While headlines focus on million-pound homes in the South East, large parts of England and Wales remain remarkably affordable. Here’s where your money goes furthest.
The most affordable counties
Based on average sold prices across all recorded HM Land Registry transactions, these counties offer the lowest entry points:
| County | Average Price | Total Sales |
|---|---|---|
| Blaenau Gwent | £139,861 | 27,499 |
| Blackpool | £149,682 | 91,479 |
| Kingston upon Hull | £152,438 | 125,919 |
| Hartlepool | £157,462 | 51,620 |
| Merthyr Tydfil | £161,446 | 23,812 |
| Rhondda Cynon Taff | £163,421 | 111,003 |
| Middlesbrough | £164,829 | 70,102 |
| County Durham | £165,015 | 144,351 |
| Neath Port Talbot | £166,533 | 62,215 |
| Redcar and Cleveland | £168,017 | 67,368 |
The Welsh Valleys and North East England dominate this list. In Blaenau Gwent, the average home costs less than £140,000 — roughly a sixth of the Greater London average.
What you get for your money
The affordability gap isn’t just about price — it’s about what that price buys you:
- In Blaenau Gwent, £140,000 typically gets you a 3-bedroom terraced house with a garden
- In County Durham, £165,000 could buy a 3-bed semi-detached with a driveway and garage
- In Greater London, the same £165,000 wouldn’t cover the deposit on an average property
The North-South divide in numbers
The data tells a stark story about regional inequality:
- Most expensive county (Greater London): £810,495 average
- Least expensive county (Blaenau Gwent): £139,861 average
- Ratio: 5.8x
Even within the same region, gaps exist. In the North East, Northumberland (£227,688) costs 45% more than neighbouring Hartlepool (£157,462), largely due to demand for rural and coastal properties.
Are affordable areas a good investment?
Low prices don’t automatically mean good value. Consider:
- Employment — areas with strong job markets (even if currently cheap) tend to see the strongest price growth
- Transport links — new rail connections or road improvements can transform an area’s prospects
- Regeneration — towns with active regeneration programmes often see above-average price increases
- Rental yields — many affordable Northern towns offer yields of 6–8%, compared to 3–4% in the South East
County Durham, for example, has benefited from the growth of Durham University and improved links to Newcastle, with prices showing steady growth over the past decade.
Explore the data
Want to dig deeper? Browse prices by:
- County — compare averages across all 132 counties
- Town — drill down to specific towns and cities
- Postcode area — the most granular level of price data
Data source: HM Land Registry Price Paid data. Averages reflect all recorded residential transactions.