Where to Buy Property Investments in Somerset: Yields of 5.2%
Somerset is a county in South West England covering 45 postcodes from BA3 to TA24 under the Somerset Council unitary authority (ONS code E06000066). Gross rental yields range from 3.4% to 5.2% across the 18 postcodes with rental data, with TA6 Bridgwater delivering the highest returns. Average sold prices sit 4.6% below the England average, and the population of the former South Somerset district grew 8.6% to 157,400 between the 2011 and 2021 censuses.
Somerset's average sold price of £278,440 makes it one of a handful of South West counties where prices sit below the England average of £291,865. That 4.6% discount is modest, but asking prices in Bridgwater (£253,011) and Yeovil North (£254,482) create entry points well below the county mean of £370,381. Rental data is available for 18 of the county's 43 postcodes with price data, concentrated in the larger market towns where tenant demand is strongest.
Somerset stretches from Weston-super-Mare and the Mendip Hills in the north to the Blackdown Hills and Dorset border in the south. Investors comparing options in the region may also consider Bath, Bristol, Exeter, or Wells. Browse all our South West location guides, or search our current buy-to-let properties for sale.
Article updated: March 2026
Somerset Buy-to-Let Market Overview 2026
Somerset is a large rural county where buy-to-let activity concentrates in market towns along the M5 corridor and A303 route. Prices sit 4.6% below the England average, with rental data available in 18 of 45 postcodes.
- Average sold price: £278,440 (4.6% below England's £291,865)
- Asking price range: £253,011 (TA6) to £579,248 (BS28)
- Rental yields: 3.4% (TA24/BS48) to 5.2% (TA6) across postcodes with rental data
- Rental income: Monthly rents from £882 (TA24) to £1,515 (BS49)
- Price per sq ft: Sold prices from £258/sq ft (BA21) to £399/sq ft (BS48)
- Market activity: Sales ranging from 2 per month (BS29/TA16) to 59 per month (TA6)
- Deposit requirements: 30% deposits range from £75,903 (TA6) to £173,774 (BS28)
- Affordability ratios: Property prices from 7.0 to 16.0 times Somerset's median annual salary of £36,279
Contents
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by Robert Jones, Founder of Property Investments UK
With 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: March 2026. All data is presented as provided by our sources without adjustments or amendments.
Why Invest in Somerset?
Hinkley Point C, a £35 billion nuclear power station near Bridgwater, is the UK's largest infrastructure project and the single biggest driver of rental demand in Somerset. Thousands of construction workers have moved to the county. Supply chain jobs have spread across the region. TA6 Bridgwater now has 59 sales per month and the highest yield in the county at 5.2%. That single project underpins much of the investment case.
Beyond nuclear energy, Somerset runs on a mix of agriculture, food manufacturing, tourism, and aerospace. Leonardo Helicopters operates its UK base at Yeovil, employing around 3,000 people in the design and manufacture of military and commercial helicopters. That is the kind of long-term employer that keeps rental demand steady in the BA20 and BA21 postcodes. Thales at Templecombe adds another defence presence, though at a smaller scale.
Between the 2011 and 2021 censuses, the population of the former South Somerset district grew from 144,900 to 157,400, a rise of 8.6%. Somerset Council was created in April 2023 by merging four district councils with the county council. The full unitary authority covers a much larger population, but census data at the new boundary is not yet available.
The median annual salary in Somerset is £36,279, compared to £37,544 across the South West and £39,125 for Great Britain. Lower local wages combined with property prices 4.6% below England create a market where yields hold up in the affordable postcodes even though absolute rents are not exceptional.
The M5 motorway runs through the county from Weston-super-Mare to Taunton, connecting to Bristol (45 minutes) and Exeter (30 minutes from Taunton). That corridor shapes where rental demand concentrates. Bridgwater, Taunton, and Weston-super-Mare sit on or near the M5. Yeovil on the A303 connects to London and the South East. The more rural postcodes further from these routes have higher prices, lower turnover, and limited rental markets.
Somerset Economic Summary
- Population: 157,400 (2021 Census, former South Somerset district). Growth of 8.6% from 2011.
