Trafford has been identified as the least affordable borough in Greater Manchester for buying a home, with average house prices reaching £394,000 over the last 12 months, according to the latest Office for National Statistics (ONS) figures.
The average house price in the borough rose by 6.4 per cent compared with a year earlier, making it the most expensive borough in the county. Average full-time earnings in Trafford stand at £46,055 in 2026, also the highest in the county.
This means the average property costs 8.6 times the average earnings, giving Trafford the highest house-price-to-income ratio in Greater Manchester.
National comparison
Trafford is one of three Greater Manchester boroughs where the house-price-to-income ratio exceeds the national average. Across the UK, the average house price was £273,000 in the last 12 months, while average full-time earnings were £40,911 a year, resulting in house prices being 6.7 times the typical income.
Stockport is the next least affordable area in Greater Manchester, with average house prices of £319,000 over the last year and earnings of £41,289 in 2026, giving a ratio of 7.7.
In Manchester, the average house price was £257,000 and average earnings were £36,860, producing a ratio of 7.0.
Most affordable borough
Wigan is the most affordable place to buy a home in Greater Manchester, where average house prices worked out at 5.1 times the average earnings.
Here are the latest house prices in every Greater Manchester borough from highest to lowest, followed by the annual percentage change:
- Trafford: £394,000, annual change 6.4%
- Stockport: £319,000, annual change 3.9%
- Manchester: £257,000, annual change 2.1%
- Bury: £243,000, annual change 2.8%
- Oldham: £217,000, annual change 4.6%
- Rochdale: £211,000, annual change 3.3%
- Salford: £223,000, annual change -1.7%
- Tameside: £213,000, annual change 1.4%
- Bolton: £204,000, annual change 4.8%
- Wigan: £194,000, annual change 2.8%
The ONS data provides a basis for residents to assess how affordable house prices are in their local area compared with earnings.
