Dartford, in Kent, has been named the UK's commuter hotspot for first-time buyers in new analysis by house buying specialist HouseBuyers4u. The research compared first-time buyer mortgage sales with total housing stock in local authorities across the UK to identify areas where first-time buyers made the greatest share of property purchases.
In Dartford, there were 965 first-time buyer mortgage sales in 2024, equivalent to 19.36 first-time buyer sales per 1,000 dwellings – the highest of anywhere in Britain.
Affordability and transport links drive demand
Dartford, on Kent's Greater London border, is a half-hour train ride away from central London, offering substantially cheaper property prices. The average first-time buyer will pay £306,000 for a home in Dartford, compared to £472,000 in the capital, according to the latest ONS figures. This figure is still slightly higher than the national average, at £245,000, and it has also increased by 4 per cent on last year, at £294,000.
Dartford is the centre of a multi-million-pound regeneration project, which includes plans to build more than 12,000 new homes. In 2024, it was ranked as the second-fastest growing borough in England.
Commuter belt outperforms London
This research reflects the enduring attraction of London's commuter belt, offering greater affordability and space. Research published this month by UK Property Development found that the demand for new-build homes is greater in the commuter belt than in the capital. In London, just 8.8 per cent of new-build stock has been sold subject to contract, compared to 27.6 per cent in Essex, 23.7 per cent in Hertfordshire, 21.2 per cent in Surrey and 18.3 per cent in Kent.
"The contrast between London and its commuter belt is becoming increasingly apparent," says Andy Morrison, director of UK Property Development. "While demand for new-build homes within the capital remains relatively subdued, buyers are showing a much stronger appetite for locations that offer greater value for money and more living space. Many purchasers are prioritising larger homes, access to green space, strong local amenities and a greater sense of community, whilst still retaining the ability to commute into London when required. As a result, commuter towns are proving particularly attractive."
Other hotspots across the UK
After Dartford, the area with the highest proportion of first-time buyers was Nuneaton and Bedworth in Warwickshire, with 16.86 first-time buyer sales per 1,000 dwellings. Wandsworth was in third place, with 2,598 first-time buyer transactions and 16.52 sales per 1,000 properties, despite higher house prices. The average price paid by a first-time buyer in the affluent south-west London borough is £575,000 – almost twice the national average.
In fact, three of the top 10 first-time buyer hotspots were in London, with Waltham Forest in tenth place. The east London borough had 1,689 first-time buyer mortgage sales, with 15.17 sales per 1,000 properties.
"Areas with strong levels of first-time buyer activity often offer a combination of affordability, good transport connections and access to employment opportunities, making them attractive places to get onto the property ladder," said HouseBuyers4u property expert Paul Gibbens. "What stands out is how strongly certain commuter belt areas like Dartford and Bracknell Forest perform compared to inner London boroughs. It suggests that first-time buyers are increasingly prioritising affordability and transport links over proximity to city centres."