- Median annual salary: £36,279 (Somerset), £37,544 (South West), £39,125 (Great Britain)
- Employment rate: 79.2% (Somerset)
- Unemployment rate: 3.2% (Somerset)
- Key employment sectors: Nuclear energy (Hinkley Point C), aerospace and defence (Leonardo Helicopters), agriculture, food and drink manufacturing, tourism
Source: ONS Census 2021, Nomis Labour Market Profile (ASHE 2025)
Somerset's employment rate of 79.2% sits above the Great Britain average of 75.6%. The unemployment rate of 3.2% is below the national 4.3%. For buy-to-let investors, that combination of high employment and low unemployment suggests a stable local economy where tenants in work tend to stay in work. The risk is concentration. Bridgwater's rental market depends heavily on Hinkley Point C workers. When the construction phase ends, the town's rental dynamics will shift.
Source: Office for National Statistics - Population for Somerset (former South Somerset district)
Regeneration and Investment in Somerset
Three regeneration projects are shaping Somerset, led by the £35 billion Hinkley Point C nuclear power station that dwarfs everything else in scale. Hinkley Point C has brought more investment to the Bridgwater area than most UK cities see in a decade. Smaller-scale regeneration in Taunton and Bridgwater town centres follows behind.
- Hinkley Point C Nuclear Power Station (under construction, £35bn): Britain's largest infrastructure project, a 3,260MW nuclear power station that will provide zero-carbon electricity for around six million homes. The project has generated thousands of construction jobs in Somerset and is delivering a £13 billion boost to the British economy. The second nuclear reactor arrived in early 2026. Updates at EDF Energy.
- Bridgwater Docks Regeneration (funded, £5.2m): Part of the £23.2 million Bridgwater Town Deal, this project will modernise the historic docks, create new walking and cycling routes via a swing bridge at Newton Lock, and attract commercial and leisure investment to the town centre. WSP has been appointed as design consultants. Updates at Somerset Council.
- North Taunton Woolaway Regeneration (in progress): A major council-led housing regeneration replacing 162 defective Woolaway homes with 227 to 230 new energy-efficient council homes, delivering a net increase of 67 to 69 homes. Phase A completed in April 2024 with 36 homes, and subsequent phases are under way. Updates at Somerset Council.
Somerset Property Market Analysis
When Was the Last House Price Crash in Somerset?
Somerset prices fell 17.5% from peak to trough during the 2008 financial crisis, dropping from £195,718 in September 2007 to £161,559 in May 2009. The full house price history from the HM Land Registry House Price Index runs from January 1995 to December 2025. The data shows one major crash, a long recovery, and a pandemic-era surge followed by a correction.
- 1995-2000 (Steady growth): Somerset started 1995 at £51,663. By January 2000, prices had risen to £74,352. Growth of 43.9% over five years, driven by a stable rural economy and affordable stock relative to the South East.
- 2000-2007 (The boom): Prices more than doubled from £74,352 in January 2000 to a peak of £195,718 in September 2007. Cheap credit, second-home demand in rural Somerset, and the general housing boom pushed prices well beyond what local wages could support. The peak-to-start ratio of 3.8x tells you how far prices had run.
- 2007-2009 (The financial crisis): From the peak of £195,718 in September 2007 to the trough of £161,559 in May 2009, Somerset lost 17.5% of its value in 20 months. The worst annual change reading was -15.3% in May 2009. All property types fell almost equally: detached -17.4%, semi-detached -17.3%, terraced -17.6%, flats -17.7%. Somerset's decline of 17.5% was marginally better than the South West region (-19.4%) and England overall (-18.2%).
- 2009-2013 (Slow recovery): Prices bounced off the trough but stalled. By December 2013, Somerset sat at £178,111. Still 9.0% below the September 2007 peak. The rural economy recovered slowly. No single employer or sector drove a rapid rebound.
Recovery and Pandemic Surge
- 2014-2016 (Peak recovery): Consistent growth of 3-5% per year gradually closed the gap. Prices passed the pre-crash peak in August 2016 at £205,744. That recovery took nearly 9 years from the September 2007 peak. Somerset was slower than London and the South East, where prices recovered by 2013-2014.
- 2017-2019 (Steady appreciation): Prices rose from £208,720 in January 2017 to £227,897 by December 2019. Annual growth between 2% and 4%. The market was stable but not exciting. Somerset's distance from London limited the ripple effect that was pushing prices in commuter towns.
- 2020-2022 (Pandemic surge): The stamp duty holiday and remote working shift hit Somerset hard. Prices jumped from £229,019 in March 2020 to £287,389 by December 2022. That is 25.5% growth in under three years. Rural Somerset with its space, broadband improvements, and relative affordability became a target for lifestyle relocators leaving cities.
