Top 20 Cheapest Places To Buy A House In England
Looking for the cheapest areas to live and buy a house in England? Our analysis of the latest Land Registry data reveals where to find the UK's most affordable properties, with the lowest priced town having average sold house prices as low as £62,717.
However that doesn't tell the whole picture across the country as property in the UK can be expensive. As of August 2024, the average house price in the UK is £292,924. Property prices have risen 1.5% compared to the previous month and risen by 2.8% compared to the previous year on average.
The average house price in England is even more expensive, currently around £309,572 and the average house price in locations like London tops £525,000, with the average prices in the most expensive areas of London are now over £1 million. For those interested in the capital but looking for the most affordable options, we have analysed the cheapest areas of England's Capital to buy a house and flat.
When you compare this to the rest of the UK, Wales has some very low priced areas with the average property price in Wales being £222,925, Scotland is £199,972 and Northern Ireland has the cheapest property prices (at country level) at £185,025.
So we can see England is by far the most expensive country in the United Kingdom. But it is still possible to find good value property to buy in England and there are indeed far cheaper areas to live if you know where to look, even in the major cities, where we have identified the cheapest areas to live in Manchester and Birmingham.
Looking at average property prices by region across England, we can see:
- North East - Average property price £166,032 - Annual yearly percentage change 1.7%
- North West - Average property price £225,248 - Annual yearly percentage change 4.6%
- Yorkshire and The Humber - Average property price £219,433 - Annual yearly percentage change 4.4%
- West Midlands - Average property price £255,102 - Annual yearly percentage change 2.6%
- East Midlands - Average property price £250,229 - Annual yearly percentage change 2.1%
- South West - Average property price £320,774 - Annual yearly percentage change 0.8%
- South East - Average property price £384,804 - Annual yearly percentage change 1.6%
- East of England - Average property price £344,190 - Annual yearly percentage change 1.4%
Showing the North East stands out as the cheapest region in England to buy a house by far.
In this article, we'll explore the specific cities and towns that are officially the cheapest places to live and buy a home across England.
Through detailed examination of property prices across England, we've identified and analysed the 20 most affordable places to live, whether you are buying for your own home or a buy-to-let investment, with additional property data on sales activity, price per square foot and average household income, to help show general affordability in each of the local property markets.
Notably, of these top 20 most affordable postcodes, 14 locations show average sold property prices of £90,000 and below.
Contents
- Postcode DL4 - Shildon - £62,717
- Postcode TS1 - Middlesbrough - £62,929
- Postcode DL17 - Ferryhill - £67,096
- Postcode BD1 - Bradford - £68,649
- Postcode SR8 - Peterlee - £69,893
- Postcode TS3 - Middlesbrough - £74,060
- Postcode DN31 - Grimsby - £74,745
- Postcode SR1 - Sunderland - £75,768
- Postcode TS29 - Trimdon - £80,328
- Postcode BB11 - Burnley - £81,752
- Postcode DH9 - Stanley - £87,246
- Postcode DN32 - Grimsby - £88,983
- Postcode TS24 - Hartlepool - £89,826
- Postcode BD3 - Bradford - £90,885
- Postcode L4 - Liverpool - £92,499
- Postcode BD5 - Bradford - £93,610
- Postcode S4 - Sheffield - £94,042
- Postcode DL14 - Bishop Auckland - £94,389
- Postcode SR5 - Sunderland - £96,729
- Postcode FY1 - Blackpool - £98,541
- Conclusion
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by Robert Jones, Founder of Property Investments UK
With nearly two decades in UK property, Rob has been investing in buy-to-let since 2005, and uses property data to develop tools for property market analysis.
Property Data Sources
Our location guide relies on diverse, authoritative datasets including:
- HM Land Registry UK House Price Index
- Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government
- Ordnance Survey Data Hub
- Propertydata.co.uk
We update our property data quarterly to ensure accuracy. Last update: October 2024. Next update: January 2025. All data is presented as provided by our sources without adjustments or amendments.
