Burnley has been identified as the most affordable English town for single-income homebuyers, according to property specialists Sell House Fast. The research, which examined towns and cities throughout England using the House Price Index and Forbes figures, found that a maximum home budget of £13,388 above the average property price gives the town the greatest financial buffer.
Affordability headroom across England
The company weighed up median wages, average property prices, required deposits, mortgage amounts and maximum home budgets to arrive at an "affordability headroom" figure. With the national average yearly wage at £39,312 and the average house price in England standing at £272,622, mortgage repayments can seem unmanageable without external assistance.
Burnley's average house price is £135,012, and even accounting for the lower median salary of £29,680, it offers the most significant financial headroom. Three North East locations followed - Middlesbrough, County Durham and Hartlepool - then Hyndburn and Blackpool, both in Lancashire, with Hull, East Yorkshire rounding off the list.
Residents speak positively about their towns
Jack Malnick, Managing Director at Sell House Fast, said: "Buying a home on a single salary can feel like a major financial challenge, but it remains achievable for many buyers with the right location and a realistic budget. For those looking to get onto the property ladder alone, understanding where their income goes furthest can make all the difference."
Residents of some of these towns speak positively about their areas - though not everyone was eager to spread the word. One Reddit user, when asked about Burnley, commented: "I've lived in/near Burnley all my life. If you like your countryside, lots of good walks, nice parks and friendly people (yes, honestly) then I say go for it. The central town areas can be a bit iffy, but if you live on the outskirts where there's nice pubs, restaurants, you're set."
Another resident commented: "My mum lives in Ightenhill it's a nice area. There are obviously some really high levels of deprivation in Burnley and the town centre isn't the best but there's a really good life to be had here. There are lots of nice parks and walks in the country."
Quality of life in Hartlepool and Hull
A Hartlepool resident said her home town was a "best kept secret". She said: "I live five minutes walk from a beautiful beach at Seaton Carew, 20 minutes drive from the moors and gorgeous countryside and am on a major road and public transport routes if I want to go elsewhere."
And one Hull resident commented on Facebook: "I am not from Hull and have lived in many places over my time, including some places people only dream about visiting. I now live in Hull and all the negativity is undeserved, all cities have there challenges Hull included but!!! I live walking distance from the city centre, the old town is lovely, the marina is gorgeous, queens gardens, east park, Humber park, that's only a few places I have visited, way much more to discover but I believe I will live here for a very long time now and couldn't be happier about my surroundings. Not even mentioned how friendly the people are."
