Property portal Rightmove has unveiled its definitive list of the 25 towns that experienced the most significant house price increases throughout 2025. The data, which analyses asking prices, buyer demand, and supply levels, highlights a clear trend towards growth in more affordable regions of the United Kingdom.
Affordability Drives Market Momentum
The comprehensive report underscores that lower-priced areas featured prominently in the rankings. The average asking price for a property across the top 50 growth locations stood at £270,711. This figure is a substantial 26% lower, or nearly £100,000 less, than the national average asking price of £368,031 recorded at the end of the year.
Colleen Babcock, a property expert at Rightmove, commented on this dynamic. "There is typically a larger pool of buyers who are looking to move within more affordable price brackets," she explained. "Therefore, locations with more homes that fall under the average asking price can see more demand from buyers, and that underpins house price growth in those areas."
Regional Leaders and Notable Absences
Scotland emerged as the most represented region within the top 50, boasting 12 locations. This was followed by the North West of England and Yorkshire & The Humber, each with eight areas featured. In stark contrast, London, where the current average asking price is £679,782, did not appear in the top 50 for price growth during 2025.
Rightmove identified several key factors influencing this shift. Affordability remained a primary driver, coupled with the enduring popularity of suburbs that offer easy access to city centres, as many businesses continue to encourage more frequent office attendance. The portal also noted a trend towards locations in proximity to universities or major NHS trusts.
Top Performers of 2025
Leading the list was Hawick in Roxburghshire, located in the Scottish Borders. The town saw the average asking price for a home surge by an impressive 18%, reaching £148,633.
Securing second place was Durham, where average asking prices rose by 15% to £251,339. This was closely followed by Stannington in Sheffield, which recorded a 12% increase, pushing average asking prices to £264,078.
The national picture showed a slight overall adjustment, with average asking prices at the end of 2025 being 0.6% lower than at the close of 2024.
Rightmove's 2025 Price Hotspots
The full list of the top 25 towns, detailing average asking prices and year-on-year growth, is as follows:
- Hawick, Roxburghshire - £148,633 (18% growth)
- Durham, County Durham - £251,339 (15% growth)
- Stannington, Sheffield - £264,078 (12% growth)
- Anfield, Liverpool - £132,178 (11% growth)
- Benton, Newcastle Upon Tyne - £231,693 (11% growth)
- Johnstone, Renfrewshire - £156,107 (11% growth)
- Anlaby, Hull - £256,305 (10% growth)
- Saffron Walden, Essex - £523,787 (10% growth)
- Seacroft, Leeds - £218,893 (9% growth)
- Orkney, Orkney Islands - £215,546 (9% growth)
- Rutherglen, Glasgow - £172,537 (9% growth)
- Flitwick, Bedford - £429,287 (9% growth)
- Allestree, Derby - £309,115 (9% growth)
- Clydebank, Dunbartonshire - £134,907 (9% growth)
- Whitchurch, Shropshire - £293,108 (9% growth)
- Nelson, Lancashire - £144,562 (9% growth)
- North Berwick, East Lothian - £474,298 (8% growth)
- Droylsden, Greater Manchester - £232,156 (8% growth)
- Beeston, Leeds - £162,600 (8% growth)
- Broadgreen, Liverpool - £202,201 (8% growth)
- Glenrothes, Fife - £154,549 (8% growth)
- Stoke, Plymouth - £200,397 (8% growth)
- Darwen, Lancashire - £188,276 (8% growth)
- Barrhead, Glasgow - £177,791 (8% growth)
- Rugeley, Staffordshire - £295,862 (8% growth)
This detailed analysis from Rightmove provides a clear snapshot of a UK property market where value and accessibility are increasingly dictating the pace of growth, moving the spotlight away from traditional high-value centres.
