Scotland and Wales host the most affordable and popular towns for families, according to new research from Zoopla.
Zoopla has ranked British towns based on the average value of a three-bedroom home, estimated earrings required — based on two full time earners — and the estimated monthly mortgage payments.
Using this data, Zoopla has calculated a price to earnings ratio for each location.
Glenrothes, located one hour outside of Edinburgh, has the lowest price to earnings ratio with 1.8.
There, the average value of a three-bedroom home is £136,000 with estimated monthly payments of £540.
Llanelli was the highest-ranking Welsh town on the list, with a ratio of 2.3 based on an average property value of £170,600 and estimated monthly mortgage payments of £680.
Scottish and Welsh towns took up eight out of the top ten spots, with Dartford and Swanley the only representatives for England.
Both have a price to earnings ratio of 4.7, based on average property values of £423,600 and £444,900 respectively.
This leaves Swanley with the highest monthly mortgage repayments in the top ten, at £1,770.
Zoopla also gauged popularity using listing views data, which was twice as high for three-bedroom homes in the most popular affordable towns compared to the regional average for similar properties.
Richard Donnell, executive director at Zoopla, said this highlights how critical affordability was for house-hunting families.
“This heightened popularity, coupled with the significant portion of would-be buyers expressing concerns about being priced out of housing, underscores the ongoing challenges facing movers and the clear appetite for value,” said Richard.
“The willingness of many to consider different regions or compromise on property features further highlights the adaptive strategies families are employing in today's market.
“Ultimately, understanding these regional dynamics and the intensity of demand in affordable areas is crucial for both those looking to move and the agents supporting them in this evolving landscape.”
