Ok, I'll just wade in with what I (think) I know.
Ramsbottom has become quite desirable - a couple of new nice bars, a fabulous award winning restaurant (and other nice ones) delis, farmers markets etc. Lovely little town within 5 mins of motorway north and south, makes it desirable for commuters to Manc/Bolton/Blackburn/Preston/Lancaster etc
Don't know about primary schools.
Woodhey High used to be good but may have slipped a bit.
Other nice places, but less buzzing and less connected:
Holcombe Brook - close enough to Rammy but cheaper. A few essential shops, nowt spesh.
Greenmount - lovely and leafy but felt a bit out of it as a teenager! no dog poo on the pavements [Smile]. Primary school used to be good. Safe.
Tottington - closer to Bury so more connected to Manc. Nice in parts, pretty safe. Again Tottington High School used to be good but may have slipped.
Walshaw - even closer to Bury, and perhaps a bit out of it as not on main public transport links.
Summerseat - very pretty and crap for public transport. it's very close to the motorway though and has become a bit of a ratrun at peak times.
Holcombe - gorgeous. Very out of it and more countryfied (for round here) but I'm guessing it's dear.
Helmshore and Haslingdon - lovely and creeping into Rawtenstall now. Not sure about prices but I think there's some good schools up there.
I suppose it depends what your priorities are. You could get a 3 or four bed house in somewhere like Prestwhich or Whitefield with 170k, but you'd have to compromise up Rammy way. In Rammy/HolcombeBrook/Greenmount the pretty victorian houses are more expensive, but there's loads of 60's/70's/80's housing estates which are great for younger kids to make friends and play out.