New research from Zoopla has identified the 10 most affordable places to purchase a home in the UK in 2025, and one region dominates the ranking.
The study calculated affordability using house price-to-earnings ratios for two-earner households, finding that, on average across the UK, these households can expect to pay approximately 4.4 times their combined annual income for a property — a slight improvement from 4.5 times in 2024.
However, affordability varies drastically by location.
Scotland dominates the list of the most affordable towns, claiming a remarkable seven of the ten spots, whilst the remaining three positions are secured by the North East of England — all of which are in County Durham.
The findings highlight an ongoing regional divide in housing affordability across the UK.
Where are the most affordable towns in the UK?
Shildon, County Durham, has once again secured its position as the most affordable town in the UK for working households.
Zoopla’s survey reports that the median average property price in Shildon stands at approximately £73,900, just over one year’s average household earnings for a dual-income family.
This makes homeownership highly reachable in the area for locals.
Two other County Durham towns, Peterlee and Ferryhill, also featured prominently in the rankings.
Peterlee ranked fifth with an average house price of £85,900, and Ferryhill came eighth at £92,500.
These figures underscore a pattern of relative affordability across parts of the North East, contrasting sharply with many southern English towns where prices are significantly higher.
Scotland claimed the rest of the top 10 spots, with Cumnock, in East Ayrshire, taking second place and Saltcoats, North Ayrshire, in third.
These two towns have average house prices of £83,700 and £96,500 respectively.
Richard Donnell, Executive Director at Zoopla, emphasised the wide disparities across the country.
He noted: ‘The affordability of home ownership and the cost of moving are big considerations for those planning their next move. The days of most people moving within five miles of where they live are over.
‘We can see that a growing number of buyers are having to look further afield to find better value for money.’
Donnell’s insight underscores a shifting dynamic where many prospective buyers are expanding their search beyond traditional local areas to find affordable housing, particularly as prices soar in London and the South East.
And the Zoopla survey aligns with wider national data exhibiting substantial regional variability.
The average UK house price was £271,531 in September 2025, marking an annual increase of 2.6%, according to the UK House Price Index.
ONS data shows that Northern cities such as Liverpool (£185,000) and Hull (£133,000) maintain lower median prices compared to southern cities.
London remains the most expensive property market in the UK, with average prices around £566,000.
Other affluent university cities in the South East, such as Cambridge and Oxford, also demand premiums, reinforcing affordability challenges for local residents.
But for many families in Scotland and parts of the North East, homeownership remains achievable thanks to more favourable house price-to-earnings ratios.
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