Shildon in County Durham has been named the most affordable town in Britain for working families to buy a home in 2025, according to a Zoopla survey. The median property price in the town is £73,900, which equates to just over one year's average household earnings for a two-income household.
The North East dominates the list, with Peterlee ranking fifth (average price £85,900) and Ferryhill eighth (£92,500). Zoopla said Scotland and the North East of England lead the affordability rankings, highlighting a significant geographical divide in housing values across the UK.
At the other end of the scale, Beaconsfield in Buckinghamshire was identified as the least affordable town, with an average house price of more than £1 million – over 15 times average household earnings. Other expensive areas include Gerrards Cross and Esher, both in the South East.
Zoopla calculated that two earners buying a home nationally can expect to pay 4.4 times their combined annual earnings, slightly down from 4.5 times in 2024. The analysis covered postal towns with 5,000 or more homes.
Richard Donnell, executive director at Zoopla, said: 'Our latest affordable towns research clearly highlights the wide gulf in the affordability of housing for home buyers across the UK and within regions.' He noted that buyers are increasingly looking further afield for better value.