1. Postcode DL4 - Shildon - North East
Shildon is a historic railway town with good connections to Darlington and Bishop Auckland. Average price of £62,717 with a strong 25% market turnover rate.
| Property Price Metrics in DL4 | Value (£) |
|---|---|
| Average Sold Price | £62,717 |
| Average Sold £ per sq ft | £71 |
| Average On The Market Asking Price | £87,160 |
| Property Market Activity in DL4 | Value |
|---|---|
| Monthly Property Sales | 14 |
| Monthly Turnover Rate | 25% |
| Average Annual Household Income | £30,200 |
Note: Monthly Turnover Rate (%) = (Number of Properties Sold ÷ Total Properties on Market) × 100
back to contents2. Postcode TS1 - Middlesborough - North East
Central Middlesbrough location near Teesside University. Average price £62,929 with active 24% turnover and strong rental potential
Discover more about buy-to-let investment in Middlesbrough.
| Property Price Metrics in TS1 | Value (£) |
|---|---|
| Average Sold Price | £62,929 |
| Average £ per sq ft | £77 |
| Average Asking Price | £93,121 |
| Property Market Activity in TS1 | Value |
|---|---|
| Monthly Property Sales | 19 |
| Monthly Turnover Rate | 24% |
| Average Household Income | £27,100 |
Note: Monthly Turnover Rate (%) = (Number of Properties Sold ÷ Total Properties on Market) × 100
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3. Postcode DL17 - Ferryhill - North East
Ferryhill is a small town in County Durham in England’s northeast region.
Ferryhill is a one-time mining town but is now mainly residential being a good value place to buy or rent, with cheap house prices at an average price of £67,096 with high monthly sales volume of 27 properties.
| Property Price Metrics in DL17 | Value (£) |
|---|---|
| Average Sold Price | £67,096 |
| Average £ per sq ft | £83 |
| Average Asking Price | £119,790 |
| Property Market Activity in DL17 | Value |
|---|---|
| Monthly Property Sales | 27 |
| Monthly Turnover Rate | 23% |
| Average Household Income | £33,500 |
Note: Monthly Turnover Rate (%) = (Number of Properties Sold ÷ Total Properties on Market) × 100
back to contents4. Postcode BD1 - Bradford - North West
Bradford in West Yorkshire and is the fifth-largest metropolitan area in England, it has been crowned the UK City of Culture 2025.
Bradford is one of the cheapest 'cities' in England in which to buy property and is a major commercial city with many large employers in financial and business services, retail, distribution and the public sector including Wm Morrison Supermarkets, Yorkshire Building Society and Yorkshire Water. The University of Bradford means there is also a student property market in the city.
BD1 is a city centre location with excellent transport links and an average price £68,649 with the highest price per square foot (£184) in our top 20 list of areas with the cheapest houses in England.
Discover more about buy-to-let investment in Bradford.
| Property Price Metrics in BD1 | Value (£) |
|---|---|
| Average Sold Price | £68,649 |
| Average £ per sq ft | £184 |
| Average Asking Price | £67,806 |
| Property Market Activity in BD1 | Value |
|---|---|
| Monthly Property Sales | 12 |
| Monthly Turnover Rate | 16% |
| Average Household Income | £26,300 |
Note: Monthly Turnover Rate (%) = (Number of Properties Sold ÷ Total Properties on Market) × 100
back to contents5. Postcode SR8 - Peterlee - North East
Peterlee is in County Durham, in England’s north east. Peterlee is a one time new town which was developed from the 1950s onwards and was named after Peter Lee. The wider area includes the original mining villages of Horden and Easington Colliery and has an average property sale price of £69,893 and the highest monthly sales (46) among our list of cheapest and affordable English cities and towns.
| Property Price Metrics in SR8 | Value (£) |
|---|---|
| Average Sold Price | £69,893 |
| Average £ per sq ft | £86 |
| Average Asking Price | £95,869 |
| Property Market Activity in SR8 | Value |
|---|---|
| Monthly Property Sales | 46 |
| Monthly Turnover Rate | 22% |
| Average Household Income | £32,100 |
Note: Monthly Turnover Rate (%) = (Number of Properties Sold ÷ Total Properties on Market) × 100
back to contents6. Postcode TS3 - Middlesborough - North East
Discover more about buy-to-let investment in Middlesbrough.
