{"id":351397,"date":"2025-08-17T10:25:19","date_gmt":"2025-08-17T10:25:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/351397\/"},"modified":"2025-08-17T10:25:19","modified_gmt":"2025-08-17T10:25:19","slug":"the-most-affordable-places-to-buy-a-home-in-great-britain","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/351397\/","title":{"rendered":"The most affordable places to buy a home in Great Britain"},"content":{"rendered":"<p class=\"Typography_sb-text-body-default-regular__Ijv90 p-article\" data-testid=\"typography-sb-text-body-default-regular\"><strong class=\"Typography_sb-text-body-default-regular__Ijv90 strong-article\" data-testid=\"typography-sb-text-body-default-regular\">A new report by Zoopla has highlighted the most affordable places to buy a home in Great Britain.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p class=\"Typography_sb-text-body-default-regular__Ijv90 p-article\" data-testid=\"typography-sb-text-body-default-regular\">The property portal combined regional earnings data and house prices, and discovered that four of the five most affordable areas are in Scotland.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p class=\"Typography_sb-text-body-default-regular__Ijv90 p-article\" data-testid=\"typography-sb-text-body-default-regular\">Read on to find out the most affordable town in your region, and for advice on what might happen to house prices in 2025.<\/p>\n<p>The most affordable towns in Great Britain<\/p>\n<p class=\"Typography_sb-text-body-default-regular__Ijv90 p-article\" data-testid=\"typography-sb-text-body-default-regular\">Cumnock in Scotland is Great Britain&#8217;s most affordable town, with average property prices just 1.1 times average household income in the area.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p class=\"Typography_sb-text-body-default-regular__Ijv90 p-article\" data-testid=\"typography-sb-text-body-default-regular\">Ayrshire, in the southwest of Scotland, is home to four of the five most affordable towns in Zoopla&#8217;s research: Cumnock, Girvan, Saltcoats, and Ardrossan.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Typography_sb-text-body-default-regular__Ijv90 p-article\" data-testid=\"typography-sb-text-body-default-regular\">Shildon in County Durham is the most affordable town in England, while Ferndale in the Rhondda Valley is the most affordable town in Wales.\u00a0<\/p>\n<ul class=\"Typography_sb-text-body-default-regular__Ijv90 ul-article\" data-testid=\"typography-sb-text-body-default-regular\">\n<li class=\"Typography_sb-text-body-default-regular__Ijv90 li-article\" data-testid=\"typography-sb-text-body-default-regular\"><strong class=\"Typography_sb-text-body-default-regular__Ijv90 strong-article\" data-testid=\"typography-sb-text-body-default-regular\"><strong class=\"Typography_sb-text-body-default-regular__Ijv90 strong-article\" data-testid=\"typography-sb-text-body-default-regular\">Find out more:\u00a0<\/strong><\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.which.co.uk\/money\/mortgages-and-property\/first-time-buyers\/buying-a-home\/finding-the-best-places-to-live-aLb820B94N7C\" class=\"Link_link__714JP Link_linkPrimary__FU1jh\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">how to find the best place to live<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>How affordability varies between regions<\/p>\n<p class=\"Typography_sb-text-body-default-regular__Ijv90 p-article\" data-testid=\"typography-sb-text-body-default-regular\">Overall, average house prices are 3.8 times the annual household income of people living in the area. Zoopla defines a household as two people earning the average full-time salary for the local area.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p class=\"Typography_sb-text-body-default-regular__Ijv90 p-article\" data-testid=\"typography-sb-text-body-default-regular\">Unsurprisingly, London was the most unaffordable region in Zoopla&#8217;s report, with house prices averaging 5.8 times household salary. Scotland and the North East were most affordable, at 2.1 and 2.2 times salary.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Typography_sb-text-body-default-regular__Ijv90 p-article\" data-testid=\"typography-sb-text-body-default-regular\">The table below shows the most affordable town or city in each region of Great Britain.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p><strong class=\"Typography_sb-text-body-default-regular__Ijv90 strong-article\" data-testid=\"typography-sb-text-body-default-regular\"><\/p>\n<p>Data from Zoopla. Average house value is based on Zoopla&#8217;s data. Only postal towns with 5,000 homes or more are taken into consideration.<\/p>\n<p><\/strong>London and the south of England<\/p>\n<p class=\"Typography_sb-text-body-default-regular__Ijv90 p-article\" data-testid=\"typography-sb-text-body-default-regular\">Zoopla&#8217;s research highlights the relationship between salaries and property prices.