- 2023 (Rate correction): Interest rate rises cooled the market. Prices fell from £287,389 in December 2022 to £272,735 by December 2023. A decline of 5.1%. Sharper than Plymouth (-3.8%) and reflecting the fact that pandemic-era buyers had pushed rural prices further above fundamentals.
- 2024-2025 (Stabilisation): Prices steadied and began rising again. By December 2025, the average reached £278,440 with annual growth of 1.1%. Somerset now sits 42.3% above its pre-crash peak.
Long-Term Property Value Growth in Somerset
- 5 years (2020-2025): +14.7% (£242,709 to £278,440)
- 10 years (2015-2025): +41.9% (£196,209 to £278,440)
- 15 years (2010-2025): +57.7% (£176,593 to £278,440)
- 20 years (2005-2025): +67.1% (£166,641 to £278,440)
- 30 years (1995-2025): +439.0% (£51,663 to £278,440)
The 2008 crash is the reference point for investors assessing downside risk in Somerset. A 17.5% decline took 9 years to recover. Somerset fared slightly better than the wider South West (-19.4%) and England (-18.2%), partly because rural markets had less speculative froth than cities. The 2023 correction was milder and shorter. Five-year growth of 14.7% looks solid until you note that most of it came in 2020-2022. The last three years have been flat.
Source: HM Land Registry House Price Index for Somerset, January 1995 to December 2025.
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View Property DealsSold House Prices in Somerset
At £278,440, the average sold price sits 4.6% below England's £291,865. That discount is smaller than many investors expect from a rural county. Detached houses at £451,142 are just 4.4% below England, and semi-detached homes at £286,210 are within 1.0% of the national figure. The real discount shows up in flats.
Flats in Somerset average £135,729. That is 38.1% below the England average of £219,340. The flat market here is thin. Most of the county's housing stock is houses, not apartments. The flats that do exist tend to be in Taunton, Weston-super-Mare, and the larger market towns. Low demand for flat living in a rural county keeps prices well below national levels.
| Property Type | Somerset Average | England Average | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Detached houses | £451,142 | £471,667 | -4.4% |
| Semi-detached houses | £286,210 | £289,135 | -1.0% |
| Terraced houses | £231,265 | £244,830 | -5.5% |
| Flats and maisonettes | £135,729 | £219,340 | -38.1% |
| All property types | £278,440 | £291,865 | -4.6% |
Semi-detached houses show the narrowest gap at just 1.0%. Somerset's semi-detached stock sits at £286,210 against England's £289,135. These are the core family homes in towns like Taunton, Bridgwater, and Yeovil, and they trade close to national levels because owner-occupier demand in Somerset's market towns is strong.
Terraced houses at £231,265 sit 5.5% below England. In Bridgwater and Yeovil, Victorian and Edwardian terraces provide the most affordable entry points for buy-to-let investors. The discount is modest, but combined with yields of 4.4% to 5.2% in those postcodes, it creates workable numbers for investors who can source stock in the right areas.
Annual price changes show a mixed picture. Semi-detached houses led with 2.6% growth, followed by terraced at 1.7% and detached at 0.4%. Flats declined 1.8%. The overall market grew 1.1%. That flat performance on flats mirrors the national trend of weaker apartment markets outside major cities.
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: March 2026. All data is presented as provided by our sources without adjustments or amendments.
Price Per Square Foot in Somerset
Price per square foot in Somerset ranges from £258 in BA21 Yeovil to £399 in BS48 Backwell and Nailsea, a spread of 1.5x across 43 postcodes with data. This metric strips out the size bias that makes headline asking prices misleading. A £400,000 cottage might be half the size of a £400,000 family house. Two postcodes (TA15 and TA17) have insufficient transaction data for reliable figures.
| Rank | Area | Price Per Sq Ft |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | BA21 (Yeovil North) | £258 |
| 2 | TA6 (Bridgwater East) | £267 |
| 3 | BA20 (Yeovil Centre) | £273 |
| 4 | TA20 (Chard) | £278 |
| 5 | TA18 (Crewkerne) | £282 |
| ... 33 more postcodes from £282 to £342 per sq ft ... | ||
| 39 | BS49 (Yatton, Congresbury) | £353 |
| 40 | BS25 (Winscombe, Churchill) | £356 |
| 41 | BA11 (Frome) | £361 |
| 42 | BS28 (Wedmore) | £390 |
| 43 | BS48 (Backwell, Nailsea) | £399 |
| — | TA15 (Montacute) | Not enough data |
| — | TA17 (Hinton St George) | Not enough data |
The cheapest space in Somerset sits in the Yeovil and Bridgwater postcodes. BA21 at £258 per square foot and TA6 at £267 are the two lowest in the county. Both are working towns with older housing stock and active rental markets. BA20 Yeovil Centre at £273 completes a cluster of three postcodes where space costs under £275 per square foot.