| Property Price Metrics in TS3 | Value (£) |
|---|---|
| Average Sold Price | £74,060 |
| Average £ per sq ft | £90 |
| Average Asking Price | £88,012 |
| Property Market Activity in TS3 | Value |
|---|---|
| Monthly Property Sales | 26 |
| Monthly Turnover Rate | 29% |
| Average Household Income | £28,600 |
Note: Monthly Turnover Rate (%) = (Number of Properties Sold ÷ Total Properties on Market) × 100
back to contents7. Postcode DN31 - Grimsby - North East
Central Grimsby location near the docks. Average price £74,745 with steady market activity and 14% property sales turnover rate.
| Property Price Metrics in DN31 | Value (£) |
|---|---|
| Average Sold Price | £74,745 |
| Average £ per sq ft | £84 |
| Average Asking Price | £86,802 |
| Property Market Activity in DN31 | Value |
|---|---|
| Monthly Property Sales | 13 |
| Monthly Turnover Rate | 14% |
| Average Household Income | £26,700 |
Note: Monthly Turnover Rate (%) = (Number of Properties Sold ÷ Total Properties on Market) × 100
back to contents8. SR1 - Sunderland - North East
The city of Sunderland is part of the Tyne & Wear region in the northeast of England. It is close to the city of Newcastle upon Tyne.
The city centre is the cheapest part of Sunderland with the university nearby. Average property selling prices in SR1 are £75,768.
Discover more about buy-to-let investment in Sunderland.
| Property Price Metrics in SR1 | Value (£) |
|---|---|
| Average Sold Price | £75,768 |
| Average £ per sq ft | £82 |
| Average Asking Price | £63,081 |
| Property Market Activity in SR1 | Value |
|---|---|
| Monthly Property Sales | 5 |
| Monthly Turnover Rate | 20% |
| Average Household Income | £30,300 |
Note: Monthly Turnover Rate (%) = (Number of Properties Sold ÷ Total Properties on Market) × 100
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9. TS29 - Trimdon - North East
Rural village location with good transport links. Average selling price £80,328 with significant gap between asking and selling prices, and a very low sales volume compared to other areas. This indicates that many properties come on the market to sell but it's likely the lower value cheaper houses (terraces and semi-detached) that actually achieve an agreed sale and eventual completion.
| Property Price Metrics in TS29 | Value (£) |
|---|---|
| Average Sold Price | £80,328 |
| Average £ per sq ft | £91 |
| Average Asking Price | £180,292 |
| Property Market Activity in TS29 | Value |
|---|---|
| Monthly Property Sales | 4 |
| Monthly Turnover Rate | 10% |
| Average Household Income | £33,700 |
Note: Monthly Turnover Rate (%) = (Number of Properties Sold ÷ Total Properties on Market) × 100
back to contents10. BB11 - Burnley - North West
| Property Price Metrics in BB11 | Value (£) |
|---|---|
| Average Sold Price | £81,752 |
| Average £ per sq ft | £97 |
| Average Asking Price | £136,392 |
| Property Market Activity in BB11 | Value |
|---|---|
| Monthly Property Sales | 31 |
| Monthly Turnover Rate | 24% |
| Average Household Income | £35,900 |
Note: Monthly Turnover Rate (%) = (Number of Properties Sold ÷ Total Properties on Market) × 100
back to contentsProperty Data Sources
Our location guide relies on diverse, authoritative datasets including:
- HM Land Registry UK House Price Index
- Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government
- Ordnance Survey Data Hub
- Propertydata.co.uk
We update our property data quarterly to ensure accuracy. Last update: October 2024. Next update: January 2025. All data is presented as provided by our sources without adjustments or amendments.
11. DH9 - Stanley - North East
Stanley is in County Durham. This town shouldn’t be confused with other towns in England called Stanley, such as Stanley in West Yorkshire or Stanley in Derbyshire.
DH9 covers Stanley, Dipton and Annfield Plain.