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Typography_sb-text-body-default-regular__Ijv90 p-article\" data-testid=\"typography-sb-text-body-default-regular\">Despite buyers in London and the South East having the highest earnings, purchasing a property is less affordable than in most places elsewhere in Britain.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p class=\"Typography_sb-text-body-default-regular__Ijv90 p-article\" data-testid=\"typography-sb-text-body-default-regular\">Zoopla found that 80% of towns in the south of England have average prices more than four times income.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p class=\"Typography_sb-text-body-default-regular__Ijv90 p-article\" data-testid=\"typography-sb-text-body-default-regular\">Wisbech in Cambridgeshire is the only town in the south of England with prices below three times income. Wisbeth, Great Yarmouth, Peterborough and Lowestoft are also among the most affordable towns.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p class=\"Typography_sb-text-body-default-regular__Ijv90 p-article\" data-testid=\"typography-sb-text-body-default-regular\">Croydon is the most affordable place in London, with a price ratio of 4.7. London&#8217;s high property prices mean buyers must look further afield to buy a home. Zoopla found 33 towns within an hour of London with lower price ratios than anywhere in the city.\u00a0<\/p>\n<ul class=\"Typography_sb-text-body-default-regular__Ijv90 ul-article\" data-testid=\"typography-sb-text-body-default-regular\">\n<li class=\"Typography_sb-text-body-default-regular__Ijv90 li-article\" data-testid=\"typography-sb-text-body-default-regular\"><strong class=\"Typography_sb-text-body-default-regular__Ijv90 strong-article\" data-testid=\"typography-sb-text-body-default-regular\"><strong class=\"Typography_sb-text-body-default-regular__Ijv90 strong-article\" data-testid=\"typography-sb-text-body-default-regular\">Find out more:\u00a0<\/strong><\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.which.co.uk\/money\/mortgages-and-property\/first-time-buyers\/buying-a-home\/buying-a-house-or-flat-in-london-aJLfe3p12JiA\" class=\"Link_link__714JP Link_linkPrimary__FU1jh\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">buying a house or flat in London<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>The single tax<\/p>\n<p class=\"Typography_sb-text-body-default-regular__Ijv90 p-article\" data-testid=\"typography-sb-text-body-default-regular\">The affordability ratios calculated by Zoopla are based on two full-time incomes per household. Consequently, affordability is much worse for single buyers.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Typography_sb-text-body-default-regular__Ijv90 p-article\" data-testid=\"typography-sb-text-body-default-regular\">Zoopla&#8217;s data shows single homebuyers can expect to spend an average of 7.6 times their annual income on a property.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Typography_sb-text-body-default-regular__Ijv90 p-article\" data-testid=\"typography-sb-text-body-default-regular\">This impacts a notable proportion of first-time buyers, with over 30% being single.<\/p>\n<ul class=\"Typography_sb-text-body-default-regular__Ijv90 ul-article\" data-testid=\"typography-sb-text-body-default-regular\">\n<li class=\"Typography_sb-text-body-default-regular__Ijv90 li-article\" data-testid=\"typography-sb-text-body-default-regular\"><strong class=\"Typography_sb-text-body-default-regular__Ijv90 strong-article\" data-testid=\"typography-sb-text-body-default-regular\">Find out more:\u00a0<\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.which.co.uk\/money\/mortgages-and-property\/first-time-buyers\/buying-a-home\/how-to-buy-a-house-a8zHm0a1JZsP\" class=\"Link_link__714JP Link_linkPrimary__FU1jh\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">how to buy a house<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>What will happen to house prices in 2025?<\/p>\n<p class=\"Typography_sb-text-body-default-regular__Ijv90 p-article\" data-testid=\"typography-sb-text-body-default-regular\">The average UK house price dipped in September, but annual price growth remains close to 3%.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Typography_sb-text-body-default-regular__Ijv90 p-article\" data-testid=\"typography-sb-text-body-default-regular\">London is the only region where house prices are declining year-on-year, albeit by just half a percent.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p class=\"Typography_sb-text-body-default-regular__Ijv90 p-article\" data-testid=\"typography-sb-text-body-default-regular\">Prices are rising most rapidly in the North East of England, Northern Ireland, and Scotland, with all three regions recording annual increases of over 5%.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Typography_sb-text-body-default-regular__Ijv90 p-article\" data-testid=\"typography-sb-text-body-default-regular\">The estate agency Hamptons forecasts house prices in Great Britain will rise by 3% next year, with the average house price passing \u00a3300,000.