![\"Altrincham](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/3_GVs-of-Altrincham-town-centre.jpg\")
It is difficult for first-time buyers to save for a deposit in this part of the region(Image: Kenny Brown | Manchester Evening News)<\/p>\nIt would take 21 years for a solo first-time buyer to save for a 15 percent deposit on a house in this area<\/p>\n
17:14, 06 Oct 2025Updated 17:14, 06 Oct 2025<\/p>\n
It is difficult for first-time buyers to save for a deposit in this part of the region(Image: Kenny Brown | Manchester Evening News)<\/p>\n
A town in Greater Manchester has been named one of the UK’s most unaffordable areas for first-time buyers.<\/p>\n
It can be tricky to get a foot on the property <\/a>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 <\/a>in the area and the median salary.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n According to data from the UK Land Registry<\/a> and ONS median salary figures<\/a>, if the average property value in 2025 is \u00a3269,735 and the median salary is \u00a335,464, then a first-time buyer saving 10 percent of their annual income would need more than 11 years to save a 15 percent deposit.<\/p>\n Sign up to our Manchester property newsletter <\/strong>here<\/strong><\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n Some areas are especially difficult, where it could take decades to save for a deposit.<\/p>\n Windsor tops the list as the most unaffordable area, with a median salary of \u00a339,832 and an average house price of \u00a3586,184, meaning buyers face 22 years of saving.<\/p>\n Close behind is the affluent Altrincham<\/a> town, where the high average property price of \u00a3543,385 means it would take 21 years to save a 15 percent deposit.<\/p>\n Wilmslow<\/a>, a market town in Cheshire, follows close behind taking 20 years to save up a 15 percent deposit, with the average home costing \u00a3510,057.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n By comparison, even central London ranks slightly lower at 19 years, showing how these north west locations are among the UK\u2019s least accessible areas for first-time buyers.<\/p>\n The remainder of the top ten is dominated by locations in the South of England, where high property prices continue to outpace salaries.<\/p>\n UK’s top five most unaffordable areas for first-time buyers<\/p>\n Location<\/p>\n Average House Price<\/p>\n Deposit (15%)<\/p>\n Median Salary<\/p>\n Annual Saving (10%)<\/p>\n Years to Save<\/p>\n Windsor<\/p>\n \u00a3586,184<\/p>\n \u00a387,928<\/p>\n \u00a339,832<\/p>\n \u00a33,983<\/p>\n 22<\/p>\n Altrincham<\/p>\n \u00a3543,385<\/p>\n \u00a381,508<\/p>\n \u00a339,246<\/p>\n \u00a33,925<\/p>\n 21<\/p>\n Wilmslow<\/p>\n \u00a3510,057<\/p>\n \u00a376,509<\/p>\n \u00a337,473<\/p>\n \u00a33,747<\/p>\n 20<\/p>\n London (City)<\/p>\n \u00a3561,587<\/p>\n \u00a384,238<\/p>\n \u00a343,628<\/p>\n \u00a34,363<\/p>\n 19<\/p>\n North Berwick<\/p>\n \u00a3499,327<\/p>\n \u00a374,899<\/p>\n \u00a338,888<\/p>\n \u00a33,889<\/p>\n 19<\/p>\n Further north and east, property prices are easing but remain well above national averages.<\/p>\n In Stockport<\/a> and Macclesfield<\/a>, 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.<\/p>\n At the other end of the scale, Lancashire and Merseyside offer far more attainable routes to homeownership.<\/p>\n Blackpool is the region\u2019s most affordable area, where buyers could save a 15 percent deposit in just six years.<\/p>\n St Helens follows at seven years, while Liverpool, Bolton<\/a>, and Preston all fall below the national average of 11 years.<\/p>\n![\"Homes](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/4_GVs-of-Altrincham-town-centre.jpg\")
Altrincham has an average house price of \u00a3543,385 (Image: Kenny Brown | Manchester Evening News)<\/p>\n