Stanley is a one-time mining and industrial town and is now mainly a collection of residential terrace and semi-detached houses.
| Property Price Metrics in DH9 | Value (£) |
|---|---|
| Average Sold Price | £87,246 |
| Average £ per sq ft | £101 |
| Average Asking Price | £127,582 |
| Property Market Activity in DH9 | Value |
|---|---|
| Monthly Property Sales | 29 |
| Monthly Turnover Rate | 20% |
| Average Household Income | £33,900 |
Note: Monthly Turnover Rate (%) = (Number of Properties Sold ÷ Total Properties on Market) × 100
back to contents12. DN32 - Grimsby - North East
| Property Price Metrics in DN32 | Value (£) |
|---|---|
| Average Sold Price | £88,983 |
| Average £ per sq ft | £93 |
| Average Asking Price | £109,593 |
| Property Market Activity in DN32 | Value |
|---|---|
| Monthly Property Sales | 21 |
| Monthly Turnover Rate | 8% |
| Average Household Income | £29,400 |
Note: Monthly Turnover Rate (%) = (Number of Properties Sold ÷ Total Properties on Market) × 100
back to contents13. TS24 - Hartlepool - North East
| Property Price Metrics in TS24 | Value (£) |
|---|---|
| Average Sold Price | £89,826 |
| Average £ per sq ft | £107 |
| Average Asking Price | £126,462 |
| Property Market Activity in TS24 | Value |
|---|---|
| Monthly Property Sales | 19 |
| Monthly Turnover Rate | 13% |
| Average Household Income | £31,200 |
Note: Monthly Turnover Rate (%) = (Number of Properties Sold ÷ Total Properties on Market) × 100
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14. BD3 - Bradford - North West
East Bradford location covering Barkerend, Bradford Moor, and Thornbury areas. Average price £90,885 with the highest turnover rate at 47% in the cheapest place to live in England list, indicating a very active market.
Discover more about buy-to-let investment in Bradford.
| Property Price Metrics in BD3 | Value (£) |
|---|---|
| Average Sold Price | £90,885 |
| Average £ per sq ft | £97 |
| Average Asking Price | £135,608 |
| Property Market Activity in BD3 | Value |
|---|---|
| Monthly Property Sales | 12 |
| Monthly Turnover Rate | 47% |
| Average Household Income | £28,200 |
Note: Monthly Turnover Rate (%) = (Number of Properties Sold ÷ Total Properties on Market) × 100
back to contents15. L4 - Liverpool - North East
Liverpool is one of the cheapest 'large cities' in England in which to buy property.
Liverpool is famous for many things, such as Liverpool FC and the Beatles. It’s also a major commercial and industrial city providing many jobs and boosting the demand for accommodation. Liverpool is also a major student city with 50,000 students needing accommodation. The University of Liverpool and Liverpool John Moores University (LJMU) have campuses on the fringes of the city centre.
Discover more about buy-to-let investment in Liverpool.
| Property Price Metrics in L4 | Value (£) |
|---|---|
| Average Sold Price | £92,499 |
| Average £ per sq ft | £106 |
| Average Asking Price | £125,382 |
| Property Market Activity in L4 | Value |
|---|---|
| Monthly Property Sales | 30 |
| Monthly Turnover Rate | 25% |
| Average Household Income | £31,400 |
Note: Monthly Turnover Rate (%) = (Number of Properties Sold ÷ Total Properties on Market) × 100
back to contents16. BD5 - Bradford - North West
Bradford location covering Little Horton, Canterbury, West Bowling and Marshfields. Average price £93,610 with a notably high 38% turnover rate suggests an active market.
| Property Price Metrics in BD5 | Value (£) |
|---|---|
| Average Sold Price | £93,610 |
| Average £ per sq ft | £115 |
| Average Asking Price | £146,711 |
| Property Market Activity in BD5 | Value |
|---|---|
| Monthly Property Sales | 14 |
| Monthly Turnover Rate | 38% |
| Average Household Income | £29,000 |
Note: Monthly Turnover Rate (%) = (Number of Properties Sold ÷ Total Properties on Market) × 100
back to contents17. S4 - Sheffield - North West
North-central Sheffield location covering Pitsmoor, Burngreave, and parts of Grimesthorpe. Average price £94,042 with a high 33% turnover rate despite lower sales volume (5 properties monthly) indicating a low number of properties coming on to the market.
