With the cost of living at an all time high, moving to one of the most affordable towns in the UK may be something worth considering. Zoopla’s latest annual report has shown the top UK towns where you’ll get the most for your pennies.

The UK’s most affordable town

Taking the top spot at number one, Shildon in County Durham has been crowned the UK’s most affordable town for the third consecutive year! The quaint town is just 13 miles outside of Durham, putting it in an attractive position for city commuters who are looking to escape the hustle and bustle.

With an average property price of just £71,000, and a price-to-earnings ratio of 1.1, this small town is driven by lower house prices with a dominance of terraced housing. If you’re looking to stretch your pennies and get more for your money, this is the place to consider.

Zoopla uncovered this research by analysing house price-to-earnings ratio based on a two-earner household on the average salary for the local area. Whilst Shildon was crowned the top spot, Cleator Moor in Copeland came in at second place. County Durham’s Ferryhill and Peterlee also made the top 10.

The Search for space

With many home-buyers still seeking out rural locations due to the pandemic-fuelled ‘search for space’, Scotland, Cumbria and Country Durham were recognised for their affordable property prices. Additionally, Zoopla found that Dorking, Surrey, was most improved and homemovers can expect to pay approximately £552K for a house.

For those seeking out the fresh sea air and beautiful coastal lines, Dawlish in Devon was also mentioned, where properties sit around the £279K mark.

Additional key findings from the report included:

• The average two-earner household will pay four times their combined anual income to buy a home of average value of £263k
• Brierley Hill in Dudley is the most affordable Birmingham suburb where the house price to earnings ration is 3:2 for an average house price of £194k
• In London, Barking and Dagenham and Bexley remain in the top two spots for affordability
• Unsuprisingly, Chelsea, Kensington and the City of Westminster retain the top spots for some of the most expensive London boroughs

Buyer affordability

Grainne Gilmore, Head of Research at Zoopla, says “The cost of living crisis has meant that affordability has been pushed to the forefront of buyers’ minds this year, more than ever.

“Our affordability data helps buyers to make informed decisions about where their money may go further across Britain, especially those who may have hidden equity in their home. Once again, we are seeing that many of the most affordable areas for potential home buyers are across Scotland and the North of England, which could be attractive to those still searching for the perfect post-pandemic family space”.

The top 10 for 2022

1. Shildon, County Durham – £71,000 average property price
2. Cleator Moor, Copeland – £105,700
3. Ferryhill, County Durham – £80,400
4. Stevenson, North Ayrshire – £88,800
5. Cumnock, East Ayrshire – £89,400
6. Peterlee, County Durham – £84,200
7. Egremont, Copeland – £120,900
8. Girvan, South Ayrshire – £105,000
9. Irvine, North Ayrshire – £102,100
10. Millom, Copeland – £131,500

Inspired to make a move to somewhere a little more affordable? Get in touch with us to find out how we can help take the stress and complications out of moving home, getting you into your new home in up to 8 weeks quicker.