Business · Economy · 2 hrs ago
Some British towns offer homes for less than two years’ household earnings
Zoopla analysed 929 towns across Britain to compare home prices with household earnings.
Across those towns, the average home cost 4.3 times annual household earnings.
Some places were much more affordable, with homes costing less than two years of household earnings.
The comparison focuses on how home prices relate to what households earn.
It highlights that affordability varies widely between towns.
The analysis does not name the towns or give further details about what happens next.
Zoopla identified 36 British towns where typical homes cost less than twice the annual earnings of two full-time workers in a household.
Shildon in County Durham was the most affordable, with homes averaging £73,600, or 1.15 times those earnings.
Scotland accounted for 23 of the 36 towns, while the North East of England accounted for eight.
Across the 929 towns analysed, a typical home was valued at £299,100, or 4.3 times annual household earnings.
Zoopla said higher mortgage rates continue to add to the monthly cost of buying a home.
- Who
- Zoopla conducted the research.
- What
- It identified 36 towns where typical homes cost less than twice the annual earnings of two full-time workers in a household.
- When
- The research was reported on November 6, 2026.
- Where
- Across Britain.
- Why
- To assess how home prices compare with household earnings. The sources do not state a further reason.
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- Towns below 2 times earnings
- 36
- Most affordable town
- Shildon, County Durham
- Shildon average home value
- £73,600
- Shildon price-to-income ratio
- 1.15
- Towns analysed
- 929
- Britain-wide average home value
- £299,100
2 sources
What people are saying
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.
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.