Zoopla has released a list of the most affordable towns in Great Britain
A general view of homes in Neath(Image: WalesOnline/Rob Browne)
Two towns within a 90-minute commute of Bristol are among the UK’s cheapest property hotspots for families.
Zoopla has revealed a list of the most affordable towns for house-buyers looking for a family home in popular locations.
The data, published today (May 8), compared the average price of three-bedroom homes to average earnings in the local authority, to rank affordability.
Experts at the property site also crunched data measuring popularity, based on the average number of Zoopla listing views for a typical three-bedroom home in each area.
Its final list of the 10 ‘most popular affordable towns for families’ was almost exclusively made up of locations in Scotland and Wales.
The closest location to Bristol was Port Talbot, an hour and 20 minute drive away. With an average three-bedroom house costing £160,300, it came in at number four on the list.
The seaside town’s future has been uncertain since Tata Steel announced the closure of the plant’s blast furnaces last year, bringing an end to a rich history of traditional steelmaking.
Outside of its links to the steel industry, other draws for house-hunters include its proximity to stunning scenery, its expanse of golden sandy beach and the friendly community feel.
Just a 10-minute drive away, the Welsh market town of Neath ranked even higher at number three on Zoopla’s list, although house prices there were slightly more expensive at £176,400 for a three-bed.
A recent feature in WalesOnline described the General Market as the beating heart of Neath, and also highlighted the local council’s multi-million pound re-development of the historic town centre.
Glenrothes in east-central Scotland came top as the most popular affordable town in Great Britain for those looking to buy a family home, according to Zoopla.
A three-bedroom home there has an average value of £136,900, commanding £540 in monthly mortgage payments.
In England, only Dartford and Swanley in the South East made the top 10. Families looking for a three-bed home in Dartford will need to pay an average of £1,680 in monthly mortgage payments, based on an average value of £423,600.
In the South West, Plymouth was named the most popular affordable town, with the average three-bedroom home valued at £261,000.
That figure would put mortgage repayments at £1,040 a month, requiring a joint income of £70,100 from two homeowners, according to Zoopla.
Richard Donnell, executive director at Zoopla, said: “Our analysis identified the most affordable areas for families seeking value for money. What’s particularly telling is the level of buyer interest these towns are attracting; three-bedroom homes in the most popular affordable locations are seeing twice the amount of listing views compared to the regional average.
“This heightened popularity, coupled with the significant portion of would-be buyers expressing concerns about being priced out of housing, underscores the ongoing challenges facing movers and the clear appetite for value. The willingness of many to consider different regions or compromise on property features further highlights the adaptive strategies families are employing in today’s market.
“Ultimately, understanding these regional dynamics and the intensity of demand in affordable areas is crucial for both those looking to move and the agents supporting them in this evolving landscape.”