Shildon in County Durham has been identified as the most affordable town in Britain for families, according to research by property website Zoopla. The town, known as the world's first railway town, offers average house prices of £82,000, with typical monthly mortgage payments of just £325.
The analysis, based on the 300 most popular towns for families seeking three-bedroom homes, ranks Shildon top with a price-to-earnings ratio of 1.36. The North East dominates the list, with seven of the top ten most affordable towns located in the region.
Zoopla's executive director Richard Donnell highlighted the significant affordability gap across the UK, noting that homes in Shildon are three times cheaper than the most affordable towns in South East England. He advised buyers to consider trade-offs between lower house prices and proximity to employment centres.
Other affordable towns include Ferndale in Wales, with an average three-bed home costing £113,000, and Cumnock in Scotland, where the average value is £113,600. The research comes as the housing market enters the busy Easter season, with increased supply and buyer focus on value.