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Typography_sb-text-body-default-regular__Ijv90 p-article\" data-testid=\"typography-sb-text-body-default-regular\">Hamptons predicts that London will experience the strongest house price growth, with prices rising by 4.5%.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Typography_sb-text-body-default-regular__Ijv90 p-article\" data-testid=\"typography-sb-text-body-default-regular\">Aneisha Beveridge of Hamptons says: \u2018Changes to rate expectations remain the key risk to the housing market. But what seems more certain is that the London market is set to outperform the other regions next year as a new cycle begins.\u2019<\/p>\n<ul class=\"Typography_sb-text-body-default-regular__Ijv90 ul-article\" data-testid=\"typography-sb-text-body-default-regular\">\n<li class=\"Typography_sb-text-body-default-regular__Ijv90 li-article\" data-testid=\"typography-sb-text-body-default-regular\"><strong class=\"Typography_sb-text-body-default-regular__Ijv90 strong-article\" data-testid=\"typography-sb-text-body-default-regular\"><strong class=\"Typography_sb-text-body-default-regular__Ijv90 strong-article\" data-testid=\"typography-sb-text-body-default-regular\">Find out more:\u00a0<\/strong><\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.which.co.uk\/news\/article\/whats-happening-to-house-prices-aVCwI8I22pBe\" class=\"Link_link__714JP Link_linkPrimary__FU1jh\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">what&#8217;s happening to house prices<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Advice on buying a house<\/p>\n<p class=\"Typography_sb-text-body-default-regular__Ijv90 p-article\" data-testid=\"typography-sb-text-body-default-regular\">Whether you&#8217;re already <a href=\"https:\/\/www.which.co.uk\/money\/mortgages-and-property\/first-time-buyers\/buying-a-home\/house-viewing-checklist-aHBHE1l3AEb9\" class=\"Link_link__714JP Link_linkPrimary__FU1jh\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">viewing properties<\/a> or are in the process of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.which.co.uk\/money\/mortgages-and-property\/mortgages\/mortgages-and-deposits-the-basics\/how-to-save-for-a-mortgage-deposit-atlKF9x7zvLr\" class=\"Link_link__714JP Link_linkPrimary__FU1jh\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">saving for a deposit<\/a>, we\u2019re here to help.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Typography_sb-text-body-default-regular__Ijv90 p-article\" data-testid=\"typography-sb-text-body-default-regular\">If you\u2019re just starting and need guidance on the steps to take, check out our comprehensive guide on <a href=\"https:\/\/www.which.co.uk\/money\/mortgages-and-property\/first-time-buyers\/buying-a-home\/how-to-buy-a-house-a8zHm0a1JZsP\" class=\"Link_link__714JP Link_linkPrimary__FU1jh\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">buying a house<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Typography_sb-text-body-default-regular__Ijv90 p-article\" data-testid=\"typography-sb-text-body-default-regular\">For those looking for a mortgage, we&#8217;ve found the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.which.co.uk\/money\/mortgages-and-property\/mortgages\/best-mortgage-lenders-aDe4L2S0pzyM\" class=\"Link_link__714JP Link_linkPrimary__FU1jh\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">best mortgage lenders<\/a> and the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.which.co.uk\/money\/mortgages-and-property\/mortgages\/getting-a-mortgage\/finding-the-best-mortgage-deals-aLbQB2O2lDAz\" class=\"Link_link__714JP Link_linkPrimary__FU1jh\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">top mortgage rates<\/a>, which are updated regularly.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p class=\"Typography_sb-text-body-default-regular__Ijv90 p-article\" data-testid=\"typography-sb-text-body-default-regular\">We also have a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.which.co.uk\/money\/mortgages-and-property\/home-movers\/moving-house\/moving-house-checklist-aMppD6l8mlbQ\" class=\"Link_link__714JP Link_linkPrimary__FU1jh\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">moving house checklist<\/a>\u00a0to help you ensure nothing gets missed before the big move.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Typography_sb-text-body-default-regular__Ijv90 p-article\" data-testid=\"typography-sb-text-body-default-regular\">Which? Limited is registered in England and Wales to 2 Marylebone Road, London NW1 4DF, company number 00677665 \u00a0and is an Introducer Appointed Representative (FRN 610689) of the following:<\/p>\n<p class=\"Typography_sb-text-body-default-regular__Ijv90 p-article\" data-testid=\"typography-sb-text-body-default-regular\">1. Inspop.com Ltd for the introduction of non-investment motor, home, travel and pet insurance, who are authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) to provide advice and arrange non-investment motor, home, travel and pet insurance products (FRN310635). Inspop.com Ltd is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) to provide advice and arrange non-investment motor, home, travel and pet insurance products (FRN310635) and is registered in England and Wales to Greyfriars House, Greyfriars Road, Cardiff, South Wales, CF10 3AL, company number 03857130. Confused.com is a trading name of Inspop.com Ltd.