A County Durham town has been crowned Britain's most affordable location for working families to purchase a property in 2025, according to new research from property portal Zoopla.
The North-South Housing Divide
Shildon, celebrated for its rich railway heritage and Locomotion museum, emerged as the nation's affordability champion with median property values requiring just over one year's average household earnings for a two-income family. Homebuyers in this Durham town can typically expect to pay £73,900 for a property.
The study, which analysed postal towns containing 5,000 homes or more, revealed a stark geographical divide across Britain's housing market. Scotland and the North East of England dominate the list of most affordable areas, while southern commuter towns represent the least affordable locations.
Affordability Calculations and Market Trends
Zoopla's affordability calculations are based on house price-to-earnings ratios, comparing average property values against full-time local earnings for two-earner households. Richard Donnell, executive director at Zoopla, commented on the significant disparities uncovered by the research.
"Our latest affordable towns research clearly highlights the wide gulf in the affordability of housing for home buyers across the UK and within regions," Donnell stated. "To have the most affordable town, Shildon in the North East, requiring barely more than one year's local pay, contrasted against Beaconsfield where the cost is over 15 times average earnings, shows the challenges facing those looking to move home."
Nationally, two earners looking to purchase a property can still expect to pay 4.4 times their average combined annual earnings, representing a slight improvement from 4.5 times recorded in 2024.
Most and Least Affordable Locations
The research identified Beaconsfield in Buckinghamshire as Britain's least affordable town, where average house prices exceed £1 million – costing more than 15 times average household earnings. Other southern towns including Gerrards Cross and Esher, both popular with London commuters, also featured prominently among the least affordable locations.
Donnell noted the changing patterns in buyer behaviour driven by affordability constraints: "The days of most people moving within five miles of where they live are over. We can see that a growing number of buyers are having to look further afield to find better value for money and they need the tools to make informed buying decisions."
The timing of this research comes as the UK housing market shows signs of adjustment following recent stamp duty changes, with Zoopla noting the market is 'struggling' in the aftermath.
Shildon's recognition as an affordability hotspot coincides with renewed interest in the town's historical significance. In September, hundreds of steam enthusiasts witnessed a newly restored replica of Locomotion No.1 re-enact the birth of the railways exactly 200 years after the original event.
