England’s most affordable city where the average house costs just £118,500

Getting on the property ladder these days is no easy task.

According to new statistics, the median home in England is now 7.6 times the standard yearly wage packet, which is £39,300, at £300,000.

However, if you know where to look, there are pockets of affordability, as ONS’ latest figures on housing affordability found that the cheapest areas in 2025 were Hyndburn in Lancashire and Hull in East Yorkshire.

Both had an affordability ratio of 4.1, while in Hull City Centre specifically, the average house price was £118,500 across 2025 – markedly cheaper than the situation across the rest of England (to the tune of £181,500).

At the other end of the spectrum, the least affordable area was – no surprise – Kensington and Chelsea, where the median home costs 25.2 times the standard earnings.

Meanwhile, up in the North East, the average-priced home was fivefold the average earnings, which couldn’t be further from the situation in London, where the affordability ratio rests at 10.5.

Thinking about relocating to Hull specifically? Here’s everything you need to know…

What do locals love about Hull?

For decades, Hullians have been fighting against the somewhat unjust opinions other people have formed about their city.

It was previously named one of the ‘worst’ cities in the UK, as well as the UK’s first ‘c**p town’ (by a 2003 guide, fittingly called C**p Towns: The 50 Worst Places to Live in the UK), labels which have both been staunchly rejected by locals.

However, they’ve since turned things around.

In 2017, Kingston-upon-Hull (more commonly known as Hull) was named the UK’s City of Culture, applauded for its maritime history and its role in nurturing the likes of Philip Larkin.

Fast forward to 2026, and Hull’s legacy has become even greater, as National Geographic named it one of the world’s top travel destinations, alongside Vancouver, Beijing, and Uluru.

Lynn Carratt grew up in Hull, and her parents were born and bred there. She describes her home as a city with a ‘deep’ and ‘often underestimated’ history and an ‘unfair reputation’.

She tells Metro: ‘I’m proud of where I’m from. I love Hull because it doesn’t pretend to be anything it’s not. There’s an honesty to it – and a creativity that doesn’t shout.

‘Artists, musicians, writers and makers quietly getting on with things. Without Hull, we wouldn’t have Paul Heaton or Fatboy Slim, who cut his teeth in The Housemartins.

‘It gets an unfair reputation, often built on outdated stereotypes and lazy punchlines. What gets missed is the humour, the warmth, and the fierce loyalty people have to their city.’

In her view, the standout feature of Hull has always been the people, who she describes as ‘warm, funny, straight-talking, and completely without airs or graces.’

She continues: ‘It was a genuinely friendly place to grow up, where community mattered.

‘We even have a language of our own – something I didn’t realise until I moved away. Where else do you walk down a “tenfoot” (an alleyway), get a “croogie” on the back of someone’s bike, or order a “pattie” without explanation?

‘Mashed potato, parsley and sage, battered and fried – and yes, eat chips with chip spice. I was genuinely shocked when I discovered you couldn’t get those everywhere.’

Things to do in Hull

If you’re heading to Hull, you’ll want to check out the HU1 area, known as the heart of the city.

This postcode area encompasses the city centre, Old Town and Albert Dock. Last year, it was actually named the coolest in the UK, just so you know.

It’s home to The Deep, an award-winning aquarium and the city’s biggest tourist attraction. Visitors can explore its vast array of marine life, walk through an underwater tunnel, or relax in its café.

For history lovers, the city’s Streetlife Museum of Transport offers an impressive collection of vintage vehicles spanning a 200-year history. It’s located in the city’s old town, where you’ll discover cobbled streets and Stuart and Georgian architecture.

Meanwhile, the Ferens Art Gallery and The Humber Street Gallery are a must for those looking to soak up some culture.

Other attractions include Hull Minster, East Park, the Marina, Wilberforce House Museum, plus various theatres and plenty of shops.

You can also find plenty of traditional pubs in the centre, such as Ye Olde White Harte, which was built in 1550. The historic pub is famous for its Plotting Parlour, a small, hidden room where royalists are believed to have met during the English Civil War.

There’s also the Paragon Arcade, named on TikTok as the ‘coolest’ place for food in HU1. Enjoy Asian street food at Salt And Pepper Club or brunch at Milchig. Whatever you fancy, you’re bound to find something.

A version of this article was first published on December 29, 2025.

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