The most affordable towns in the UK revealed – London Wallet

New research has identified the most affordable towns to buy a home across the UK. On average, two earners can expect to pay 4.4 times their combined annual income for a property – slightly lower than 4.5 times in 2024 — though areas in Scotland and the North East offer significantly better value.

The study, conducted by Zoopla, calculated affordability by analysing house price-to-earnings ratios for a two-earner household based on local average earnings and compared these to average property prices in each area.

The most affordable town in Great Britain is Shildon, County Durham, where an average home costs just £73,900 – roughly equivalent to a single year’s combined income for two local earners.

Ten most affordable towns in the UK: 

Source: Zoopla

The findings reveal a striking geographic polarisation in UK housing affordability. Scotland dominates the list of the UK’s most affordable towns, claiming a remarkable seven of the ten spots whilst the remaining three positions are secured by the North East of England. Conversely, the market’s disparity is underscored by the bottom of the list, with eight of the ten least affordable towns located in the South East of England.

At the other end of the affordability spectrum, Beaconsfield, in Buckinghamshire, tops the list as the least affordable UK town with a house price-to-earnings ratio of 15.25 – meaning a median priced home costs more than 15 times the estimated average household income, at £1,112,000.

Other towns that are least affordable to average earners include Gerrards Cross and Esher, both located in the South East and within commutable distance to London.

With house price-to-earnings ratios in these areas topping even the most expensive London boroughs, homebuyers are paying a premium for quiet countryside locations, a stone’s throw from the capital.

Most affordable town in each region: 

Source: Zoopla

Furthermore, the list of most affordable towns in each region of the UK highlights the scale of the affordability pressures on potential homeowners in the South of England.

For instance, even in the most affordable towns in the South East and South West – Dover and Cinderford – a median-priced home still demands that prospective buyers can afford more than three and a half times their annual combined salary.

This ratio underscores the affordability challenge for those on single earner incomes in even the most competitively priced areas of Southern England. The cost of home ownership is also a key factor behind the rapid rise in rents across the country.

In London, there is a huge range in house price-to-earnings ratios. Tower Hamlets tops the list for affordability in the capital, with a price-to-earnings ratio of 4.97 reflecting higher incomes of those who live locally and a large supply of apartments in the local area.

However, the affordability of homes in Tower Hamlets is still four times worse than the most affordable areas of the UK like Shildon in the North East.

In line with general trends, the majority of the affordable boroughs in London are found in Outer London. However, three Inner London boroughs – Tower Hamlets, Southwark and Lambeth – are exceptions to this.

Whilst property prices in these areas are still relatively high, the area boasts above-average local earnings and a greater quantity of homes – largely dominated by flats. These factors combine to lower the house price-to-earnings ratio, bringing it more in line with Outer London boroughs.

Table 3: Most affordable London boroughs

Source: Zoopla

Richard Donnell, executive director at Zoopla, commented: “Our latest Affordable Towns research clearly highlights the wide gulf in the affordability of housing for home buyers across the UK and within regions. To have the most affordable town, Shildon in the North East, requiring barely more than one year’s local pay, contrasted against Beaconsfield where the cost is over 15 times average earnings, shows the challenges facing those looking to move home.

“Homes are most affordable across Scotland and the North East, but within these regions are pockets where affordability is a challenge. For those looking to buy in the South, there are areas which offer reasonably priced homes compared to local incomes, but there are large areas where homes are only affordable to those on higher incomes or with larger deposits.

“The affordability of home ownership and the cost of moving are big considerations for those planning their next move. The days of most people moving within five miles of where they live are over. We can see that a growing number of buyers are having to look further afield to find better value for money and they need the tools to make informed buying decisions.”