Manchester has recorded the strongest house price growth of any major British city over the last decade while London has seen the weakest growth, latest analysis from Rightmove reveals.

The property portal’s study of millions of property listings found that the average asking price in Manchester has climbed by 63% over the past 10 years, rising from £160,422 to £261,891. By comparison, asking prices in London have increased by just 7% over the same period, from £639,593 to £687,080.

The findings highlight a widening north-south divide in the housing market, with no southern city making Rightmove’s top 10 fastest-growing locations. In contrast, five southern cities featured among the slowest-growing markets.

Beyond Manchester itself, the strongest-performing local markets were all located within Greater Manchester. Levenshulme, Atherton, Droylsden and Failsworth each recorded price growth of around 80% over the decade.

FASTEST-GROWING

Wolverhampton, Newport and Nottingham followed Manchester among the fastest-growing cities, reflecting a growing focus on affordability as buyers seek better value outside traditionally expensive markets.

The analysis suggests affordability has become one of the biggest drivers of long-term house price performance, with lower-priced northern cities enjoying greater scope for growth while higher-value southern markets have faced affordability constraints.

“Manchester is a big winner of the past decade.”

Colleen Babcock (main picture, inset), Rightmove’s property expert, said: “Manchester is a big winner of the past decade, with strong price growth underlining its growing popularity among buyers.

“By contrast, London has seen much slower growth over the same period, reflecting how higher prices in the capital have limited how much further buyers can stretch.

“Looking at the bigger picture, affordability has been a central theme shaping these trends. Areas with lower starting price points have had more room for growth, which has contributed to a widening north-south divide in price growth trends over the last ten years.

“Some of the shifts behind this are continuing to play out, particularly changes in working patterns. Greater flexibility through hybrid and remote working is still influencing where people choose to live, supporting demand in cities that offer better value and a different lifestyle balance.”

EXRAORDINARY GROWTH

Maurice Kilbride, managing director at Maurice Kilbride Residential Sales in Cheadle, Greater Manchester, said: “Manchester’s growth over the past decade has been extraordinary.

“Strong employment opportunities, significant inward investment, excellent transport links and a vibrant lifestyle offering have helped attract people from across the UK and beyond.

“What’s particularly noticeable is that the city’s success has extended well beyond the centre, with surrounding suburbs also benefiting from increased demand as buyers look for a balance of space, connectivity and quality of life.

“Having worked in the Greater Manchester property market for over 25 years, we’ve seen the area’s appeal broaden considerably, helping to support sustained price growth and making Manchester one of the UK’s standout property success stories of the last decade.”