The most affordable locations to buy a home revealed

March 29, 2019

The latest data from the Office of National Statistics has revealed where the most affordable places to buy a home are in England and Wales based on the ratio of the average salary and the average property price.

The data shows that across England and Wales the affordability ratio has shown little change year on year with the average property costing 7.8 times the available wage in 2008.

However, while housing affordability remains a big issue, the diversity of the UK property market means that there are a whole host of areas where the gap is much smaller.

Copeland is currently the best place in England and Wales to get a foot on the ladder and with an affordability ratio of 2.5, it is just over three times cheaper than the national average and over 17 times more affordable than the worst area Kensington and Chelsea.

Barrow-in-Furness, Blaenau Gwent, Neath Port Talbot, Pendle, Merthyr Tydfil and Burnley are all also home to an affordability ratio where house prices are less than four times the average wage.

Knowsley, Derby and Hyndburn complete the top 10 more affordable areas in the UK where getting a foot on the ladder is concerned.

Founder and CEO of Springbok Properties, Shepherd Ncube, commented:

“Housing affordability is a very hot topic and, the consistent escalation of house prices coupled with the slower rate of wage growth, means that for many the aspirations of owning their own home continues to move further out of reach.

However, our property market is a diverse one and amongst the many layers that form it there are 140 pockets of affordability offering a below average house price to wage ratio.

Of course,  wider economic factors such as job availability have a part to play but this aside, these areas offer hope to those wishing to shed the shackles of the rental sector. By doing your homework, you can uncover hidden gems of property affordability dotted all over England and Wales.”

Most affordable areas to buy in England & Wales
Area
House price/wage affordability ratio
Copeland
2.5
Barrow-in-Furness
3.53
Blaenau Gwent
3.59
Neath Port Talbot
3.6
Pendle
3.65
Merthyr Tydfil
3.78
Burnley
3.99
Knowsley
4.11
Derby
4.26
Hyndburn
4.35
England and Wales
7.8

 

Properganda PR

National and local media coverage for property businesses. Journo quotes delivered in minutes.

You May Also Enjoy

Breaking News

City house prices soar

The latest research from Property DriveBuy reveals that house prices in UK cities are significantly outperforming both coastal and countryside locations, rising by an average of 3.4% over the past year, well ahead of the wider UK market which has seen growth of 2.5%. And while countryside homes have also seen a price increase, the…
Read More →
Breaking News

Buyers return to housing market

2026 starts in line with 2024 with buyer demand 9% down on last year’s strong start Buyers are returning to the housing market at the start of 2026 as confidence improves and mortgage rates fall, but a growing number of homes for sale is giving buyers more choice and reshaping market conditions, according to Zoopla’s…
Read More →
Breaking News

How will tenants be affected by the incoming Renters’ Rights Act?

On 28th October 2025, the Renters’ Rights Bill was passed into law, and it is now the Renters’ Rights Act. Changes to legislation resulting from this new Act will take effect from May 2026. This will affect landlords and how they let out their property, and it is worthwhile being aware of how it affects…
Read More →
Seaside Properties UK
Overseas Property

Gibraltar property values rise faster than UK

Gibraltar house prices rise faster than UK and London, despite market activity dropping 46% The latest market analysis by Enness Global has revealed that Gibraltar’s property market has seen stronger annual house price growth than both the UK and London, even as the number of transactions completing across the market has fallen sharply, creating a…
Read More →
Breaking News

Homes with fewer photos priced £80,000 lower

The latest research by London lettings and estate agent, Benham and Reeves, has revealed a stark disparity in asking prices depending on how extensively a property is marketed, with homes listed using four photos or fewer priced almost £80,000 lower on average than those benefiting from five or more images. Benham and Reeves analysed current…
Read More →
Breaking News

January market momentum builds

Analysis of the latest market data by eXp UK has revealed that the UK property market has picked up pace in January, with both new instruction volumes and the price of these new listings increasing when compared to the same period in previous years. eXp UK analysed the latest market data*, looking at both new…
Read More →