are the schools like?

Driving will liberate you. Don't rush to move somewhere rough. It might have very unwanted consequences

There's a big tesco in Greenfield. Can't be that far.

I honestly would learn to drive first and then see how you feel. If it's still the same, go for it!

I'm the opposite of you. I'm in a rough area and learning to drive so I can go farther out. It's not terrible here, but I want better for my children.

I generally know the area you live in OP and the ones you're looking at. I wouldn't, I really wouldn't. If it's South Manchester, is there really no interest from places like Stockport/Edgely/South Reddish? Great links to Manc by train too. Or on the other side of th'hill like Staybridge, where South Manc would be easy enough by car once you're driving... Get what you're saying about transport and links etc., but "vibrancy" is not the first noun that springs to mind for some of the areas you mention :(

If I were you I would take the plunge and move.
Sounds like you will be so much happier.

I'd never do this in a million years. I'd learn to drive first.

Wouldn't go for gorton or hulme but I used to live in rusholme. Not fancy obv but I always felt shame and great public transport to town.
That said it was 12 years ago now, so obv could well have changed since I was last there

I wouldn't.

Felt shame = felt safe!!!!

Hulme is vibrant, fun, city life

Greenfield is way out and whilst pretty, is very boring. Ramsbottom is more fun whilst being nice and quite cheap to live.

Would you consider something like Chorlton, Stretford ?

I understand what your saying. I too live in a lovely village and if I could not drive I would have gone utterly mad. But in your shoes, I would not move to an area with is described as "rough". I think you have to put your child first.

But you can have a plan

• Keep looking and hope someone from a nice area wants to swop
• learn to drive asap.

Eh? How is it you need to get a train to the supermarket - there's a Tesco in Greenfield. Literally 5mins walk from the train station (that you're saying you need to get to to go to a supermarket).
It's only 10 miles from Manchester. 20mins on the train.
There was a similar thread a few months ago - do you actually live in Mossley?
I'm not sure why anyone would swop Greenfield, with excellent transport links, schools, local amenities, for Hulme or Gorton (I have lived in both of those places, and currently live near Greenfield).

I live in very rural North Yorkshire - left Greater Manchester a couple of years ago. I would give my right arm to move to Greenfield right now (I went to school in Mossley)
Whit Fridays were the highlight of my year as a teenager 😂

If I was happy with the schools I would.

I currently live in what is considered a fairly rough area of a big city and, while there have been some unpleasant elements, I infinitely prefer it to living in the middle of nowhere.

As someone has said upthread though, definitely check if your commute will actually be quicker e.g. I used to commute to work by bus and it would take on average about 40 - 45 minutes to travel the 2 miles - and, if traffic was bad it could be well over an hour stuck on a bus in gridlock. People who lived a lot further away out in the sticks but close to a train station could get into the city centre a lot more quickly and easily than I could.

Thanks everyone I have decided to move but to a slightly nicer area and stay put until then. .

IMO don't do it.
I was in a similar situation myself a few years ago - in a tiny village where everybody knew every ones business, with nothing going on and the small village shop didn't stock any formula or nappies .
Frustrated with the isolation , I moved my family to a "rougher area" of the nearest large town. It turned out to be a mistake , loud rude neighbours, anti social behaviour is rife and parking wars are ridiculous (not involving us I hasten to add). I was soon begging for the peace and quiet of the isolated village :(

I think you've made the right decision. I grew up in Gorton and I ran for the hills as soon as I could.

I live in Rusholme for many years and never had any problems, BUT I didn't have children. My next door neighbour was a single parent of two boys, and they were really nice, well-brought up kids and as a result suffered from quite a lot of bullying onve they were secondary school age. My neighbour used to worry about them all the time, and moved as soon as she had the chance.