It would take 21 years for a solo first-time buyer to save for a 15 percent deposit on a house in this area
17:14, 06 Oct 2025Updated 17:14, 06 Oct 2025
It is difficult for first-time buyers to save for a deposit in this part of the region(Image: Kenny Brown | Manchester Evening News)
A town in Greater Manchester has been named one of the UK’s most unaffordable areas for first-time buyers.
It can be tricky to get a foot on the property ladder today due to the challenges of saving up for a deposit. The time it takes to save depends on two key factors – the average house price in the area and the median salary.
By comparing regional house prices with salaries and a realistic savings rate, new data analysis from Pepper Money has revealed the most unaffordable areas where first-time buyers are facing the biggest hurdles to save for a deposit.
According to data from the UK Land Registry and ONS median salary figures, if the average property value in 2025 is £269,735 and the median salary is £35,464, then a first-time buyer saving 10 percent of their annual income would need more than 11 years to save a 15 percent deposit.
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This widening gap between wages and house prices highlights just how challenging it has become for many to step onto the property ladder, even for disciplined savers.
Some areas are especially difficult, where it could take decades to save for a deposit.
Windsor tops the list as the most unaffordable area, with a median salary of £39,832 and an average house price of £586,184, meaning buyers face 22 years of saving.
Close behind is the affluent Altrincham town, where the high average property price of £543,385 means it would take 21 years to save a 15 percent deposit.
Altrincham has an average house price of £543,385 (Image: Kenny Brown | Manchester Evening News)
Wilmslow, a market town in Cheshire, follows close behind taking 20 years to save up a 15 percent deposit, with the average home costing £510,057.
Both towns now rank among the most expensive locations outside London, reflecting how these areas continue to attract high-earning professionals and push affordability further out of reach for locals.
By comparison, even central London ranks slightly lower at 19 years, showing how these north west locations are among the UK’s least accessible areas for first-time buyers.
The remainder of the top ten is dominated by locations in the South of England, where high property prices continue to outpace salaries.
UK’s top five most unaffordable areas for first-time buyers
Location
Average House Price
Deposit (15%)
Median Salary
Annual Saving (10%)
Years to Save
Windsor
£586,184
£87,928
£39,832
£3,983
22
Altrincham
£543,385
£81,508
£39,246
£3,925
21
Wilmslow
£510,057
£76,509
£37,473
£3,747
20
London (City)
£561,587
£84,238
£43,628
£4,363
19
North Berwick
£499,327
£74,899
£38,888
£3,889
19
Further north and east, property prices are easing but remain well above national averages.
In Stockport and Macclesfield, the average deposit could be reached in 12 years, whilst Manchester and Warrington sit near the regional average, both requiring around 10 years to save up a 15 percent deposit.
At the other end of the scale, Lancashire and Merseyside offer far more attainable routes to homeownership.
Blackpool is the region’s most affordable area, where buyers could save a 15 percent deposit in just six years.
St Helens follows at seven years, while Liverpool, Bolton, and Preston all fall below the national average of 11 years.
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