BS48 Backwell and Nailsea at £399 commands the highest rate. This area sits on the northern edge of Somerset, close to Bristol, and attracts commuters willing to pay a premium for village living within reach of the city. BS28 Wedmore at £390 and BA11 Frome at £361 reflect the same pattern: desirable locations where lifestyle demand from outside the county pushes per-foot costs well above the market town average.
Figures reflect averages across all property types and ages. Individual values depend on condition, location within the postcode, and building age.
For Sale Asking Prices in Somerset
Asking prices in Somerset span from £253,011 in TA6 Bridgwater to £579,248 in BS28 Wedmore, a 2.3x range across 43 postcodes with data. Strip out the five most expensive rural postcodes and the range narrows to £253,011 to £436,816. Most buy-to-let activity sits in the lower half of that spread.
Five postcodes offer asking prices below £280,000: TA6 Bridgwater (£253,011), BA21 Yeovil North (£254,482), BA20 Yeovil Centre (£270,141), TA1 Taunton Centre (£275,002), and TA2 Taunton North (£277,473). These are the market towns where rental demand exists and entry costs are manageable. The gap between them is just £24,462.
| Rank | Area | Average Asking Price |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | TA6 (Bridgwater East) | £253,011 |
| 2 | BA21 (Yeovil North) | £254,482 |
| 3 | BA20 (Yeovil Centre) | £270,141 |
| 4 | TA1 (Taunton Town Centre) | £275,002 |
| 5 | TA2 (Taunton North, Monkton Heathfield) | £277,473 |
| ... 33 more postcodes from £282,053 to £465,743 ... | ||
| 39 | TA3 (North Curry) | £471,622 |
| 40 | BS48 (Backwell, Nailsea) | £478,784 |
| 41 | BS25 (Winscombe, Churchill) | £520,788 |
| 42 | BS26 (Axbridge) | £554,801 |
| 43 | BS28 (Wedmore) | £579,248 |
| — | TA15 (Montacute) | Not enough data |
| — | TA17 (Hinton St George) | Not enough data |
Four of the five most expensive postcodes are BS-prefixed areas near Bristol. BS28 Wedmore (£579,248), BS26 Axbridge (£554,801), BS25 Winscombe (£520,788), and BS48 Backwell (£478,784) form a cluster on Somerset's northern fringe where commuter demand pushes prices well above what local rental income can support. TA3 North Curry (£471,622) at rank 39 is the exception, a premium rural postcode south of Taunton. Of these five, only BS48 has rental data, showing a 3.4% yield.
The mean asking price across all 43 postcodes with data is £370,381. That figure is inflated by the premium postcodes. The median sits closer to £366,000, and 24 of the 43 postcodes have asking prices below £370,000. For investors, the headline county average overstates what you actually need to spend in the postcodes where buy-to-let works.
House Price Growth in Somerset
Five-year house price growth in Somerset ranges from +33.0% in BS28 Wedmore down to -13.1% in BA10 Bruton across 42 postcodes with valid data. 36 postcodes delivered positive five-year growth. 6 postcodes are in negative territory. One postcode (TA22 Dulverton) has anomalous data and two (TA15, TA17) have no data. The five-year figure captures a full cycle including the pandemic surge and its partial reversal.
