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?

As another poster has said, look at the schools in the area. The Ofsted report will give you an indication of the pupils.

Far better to learn to drive than move to a rough area.

Do not move to Gorton or Rusholme, or Mosside, be careful what you wish for! some of those areas are hellish I used to live in Manchester but moved near the sea and its lovely here would not move back to Manchester if you paid me. xx

Even Didsbury is rough now and thats saying something.

The best thing I did was move from a rural village which had one 2 hour long bus out a day, to the nearest city, however, I private rented and moved into a nice area of the city with low crime, great schools and lots of green spaces. After going from a safe, rural area it's going to be quite the adjustment moving into a rough area.

Staying put till you can find a better area is a good decision. In the mean time learn to drive. I'd also think schools would be the decider for me. I couldn't make a decision that would potentially have a negative impact on my child and their future. However you also need to be happy and driving may well give you the freedom you need.

I live semi rural, but if we didn't drive it would in all honesty be very difficult here. We love it, but driving is a critical enabler.

Eh?? You only have to walk down the hill and round the corner and you're at Tesco!

And there's the Local Link! £3 return anywhere in Saddleworth! You can even enjoy the heady delights of Uppermill!

Didsbury is not rough, what on earth are you basing that on? Don't be stupid.

I used to go to parties at 5am in didsbury. Let me assure you there are plenty of drug dealers and unsavoury characters who live there - they just can because they're loaded

That doesn't make it a rough area. I've never heard such a load of rubbish.

I feel for you OP - I know all the places you're talking about, including Greenfield (oddly enough), and I know I would feel exactly the same as you about being stranded in the sticks rurally. But having lived in middling rough bits of inner city Leeds, and knowing what the equivalent areas of Manchester are like (I grew up there) I can speak from experience that you really do not want to live in Gorton or Moss Side.

I went through 5 burglaries in 9 years in an inner city area - they were okay areas only if you were the local drug dealer's mum (you could always tell which houses those were - the only ones with window boxes that didn't get vandalised). Everyone had metal grills on their doors and windows. And that was without even thinking about the schools (I was young back then). Coming out the other end without having been on the receiving end of serious physical assault, a drugs habit or a criminal record was an achievement - children certanly weren't going to emerge with an education.

I think you've made the right decision even if you feel like you're going mad with boredom in the short-term. Hold out for a better council house swap.

ladyyyglittersparkles, iut is a lot rougher than it used to be, you go Fridays? is it still there?

It's been a while but younger people who I crossed paths with are still on the same scene. No offence I wouldn't NOT live there but believe me drug dealing and firearms are not something I'd associate with a 'naice' area 😂
I'm not judging I'm a Mancunian through and through but the people I now live among in rural Yorkshire would be HORRIFIED at the concept of these kind of goings on

Even Didsbury is rough now and thats saying something.

Is it fuck

Usually the more money the more drugs people consume. Go round Hale Barns on a Friday, loads of cars hovering outside bars and house parties to sell overpriced coke to rich people. It is just hushed up so you think its a "naice" place to live. At uni, the kids from the most priveleged backgrounds had the biggest drug habits because they had the money. One lad who went to Harrow before Uni sold ketamine he brought back from seeing family in Thailand, for a "bit of a kick". Using drugs as a marker for anything is stupid. As is burglary, usually rich areas get targeted and people who commit the crimes leave their own poorer neighbours alone.

Uppermill is lovely for a day out! But bloody hell the coffee shops are more expensive than London!

NotACleverName, I should know I lived there for long enough.

Op!! I live very near you (Hyde) and your in a beautiful part of the world but don't move to Gorton Mosside or Rusholme please!! How about Stalybridge where your more convenient to Manchester and a tesco and still lovely views to the hills and easy reach to countryside?

Another poster baffled by why you don't go to the Tesco in Greenfield You know, the one down the hill from the Greenfield train station...
Anyway, of the three places you mentioned Hulme is the nicest.
And Dids isn't rough!!

I would stay put OP.

Stalybridge is incredibly run down and awful. I'd rather die than live there. It has nothing going for it.

I've done my time living in didsbury. 5 attempted breaking in one year! No thanks! I did love the convenience of it though and amenities. I'd not live there as a single mum as I wouldn't feel safe.

The Tesco is extortionately priced. No budget ranges. I can't afford to shop there. I get the train to stalybridge Aldi.

If I could live anywhere I would choose alteincham, Wilmslow, the heatons, knutsford. But they're too expensive for now.

I don't mind being far out as long as there were good transport links, a vibrant feel and everything you need on your door step.

This is still me.

Just my account on my phone not my computer.

user1498403489, where abouts did you live?

I've lived in Didsbury village, stalybridge,greenfield,fallowfield and Manchester City centre.

My favourite was the city centre but not since having my son. It wouldn't be suitable.