New data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) has revealed a seven-figure gap between the most and least affordable places to buy a home in the UK. The average house price now stands at £273,000 in 2026, up 0.9 percent on last year, with prices 6.7 times higher than average earnings.
While house price growth is slowing - down from 1.2 percent in July, 1.5 percent in June, 3.1 percent in May and 4.2 percent in April - the gap between the most and least affordable areas remains stark. Inverclyde in Scotland is the most affordable area, with average prices of £115,000, while Kensington and Chelsea in London is the least affordable, with average prices of £1.2 million.
Most affordable areas
Inverclyde, in Renfrewshire, Scotland, is the most affordable part of the country to buy a home. Average house prices there were £115,000 in the year to August, working out at around three times the local average earnings of £37,819 a year - the lowest house-price-to-earnings ratio in the country.
Aberdeen is the next most affordable place, with average house prices at 3.1 times local earnings. West Dunbartonshire and North Ayrshire follow at 3.3 times, with East Ayrshire at 3.5 times. Burnley is the most affordable place to buy in England, with average prices of £137,000 in the year to August, equivalent to 3.7 times local average earnings of £36,821.
The other most affordable areas include Renfrewshire (3.7), South Ayrshire (3.8), Hartlepool (3.8), North Lanarkshire (3.9), City of Dundee (3.9), Na h-Eileanan Siar (3.9), Hyndburn (3.9), Cumberland (4.0), Blaenau Gwent (4.0), Middlesbrough (4.0), County Durham (4.0), Darlington (4.1), Blackpool (4.1) and City of Kingston upon Hull (4.1).
Least affordable areas
London remains the least affordable part of the country, despite residents receiving the largest average pay packets. Kensington and Chelsea is the most expensive area, with average house prices of £1.2 million in the year to August. Average earners there took home £58,502 a year, meaning a mortgage would need to be 20.6 times their salary - the highest house-price-to-income ratio in the country.
Richmond upon Thames has the second-highest ratio at 14.5, followed by Camden at 13.8, the City of Westminster at 13.4 and Hammersmith and Fulham at 13.3. Outside London, the Surrey borough of Elmbridge has the highest ratio at 12.7, with average homes costing £736,000 against average earnings of £57,962 a year. Mole Valley follows at 12.6, while Trafford is the least affordable place in the North of England, with average prices of £394,000 and local earnings of £46,055 a year.
The other least affordable areas include Ealing (12.9), Haringey (12.7), Merton (12.7), Hounslow (12.5), Three Rivers (12.3), Brent (12.3), Hertsmere (12.2), Islington (12.0), Hackney (12.0), Barnet (12.0), Wandsworth (11.9), Kingston upon Thames (11.7) and Waverley (11.5).