| Area | 1 Year | 3 Years | 5 Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| BS28 (Wedmore) | 14.9% | 1.2% | 33.0% |
| TA5 (Cannington) | 11.4% | 6.8% | 21.8% |
| BS25 (Winscombe, Churchill) | 11.5% | 9.6% | 20.0% |
| TA6 (Bridgwater East) | 2.9% | 2.8% | 19.4% |
| TA7 (Woolavington, Puriton) | 9.0% | 0.1% | 19.2% |
| ... 32 more postcodes from +17.4% to -0.1% ... | |||
| TA19 (Ilminster) | -13.6% | -6.0% | -3.6% |
| BA8 (Templecombe) | -12.4% | -4.7% | -4.6% |
| BA7 (Castle Cary) | -5.0% | -16.5% | -8.4% |
| BS26 (Axbridge) | -14.0% | -17.9% | -11.6% |
| BA10 (Bruton) | -17.4% | -10.9% | -13.1% |
| TA22 (Dulverton) | Not enough data | Not enough data | Not enough data |
| TA15 (Montacute) | Not enough data | Not enough data | Not enough data |
| TA17 (Hinton St George) | Not enough data | Not enough data | Not enough data |
BS28 Wedmore at 33.0% leads the county by a wide margin, but it is also the most expensive postcode. An investor buying at the 2021 average would have gained substantially, but entry at £579,248 today puts Wedmore in a different category from the market towns. TA5 Cannington (21.8%) and TA7 Woolavington (19.2%) sit near Bridgwater and have benefited from the Hinkley Point C demand effect on the surrounding area.
TA6 Bridgwater at 19.4% five-year growth is the more useful figure for most investors. Unlike BS28, TA6 combines strong growth with the county's lowest asking price (£253,011) and highest yield (5.2%). TA1 Taunton Centre at 17.4% and BA21 Yeovil North at 16.7% follow a similar pattern of affordable postcodes delivering solid growth.
Six postcodes show negative five-year growth. BA10 Bruton (-13.1%) and BS26 Axbridge (-11.6%) have fallen the furthest. BA7 Castle Cary (-8.4%), BA8 Templecombe (-4.6%), TA19 Ilminster (-3.6%), and TA11 Somerton (-0.1%) complete the list. These are mostly small rural postcodes with low transaction volumes, where a handful of sales can swing the figures.
Monthly Property Sales in Somerset
TA6 Bridgwater leads Somerset with 59 property sales per month, nearly 20% more than the second-placed TA1 Taunton Centre. Monthly sales range from 2 in BS29 Banwell and TA16 Merriott to 59 in TA6. The top five postcodes by volume are all market towns with populations large enough to sustain consistent activity. The bottom ten are small rural postcodes where a single sale can represent a month's entire market. For buy-to-let investors, transaction volume is an exit strategy question: high volume means a liquid market.
| Area | Sales Per Month | Turnover | Asking Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| TA6 (Bridgwater East) | 59 | 45% | £253,011 |
| TA1 (Taunton Town Centre) | 50 | 19% | £275,002 |
| TA2 (Taunton North, Monkton Heathfield) | 40 | 20% | £277,473 |
| BA11 (Frome) | 39 | 15% | £355,853 |
| BA3 (Radstock, Midsomer Norton) | 37 | 14% | £389,997 |
| ... 32 more postcodes from 32 to 4 sales per month ... | |||
| TA13 (South Petherton) | 4 | 18% | £383,234 |
| TA14 (Stoke-sub-Hamdon) | 4 | 48% | £366,969 |
| TA23 (Watchet) | 3 | 9% | £282,053 |
| BS29 (Banwell) | 2 | 3% | £393,649 |
| TA16 (Merriott) | 2 | 12% | £344,714 |
| TA22 (Dulverton) | Not enough data | Not enough data | Not enough data |
| TA15 (Montacute) | Not enough data | Not enough data | Not enough data |
| TA17 (Hinton St George) | Not enough data | Not enough data | Not enough data |
TA6 Bridgwater dominates with 59 sales per month and 45% turnover. That volume reflects the Hinkley Point C effect. Thousands of workers need housing, new-build developments are completing, and the market is active at every price point. TA1 Taunton Centre at 50 sales per month sits second, driven by its role as the county town and administrative centre.
BA11 Frome at 39 sales per month is notable because it combines high volume with above-average prices. Frome has become a destination town for creative professionals and lifestyle relocators. Its 15% turnover rate compared to TA6's 45% suggests a market where buyers hold properties longer rather than flipping or trading up.
TA10 Langport at 127% turnover is the outlier in the data. With 13 sales per month against a small stock base, Langport turns over its available market faster than any other Somerset postcode. That usually signals a tight market where demand consistently outstrips supply.
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: March 2026. All data is presented as provided by our sources without adjustments or amendments.
Somerset Rental Market Analysis
Rental data is available for 18 of Somerset's 43 postcodes with price data, a 42% coverage rate that reflects the county's rural character. Most of the 25 postcodes without rental data are small villages and rural areas where the letting market is too thin for reliable averages. For investors weighing up whether rental property is a worthwhile investment in Somerset, the 18 postcodes with data are where the market actually operates.
