Two-thirds are in Scotland, followed by North East – study
Across Britain, a typical home costs 4.3x annual household earnings, but Zoopla has now revealed 36 British towns where a typical home is worth less than twice the combined annual earnings of two local full-time workers, including one where it’s just 1.15x.
The company analysed 929 towns across Great Britain and found that a typical home is valued at £299,100, equivalent to 4.3 times annual household earnings (£69,600).
The research shows that Scotland dominates the list of towns where home values are less than twice local household earnings, accounting for 23 of the 36 towns. They include Fraserburgh, Irvine and Peterhead. The North East follows with eight, the North West with four and Wales with one.
North East most affordable region
Regionally, the North East is the most affordable, with homes valued at 2.64 times local household earnings, followed by Scotland (2.74), Yorkshire and the Humber (3.28), the North West (3.49) and Wales (3.53).
The three most affordable towns are in County Durham, where typical home values in Shildon (the most affordable in Great Britain), Ferryhill and Peterlee all fall below £100,000.
The top ten most affordable homes include three in the North East and six in Scotland.
London is the least affordable region, where a typical home costs £524,100, or 6.11 times earnings, followed by the South East, where a typical home is valued at £395,700, equivalent to 5.33 times annual household earnings. Dover is the South East’s most affordable location at 2.97 times household earnings, placing it 187th nationally.
Richard Donnell, executive director at Zoopla, said: “House prices have been rising more slowly than incomes, helping to improve housing affordability, but higher mortgage rates continue to offset some of these gains by increasing the monthly cost of buying a home.
“Affordability varies widely across the country, with many towns in northern England and Scotland offering much better value relative to local household earnings. However, lower house prices don’t always mean it’s easier to buy, as access to employment, deposits and mortgage costs remain important considerations.
“Buyers have more homes to choose from than a year ago, and there is greater scope to negotiate on price, particularly in southern England. Anyone considering a move should take a fresh look at what they can afford and what’s available locally. Expanding a search to neighbouring towns could make a meaningful difference to their buying options.”
Table 1: The most affordable town in each region
| Region | Most affordable town | Typical home value | Price-to-household earnings ratio |
| North East | Shildon | £73,600 | 1.15 |
| Scotland | Fraserburgh | £116,000 | 1.59 |
| North West | Workington | £114,900 | 1.65 |
| Wales | Ferndale | £116,200 | 1.82 |
| Yorkshire and the Humber | Kingston upon Hull | £131,400 | 2.16 |
| West Midlands | Stoke-on-Trent | £160,700 | 2.64 |
| East Midlands | Ilkeston | £192,100 | 2.70 |
| East of England | Great Yarmouth | £166,300 | 2.72 |
| South East | Dover | £206,300 | 2.97 |
| South West | Bideford | £224,700 | 3.35 |
| London* | Tower Hamlets | £455,200 | 4.91 |
Source: Zoopla 2026
Table 2: Britain’s ten most affordable towns
| Rank | Town | Region | Typical home value | Price-to- household earnings ratio |
| 1 | Shildon | North East | £73,600 | 1.15 |
| 2 | Ferryhill | North East | £91,500 | 1.43 |
| 3 | Peterlee | North East | £96,500 | 1.51 |
| 4 | Fraserburgh | Scotland | £116,000 | 1.59 |
| 5 | Irvine | Scotland | £114,800 | 1.62 |
| 6 | Peterhead | Scotland | £120,600 | 1.65 |
| = | Ardrossan | Scotland | £116,900 | 1.65 |
| = | Workington | North West | £114,900 | 1.65 |
| 9 | Methil | Scotland | £116,400 | 1.69 |
| = | Saltcoats | Scotland | £119,600 | 1.69 |
Source: Zoopla 2026
