Why is everyone moving to Stockport?

If you live in and around Manchester, you have likely heard the phrase “I've heard Stockport is meant to be quite nice now”. It seems to have caught the attention of not just Mancunians but those further afield.

But what is it that is attracting home buyers and business owners to an old historic market town? We have taken a look and highlighted some of the main reasons for its popularity.

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Stockports background

Located just 7 miles (11km) southeast of Manchester city centre, the predominantly red-bricked facade of the town centre is a nod to its rich industrial heritage, with its multi-layered layout and diverse architecture adding to its character.

A defining landmark is the Viaduct, which sweeps across the skyline, connecting trains across the River Goyt. It is one of the largest brick structures in the United Kingdom and has become synonymous with the town.

The area's success has not happened overnight; what was once an area suffering from high vacancies and a run-down centre has evolved over the last decade into a thriving destination.

Regeneration across the town‍

The first significant investment came in 2012, following a Mary Portas pilot town grant of £100,000, marking the start of early efforts to revitalise the town. This introduced Foodie Friday, a food and drink festival on the last Friday of every month, which has been a huge success.

Founded in 2019, the Stockport Mayoral Development Corporation (MDC) is at the helm of a £1bn plus transformation of the town centre, which has recently been expanded to cover 410 acres. 

Aiming to deliver 8,000 homes by 2040, the initiative has already amassed £600 million in private investment, with notable projects such as the new bus interchange and high-quality office space outside Stockport train station. 

SK8 (Stockport8) is the MDC’s flagship project, a new mixed-use neighbourhood that will be the next part of Stockport's story. This is part of one of the largest town centre regeneration projects in the UK. It will see £350m invested with the potential of up to 1,300 new homes.  

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Its appeal to homebuyers‍

The Sunday Times named it the “best place to live in the North West” in 2024. This highlighted its excellent connectivity, the successful regeneration of the Underbanks area, and its vibrant, independent food and drink culture. Furthermore, the town was praised for offering family-friendly and affordable housing.

Spanning 49 square miles (126 K㎡), the metropolitan borough of Stockport has a population of 300,000, with several pleasant areas to live in at different entry points. Areas such as Hazel Grove, to the south of Stockport town centre, offer suburban living with great transport links and schools.  

A heritage regeneration project, The Underbanks, serves as the heartbeat of the town centre. Listed buildings overlook cobbled streets lined with independent shops, cafes, restaurants and everything in between, newly refreshed by regeneration projects.

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A connected town

Stockport offers unrivalled connectivity, and is another huge reason the town has become so popular. From the town centre to Manchester Airport is just a 15-minute drive with direct flights to over 200 destinations.

It's a commuter's ideal location with Stockport train station offering frequent links to major destinations across the UK. You can travel to London in under two hours and to Manchester Piccadilly in less than 15 minutes.

Whilst the tram is not yet available in Stockport, there have been plans put in place to include the town as part of the “Bee Network” with construction scheduled for 2030. The extensions would connect the town centre to the existing East Didsbury tram stop, with further plans to extend to Hazel Grove through a vacant train line.

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Property market  

A big reason the town and surrounding areas have become so popular is due to their affordability and availability of mixed housing. The average house price in Stockport was  £311,000 in January 2026, up 4% from January 2025, higher than the rise in the North West across the same period.

The increasing appeal of Stockport to younger generations has fueled growth in the private rental sector. This rising demand has pushed monthly rents to an average of £1,088 as of February 2026, marking an impressive 5.0% annual increase from the £1,036 average recorded in February 2025.

Furthermore, the average price for first-time buyers was 4.3% higher than the national average of £248,000, with the average price in Stockport reaching £259,000 in January 2026.

Stockport's affordability compared to other Manchester suburbs is attracting a large number of first-time buyers. The town’s appeal to young professionals and families wanting to settle there is only positive, as the local economy will benefit and help to keep the town's momentum going.

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Final thoughts‍

The allure of this town has been spearheaded by the successful regeneration in the area, transforming its image and allowing Stockport to be seen in a new light.

With huge momentum building, the town is alive with more people filling the streets and more exciting businesses joining the community.

Do you want to be a part of Stockport's success? Contact our team of expert property consultants today to find out more.