Buckinghamshire locations took up five of the top ten spots in Zoopla’s least affordable list.
Beaconsfield took the top spot as the least affordable town, with an average house price of more than £1 million, costing more than 15 times average household earnings.
The affordability calculations are based on house price-to-earnings ratios.
Zoopla compared average house values and based affordability calculations on a two-earner household on full-time local earnings.
Postal towns with 5,000 homes or more were analysed.
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On average, two earners looking to buy a home can still expect to pay 4.4 times their average combined annual earnings – slightly lower than 4.5 times in 2024, Zoopla said.
Other towns that are least affordable to average earners included Gerrards Cross, Amersham, Marlow and Great Missenden all located in Bucks.
Richard Donnell, executive director at Zoopla, said: “Our latest affordable towns research clearly highlights the wide gulf in the affordability of housing for home buyers across the UK and within regions.
“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.
“Homes are most affordable across Scotland and the North East, but within these regions are pockets where affordability is a challenge.
“For those looking to buy in the South, there are areas which offer reasonably priced homes compared to local incomes, but there are large areas where homes are only affordable to those on higher incomes or with larger deposits.
“The affordability of home ownership and the cost of moving are big considerations for those planning their next move. 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.”
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Here are the least affordable locations in Zoopla’s study, with the median average home value followed by the estimated annual household income and the house value-to-earnings ratio:
1. Beaconsfield, South East, £1,112,000, £72,900, 15.25
2. Gerrards Cross, South East, £977,900, £72,900, 13.41
3. Esher, South East, £1,130,700, £86,500, 13.08
4. Radlett, East of England, £891,950, £73,400, 12.15
5. Cobham, South East, £1,039,400, £86,500, 12.02
6. Ashtead, South East, £816,200, £71,700, 11.38
7. Welwyn (village near Welwyn Garden City), East of England, £829,150, £76,700, 10.81
8. Amersham, South East, £752,450, £72,900, 10.32
9. Marlow, South East, £750,950, £72,900, 10.3
10. Great Missenden, South East, £743,050, £72,900, 10.19
Here are the top 10 most affordable towns in Zoopla’s study, with the median average home value followed by the estimated annual household income and the house value-to-earnings ratio:
1. Shildon, North East, £73,800, £60,300, 1.23
2. Cumnock, East Ayrshire, Scotland, £83,700, £67,200, 1.5
3. Saltcoats, North Ayrshire, Scotland, £96,500, £70,400, 1.37
4. Ardrossan, North Ayrshire, Scotland, £100,050, £70,400, 1.42
5. Peterlee, North East, £85,900, £60,300, 1.42
6. Irvine, North Ayrshire, Scotland, £101,100, £70,400, 1.44
7. Kilwinning, North Ayrshire, Scotland, £102,600, £70,400, 1.46
8. Ferryhill, North East, £92,500, £60,300, 1.53
9. Girvan, South Ayrshire, Scotland, £107,300, £69,000, 1.56
10. Clydebank, West Dunbartonshire, Scotland, £105,800, £64,900, 1.63
