These are Britain’s most and least affordable towns to buy a home in this year
Shildon in County Durham has been named the most affordable town in England for working families to buy a home in 2025.
A study by Zoopla found that average property values here amount to just over the average annual household earnings of a two-income family.
Homebuyers in Shildon, famous for its strong railway heritage and Locomotion museum, can generally expect to pay £73,900.
The town, located near Darlington, Bishop Auckland and Barnard Castle, has recently celebrated its historical significance.
In September, hundreds of steam enthusiasts watched as a newly restored replica of Locomotion No. 1 re-enacted the birth of railways 200 years ago.
Zoopla noted that Scotland and North East England dominate the list of the most affordable cities, highlighting “a significant geographical divide in housing value for homebuyers”.
Affordability calculations are based on home price-to-earnings ratios.
Zoopla compared median house values and based affordability calculations on the full-time local earnings of a two-income household.
Beaconsfield in Buckinghamshire has been identified as the lowest priced town, with the average house price being over £1 million (costing more than 15 times the average household earnings).
Postal towns with 5,000 or more houses were analyzed.
Zoopla said that, on average, two-income earners looking to buy a home could expect to pay 4.4 times their average total annual earnings, slightly down from 4.5 times in 2024.
Other towns least affordable for those on average incomes include Gerrards Cross and Esher, both in the South East of England and popular with London commuters, indicating the “premium” paid for countryside locations close to the city, the report said.
Richard Donnell, chief executive of Zoopla, said: “Our latest affordable towns research clearly reveals the wide gap in housing affordability for homebuyers across the UK and regions.
“To have the most affordable town in the North East, Shildon requires little more than a year’s local salary and contrasts with Beaconsfield, where the cost is more than 15 times average earnings, illustrating the challenges faced by those looking to move home.
“Homes are most affordable in Scotland and the North East, but there are also places in these areas where it is difficult to buy.
“For those looking to buy in the South, there are areas that offer affordable homes relative to local incomes, but there are also large areas where homes are only affordable to those with higher incomes or larger deposits.
“The affordability of home ownership and the cost of moving are important 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 an increasing number of buyers are having to look further afield to get better value for money, and they need tools to make informed buying decisions.”
The most affordable cities
The top 10 most affordable towns in Zoopla’s research are followed by median average house value, followed by estimated annual household income and house value-to-earnings ratio:
1. Shildon, North East, £73,800, £60,300, 1.23
2. Cumnock, East Ayrshire, Scotland, £83,700, £67,200, 1.5
3. Saltcoats, North Ayrshire, Scotland, £96,500, £70,400, 1.37
4. Ardrossan, North Ayrshire, Scotland, £100,050, £70,400, 1.42
5. Peterlee, North East, £85,900, £60,300, 1.42
6. Irvine, North Ayrshire, Scotland, £101,100, £70,400, 1.44
7. Kilwinning, North Ayrshire, Scotland, £102,600, £70,400, 1.46
8. Ferryhill, North East, £92,500, £60,300, 1.53
9. Girvan, South Ayrshire, Scotland, £107,300, £69,000, 1.56
10. Clydebank, West Dunbartonshire, Scotland, £105,800, £64,900, 1.63
cheapest cities
The least affordable locations in Zoopla’s research are: Median average house value followed by estimated annual household income and house value/earnings ratio:
1. Beaconsfield, South East, £1,112,000, £72,900, 15.25
2. Gerrards Cross, South East, £977,900, £72,900, 13.41
3. Esher, South East, £1,130,700, £86,500, 13.08
4. Radlett, East of England, £891,950, £73,400, 12.15
5. Cobham, South East, £1,039,400, £86,500, 12.02
6. Ashtead, South East, £816,200, £71,700, 11.38
7. Welwyn (village near Welwyn Garden City), East England, £829,150, £76,700, 10.81
8. Amersham, South East, £752,450, £72,900, 10.32
9. Marlow, South East, £750,950, £72,900, 10.3
10. Great Missenden, South East, £743,050, £72,900, 10.19
Most affordable towns in regions or countries
According to Zoopla, the most affordable towns in the region or country, by median house value followed by estimated annual household income and house price-to-earnings ratio, are:
North East, Shildon, £73,900, £60,300, 1.23
Scotland, Cumnock, £83,700, £67,200, 1.25
Wales, Ferndale, £105,300, £60,500, 1.74
North West, Workington, £123,300, £68,700, 1.8
Yorkshire and Humber, Mexborough, £152,000, £63,200, 2.41
East Midlands, Gainsborough, £171,600, £62,400, 2.75
West Midlands, Newcastle-Under-Lyme, £182,200, £63,300, 2.88
South West, Cinderford, £253,800, £74,300, 3.42
South East, Dover, £242,500, £68,400, 3.55
East of England, Great Yarmouth, £210,300, £58,500, 3.6
London, Tower Hamlets, £455,400, £91,700, 4.97
