An analysis by Sell House Fast has revealed the most underrated UK investment hotspots based on affordability, commuting convenience, crime rates, school ratings, quality of life, and local amenities.
| Rank | Town | Hub city | Car approx. commute time (mins) | Train approx. commute time (mins) | Average house price | Crime risk score /1,000 | Good/ Outstanding schools within five miles | Overall score /10 |
| 1 | Horsforth | Leeds | 29 | 26 | £328,259 | 556 | 74% | 7.05 |
| 2 | Rowley Regis | Birmingham | 41.5 | 21 | £206,009 | 620 | 90% | 6.96 |
| 3 | Sutton Coldfield | Birmingham | 33.5 | 24 | £394,443 | 475 | 72% | 6.39 |
| 4 | Chesterfield | Sheffield | 40.5 | 12 | £212,576 | 626 | 64% | 6.29 |
| 5 | Dronfield | Sheffield | 29 | 10 | £273,863 | 394 | 66% | 6.19 |
| 6 | Kenilworth | Birmingham | 47.5 | 100 | £449,304 | 379 | 70% | 6.12 |
| 7 | Newton-le-Willows | Liverpool/Manchester | 55 | 20 | £217,662 | 622 | 72% | 5.73 |
| 8 | Mossley | Manchester | 55 | 17 | £200,244 | N/A | 62% | 5.39 |
| 9 | Menston | Leeds | 47.5 | 21 | £364,003 | 456 | 66% | 5.37 |
| 10 | Stalybridge | Manchester | 50 | 12 | £240,631 | N/A | 63% | 5.35 |
- Horsforth claims the top spot with 7.05/10 thanks to fast commuting times and strong educational options, plus a vibrant local scene with 220+ coffee shops, bars, pubs, and restaurants within five miles.
- An average house price of £328,259 makes Horsforth more affordable than Leeds’ neighbourhoods like Roundhay (£435,245) and Bramhope (£537,503), with a median annual pay of £31,450.
- Rowley Regis, just west of Birmingham, is second with 6.96/10, offering a very accessible average house price of £206,009 – 23.2% cheaper than the national average and nearly half the price of Edgbaston (£388,665).
- Within five miles of Rowley Regis are 43 coffee shops, 114 bars and pubs, and 103 restaurants, and 90% of schools are rated Good or Outstanding by Ofsted. Median pay is £27,414 with a crime risk score of 620/1,000.
- In third place, Sutton Coldfield scores 6.39, with a 33.5-minute drive to Birmingham, 30 coffee shops, 54 pubs, and 103 restaurants, a median pay of £28,995, a lower crime risk (475/1,000), but a premium average house price of £394,443.
Further Insights:
- House prices in Salford, Greater Manchester, have climbed 96.4% since 2014, increasing from £113,010 to £221,910
- The UK’s cheapest underrated town to buy a home is Mossley in Manchester, where you’ll pay £200,509 – nearly 50% times less than Altrincham
- The cheapest place to buy in London is Brixton, with an average house price of £595,820, which is still more expensive than any of the properties based in Manchester or Birmingham.
- First-time buyers looking to buy in London dropped by 3.2% as of December 2025 vs the same period in 2024.
You can find the full findings here.
