Burnley has been named the UK's most affordable area for first-time buyers, with the average cost of a first-time buyer home at just £116,000, which is 63% below the UK average house price of £311,034, according to new research from Barratt Homes.
Top 10 Most Affordable Locations
County Durham follows in second place with an average house price of £125,000, and Hyndburn in third with first-time buyer homes priced at £127,000. The north west has the highest number of locations in the top 10 with four areas: Burnley, Hyndburn, Blackpool, and Pendle. The North East has three areas, Wales two, and Yorkshire one. No locations from the South or Midlands featured in the top 10.
Full List of Cheapest Areas
- 1. Burnley, North West – £116,000 (63% below UK average)
- 2. County Durham, North East – £125,000 (60% below)
- 3. Hyndburn, North West – £127,000 (59% below)
- 4. Hartlepool, North East – £130,000 (58% below)
- 5. Kingston upon Hull, Yorkshire and The Humber – £131,000 (58% below)
- 6. Blackpool, North West – £131,250 (58% below)
- 7. Blaenau Gwent, Wales – £132,500 (57% below)
- 8. Sunderland, North East – £134,000 (57% below)
- 9. Pendle, North West – £134,000 (57% below)
- 10. Merthyr Tydfil, Wales – £135,000 (57% below)
Methodology and Context
Barratt Homes created the first-time buyers report 2026 using the latest data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS), government housing reports, and a survey of 660 prospective UK first-time buyers. The average age of a first-time buyer in the UK is now 34, with solo buyers facing nearly a decade of saving to get on the property ladder.