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p class=\"Typography_sb-text-body-default-regular__Ijv90 p-article\" data-testid=\"typography-sb-text-body-default-regular\">2. LifeSearch Partners Limited (FRN656479), for the introduction of Pure Protection Contracts and Private Health Insurance, who are authorised and regulated by the FCA to provide advice and arrange Pure Protection Contracts and Private Health Insurance Contracts. \u00a0LifeSearch Partners Ltd is registered in England and Wales to 3000a Parkway, Whiteley, Hampshire, PO15 7FX, company number 03412386.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Typography_sb-text-body-default-regular__Ijv90 p-article\" data-testid=\"typography-sb-text-body-default-regular\">3. HUB Financial Solutions, for the introduction of equity release advice, who are authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (\u2018FCA\u2019) to provide advice and guidance on financial products for those who have retired or are approaching retirement (FCA Firm Reference Number: 455713). HUB Financial Solutions is registered in England and Wales to Enterprise House, Bancroft Road, Reigate, Surrey RH12 7RP, company number 05125701.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Typography_sb-text-body-default-regular__Ijv90 p-article\" data-testid=\"typography-sb-text-body-default-regular\">4. Alan Boswell Insurance Brokers Ltd (FRN 301), for the introduction of non-investment landlord insurances, who are authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority to provide advice and arrange insurance contracts. Alan Boswell insurance brokers Ltd is registered in England at Prospect House, Rouen Rd, Norwich NR1 1RE, company number 02591252.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Typography_sb-text-body-default-regular__Ijv90 p-article\" data-testid=\"typography-sb-text-body-default-regular\">Other financial services:<\/p>\n<p class=\"Typography_sb-text-body-default-regular__Ijv90 p-article\" data-testid=\"typography-sb-text-body-default-regular\">Mortgage service provided by London &amp; Country Mortgages (L&amp;C), Unit 26 (2.06), Newark Works, 2 Foundry Lane, Bath BA2 3GZ. London &amp; Country are authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (registered number: 143002). The FCA does not regulate most Buy to Let mortgages. Your home or property may be repossessed if you do not keep up repayments on your mortgage.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Typography_sb-text-body-default-regular__Ijv90 p-article\" data-testid=\"typography-sb-text-body-default-regular\">We do not make, nor do we seek to make, any recommendations or personalised advice on financial products or services that are regulated by the FCA, as we\u2019re not regulated or authorised by the FCA to advise you in this way. In some cases, however, we have included links to regulated brands or providers with whom we have a commercial relationship and, if you choose to, you can buy a product from our commercial partners.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p class=\"Typography_sb-text-body-default-regular__Ijv90 p-article\" data-testid=\"typography-sb-text-body-default-regular\">If you go ahead and buy a product using our link, we will receive a commission to help fund our not-for-profit mission and our campaigns work as a champion for the UK consumer. Please note that a link alone does not constitute an endorsement by Which?.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"A new report by Zoopla has highlighted the most affordable places to buy a home in Great Britain.&hellip;\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":351398,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[5018,3,4],"tags":[748,393,4884,6792,1144,712,16,15,1764],"class_list":{"0":"post-351397","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-britain","8":"category-uk","9":"category-united-kingdom","10":"tag-britain","11":"tag-england","12":"tag-great-britain","13":"tag-mortgages","14":"tag-northern-ireland","15":"tag-scotland","16":"tag-uk","17":"tag-united-kingdom","18":"tag-wales"},"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"https:\/\/pubeurope.com\/@uk\/115043626275798085","error":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/351397","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=351397"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/351397\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/351398"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=351397"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=351397"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=351397"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}