Zoopla crowns Glenrothes the most popular affordable town for families as one in three fear being priced out of their ideal area
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New Zoopla research pinpoints Glenrothes in Scotland, with an average three-bedroom home value of £136,900, as the most attractive option for families seeking affordability
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All of the towns in the top ten are located in Scotland and Wales, apart from Dartford and Swanley in the South East
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Three-bed homes in the most popular affordable towns were viewed twice as many times as the average three-bed home in their respective regions
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Affordability anxieties are gripping UK adults, as over a third (34 per cent) fear being priced out of their ideal family home location
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For the 40 per cent of those open to moving, the primary motivation is securing more space without increasing their budget, indicating a clear trade-off for affordability
New research from Zoopla has revealed that Glenrothes in east-central Scotland is the most popular affordable town in Great Britain for those looking to buy a family home, with Scotland and Wales home to the majority of the most popular affordable towns in the UK.
Situated in the heart of Fife, just one hour from Edinburgh, Glenrothes offers an easy-going pace of life, nestled amongst beautiful landscapes. Those hoping to buy in the area will need to pay an average of £5402 in monthly mortgage payments for a three-bedroom home, based on an average value of £136,900.
Table 1: Top ten most popular affordable towns for families in Great Britain
|
Town |
Region |
Average value of a 3-bed home |
Estimated earnings required (2 full-time earners) |
Estimated monthly mortgage payment (20% deposit) |
Q1 2025 Price to earnings ratio |
|
Glenrothes |
Scotland |
£136,900 |
£78,200 |
£540 |
1.8 |
|
Llanelli |
Wales |
£170,600 |
£75,800 |
£680 |
2.3 |
|
Neath |
Wales |
£176,400 |
£74,800 |
£700 |
2.4 |
|
Port Talbot |
Wales |
£160,300 |
£74,800 |
£640 |
2.1 |
|
Wishaw |
Scotland |
£168,600 |
£80,500 |
£670 |
2.1 |
|
Maesteg |
Wales |
£142,200 |
£71,400 |
£560 |
2.0 |
|
Dartford |
South East |
£423,600 |
£90,800 |
£1,680 |
4.7 |
|
Leven |
Scotland |
£164,600 |
£78,200 |
£650 |
2.1 |
|
Larkhall |
Scotland |
£177,600 |
£82,300 |
£700 |
2.2 |
|
Swanley |
South East |
£444,900 |
£95,100 |
£1,770 |
4.7 |
Source: Zoopla Research 2025
All of the towns in the top ten were located in Scotland and Wales, apart from Dartford and Swanley in the South East. 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.
Despite high property prices in some areas, there are affordable options for families hoping to buy a three-bed home in each region. Barking and Dagenham is the most popular affordable area in London. Families looking for a three-bed home will need to pay an average of £1,750 in monthly mortgage payments, based on an average value of £440,300.
Table 2: Most popular affordable towns for families by region
|
Town |
Region |
Average value of a 3-bed home |
Estimated earnings required (2 full-time earners) |
Estimated monthly mortgage payment (20% deposit) |
Q1 2025 Price to earnings ratio |
|
Sutton-in- Ashfield |
East Midlands |
£189,400 |
£67,100 |
£750 |
2.8 |
|
Tilbury |
Eastern England |
£347,800 |
£84,900 |
£1,380 |
4.1 |
|
Bedlington |
North East |
£154,800 |
£75,100 |
£610 |
2.1 |
|
Bootle |
North West |
£142,900 |
£76,400 |
£570 |
1.9 |
|
Glenrothes |
Scotland |
£136,900 |
£78,200 |
£540 |
1.8 |
|
Dartford |
South East |
£423,600 |
£90,800 |
£1,680 |
4.7 |
|
Plymouth |
South West |
£261,000 |
£70,100 |
£1,040 |
3.7 |
|
Llanelli |
Wales |
£170,600 |
£75,800 |
£680 |
2.3 |
|
Willenhall |
West Midlands |
£225,100 |
£68,100 |
£890 |
3.3 |
|
Dewsbury |
Yorkshire and the Humber |
£192,000 |
£71,300 |
£760 |
2.7 |
|
Barking and Dagenham |
London |
£440,300 |
£79,400 |
£1,750 |
5.5 |
Source: Zoopla Research 2025
Bootle has been identified as the most popular affordable town in the North West, with three-bed homes valued at half the national average at £142,900. This affordability, combined with access to great transport connections to nearby Liverpool, makes it an attractive place for families in the area.
Interestingly, buyer interest, as measured by listing views, was twice as high for three-bedroom homes in the most popular affordable towns compared to the regional average for similar properties. This heightened popularity underscores the appeal of these more budget-friendly locations for families
A third of UK adults fear being priced out of their ideal area
Affordability anxieties are gripping UK adults, with a separate survey3 undertaken by Zoopla revealing that over a third (34 per cent) are not confident they can afford their ideal family home location. Whilst mortgage rates have declined recently, they remain higher than pre-2022 levels, with the average monthly payment for a £304,600 three-bed home currently sitting at £1,210. This is at odds with those surveyed who said that they felt £870 was a reasonable mortgage payment.
Those who were willing to move from their ideal location to afford a family home said they would only be willing to move an average of 41 minutes away. This reduced to just 35 minutes in the North East, with those in the West Midlands most willing to move the furthest away (45 minutes). Of those surveyed, 37 per cent said they would be happy to move to an entirely new region in the UK to purchase a more affordable family home.
A resolute two in five declared they were simply unwilling to move from their ideal location, with nearly half (49 per cent) citing a deep-rooted love for their area as the unbreakable tie that binds them to their current home. For those open to moving, the driving factors are clear. Significantly, 41 per cent said they require more space without breaking the bank, while a fifth said they are eager to finally step onto the property ladder and leave renting behind. Interestingly, a third of Brits said they were willing to compromise on the number of bedrooms to secure a home in a better neighbourhood for their family, highlighting the importance of location and lifestyle.
Richard Donnell, Executive Director at Zoopla, comments: “This latest analysis paints a clear picture of a market where affordability remains a critical factor for families planning their next home move. 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.
“Zoopla has invested in developing a range of tools and insights to help motivated movers track the value of their homes, plan their move and search for homes using keywords that cover property features”
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