Area benefits from proximity to Northern General Hospital and good transport links to Sheffield city centre. Average local income of £30,500 and price per square foot of £115 reflect the area's urban location and ongoing regeneration. Traditionally industrial area seeing increasing residential development.
Discover more about buy-to-let investment in Sheffield.
| Property Price Metrics in S4 | Value (£) |
|---|---|
| Average Sold Price | £94,042 |
| Average £ per sq ft | £115 |
| Average Asking Price | £114,579 |
| Property Market Activity in S4 | Value |
|---|---|
| Monthly Property Sales | 5 |
| Monthly Turnover Rate | 33% |
| Average Household Income | £30,500 |
Note: Monthly Turnover Rate (%) = (Number of Properties Sold ÷ Total Properties on Market) × 100
back to contents18. DL14 - Bishop Auckland - North East
North East Market town location covering Bishop Auckland, South Church, and West Auckland areas. Average price £94,389 with substantial monthly sales volume of 44 properties indicating a particularly active market, although interesting a lower turnover rate of 14%. An indication of a large number of properties coming on to the market for sale.
| Property Price Metrics in DL14 | Value (£) |
|---|---|
| Average Sold Price | £94,389 |
| Average £ per sq ft | £108 |
| Average Asking Price | £130,722 |
| Property Market Activity in DL14 | Value |
|---|---|
| Monthly Property Sales | 44 |
| Monthly Turnover Rate | 14% |
| Average Household Income | £34,600 |
Note: Monthly Turnover Rate (%) = (Number of Properties Sold ÷ Total Properties on Market) × 100
back to contents19. SR5 - Sunderland - North East
| Property Price Metrics in SR5 | Value (£) |
|---|---|
| Average Sold Price | £96,729 |
| Average £ per sq ft | £120 |
| Average Asking Price | £123,055 |
| Property Market Activity in SR5 | Value |
|---|---|
| Monthly Property Sales | 18 |
| Monthly Turnover Rate | 21% |
| Average Household Income | £29,600 |
Note: Monthly Turnover Rate (%) = (Number of Properties Sold ÷ Total Properties on Market) × 100
back to contents20. FY1 - Blackpool - North West
Blackpool is in Lancashire in England’s northwest and is well known for being a seaside resort, for Blackpool Tower and for Blackpool Illuminations.
Blackpool is benefitting from lots of regeneration at the moment, which should boost the Blackpool property market. Talbot Gateway is a new business district which should attract new jobs. The new Blackpool Central leisure attraction and the Showtime museum should attract more visitors to the town. There’s a new £30m Conference & Exhibition Centre at the Winter Gardens.
Here’s a useful article which looks at buy-to-let investment in Blackpool.
| Property Price Metrics in FY1 | Value (£) |
|---|---|
| Average Sold Price | £98,541 |
| Average £ per sq ft | £97 |
| Average Asking Price | £114,234 |
| Property Market Activity in FY1 | Value |
|---|---|
| Monthly Property Sales | 35 |
| Monthly Turnover Rate | 12% |
| Average Household Income | £29,200 |
Note: Monthly Turnover Rate (%) = (Number of Properties Sold ÷ Total Properties on Market) × 100
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Conclusion
The North East emerges as England's primary region for affordable housing, with locations such as Darlington, Middlesbrough, and Durham offering exceptional value. These areas demonstrate not just attractive purchase prices, but importantly, active and sustainable market conditions with local affordability and consistent property sales.
Bradford's remarkable 47% turnover rate shows a very strong property sales market, with nearly half of the properties that come on to the market for sale actually selling.
Sunderland's consistent sales volumes indicate these are active markets rather than stagnant low-value areas. This challenges the common perception that affordable areas lack market vitality. For those looking to develop their property investment strategy, our comprehensive property investment courses provide deeper insights into identifying and analysing such market opportunities.
While the North East dominates the affordability rankings, valuable opportunities exist across the North West too. The spread encompasses diverse location types - from revitalising coastal communities to established industrial centres - each with unique market fundamentals and growth potential.
These affordable areas demonstrate that value and opportunity can coexist in England's property market and that although the country averages might be high and out of the reach of some buy-to-let investors and homeowners, this isn't true for all regions and all Cities and Towns.