Across those 18 postcodes, monthly rents range from £882 in TA24 Minehead to £1,515 in BS49 Yatton, and gross yields range from 3.4% to 5.2%. If you are looking to build a property portfolio in the South West, Somerset's market towns offer entry points that are significantly cheaper than Bath, Bristol, or Exeter.
Average Rent & Gross Rental Yields in Somerset
The highest gross yield in Somerset is 5.2% in TA6 Bridgwater, where monthly rents of £1,098 meet asking prices of £253,011. TA2 Taunton North follows at 5.0% and BS24 Weston-super-Mare at 4.9%. The yield spread across all 18 postcodes with data is 1.8 percentage points, from 5.2% down to 3.4%. Gross yield is calculated from asking price and monthly rent. It does not account for void periods, maintenance, or mortgage costs.
| Area | Average Monthly Rent | Average Asking Price | Gross Yield |
|---|---|---|---|
| TA6 (Bridgwater East) | £1,098 | £253,011 | 5.2% |
| TA2 (Taunton North, Monkton Heathfield) | £1,147 | £277,473 | 5.0% |
| BS24 (Weston-super-Mare South, Bleadon) | £1,297 | £316,998 | 4.9% |
| TA1 (Taunton Town Centre) | £1,081 | £275,002 | 4.7% |
| BA21 (Yeovil North) | £939 | £254,482 | 4.4% |
| ... 10 more postcodes with rental data from 4.3% to 3.6% yield ... | |||
| BA4 (Shepton Mallet) | £1,020 | £350,472 | 3.5% |
| BS48 (Backwell, Nailsea) | £1,356 | £478,784 | 3.4% |
| TA24 (Minehead) | £882 | £311,709 | 3.4% |
| 27 postcodes — Not enough data | |||
The top three yielding postcodes all sit along the M5 corridor. TA6 Bridgwater (5.2%), TA2 Taunton North (5.0%), and BS24 Weston-super-Mare (4.9%) benefit from the transport connectivity that makes these towns practical places to live and work. TA1 Taunton Centre at 4.7% adds a fourth postcode in the same corridor. Between them, these four postcodes account for 181 sales per month and represent the bulk of Somerset's lettable market.
BA21 Yeovil North at 4.4% combines the county's second-lowest asking price with solid rents. Monthly income of £939 against an asking price of £254,482 creates a yield that is lower than Bridgwater's, but Yeovil's rental market is less dependent on a single project. Leonardo Helicopters provides the anchor employment here.
BS48 Backwell and TA24 Minehead share the bottom of the yield table at 3.4%, for different reasons. BS48's high rents of £1,356 are absorbed by asking prices approaching £479,000. That is Bristol commuter pricing in a Somerset postcode. TA24 Minehead's low rents of £882 reflect a coastal retirement town where tenant demand is seasonal and thin.
Is Somerset Rent High?
Rent in Somerset ranges from 29.2% to 50.1% of the local median gross monthly salary across the 18 postcodes with rental data. The general benchmark is that rent becomes stretched above 30% of gross income. 16 of the 18 postcodes sit above that level, which says more about Somerset's relatively low wages than unusually high rents.
The median gross weekly salary in Somerset is £697.70, which equates to £3,023 per month or £36,279 per year. This is below the South West regional median of £722.00 per week and the Great Britain median of £752.40 per week. Data from the Nomis Labour Market Profile (ASHE 2025).
| Rank | Area | Rent as % of Income |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | BS49 (Yatton, Congresbury) | 50.1% |
| 2 | BA22 (Yeovil Rural, Ilchester) | 45.4% |
| 3 | BS48 (Backwell, Nailsea) | 44.8% |
| 4 | BS24 (Weston-super-Mare South, Bleadon) | 42.9% |
| 5 | TA4 (Wiveliscombe, Bishops Lydeard) | 42.0% |
| ... 8 more postcodes from 40.9% to 35.3% ... | ||
| 14 | BA4 (Shepton Mallet) | 33.7% |
| 15 | TA18 (Crewkerne) | 33.5% |
| 16 | BA21 (Yeovil North) | 31.1% |
| 17 | BA20 (Yeovil Centre) | 29.6% |
| 18 | TA24 (Minehead) | 29.2% |
| 27 postcodes — Not enough data | ||
BS49 Yatton at 50.1% looks extreme, but context matters. Rents of £1,515 per month in a postcode that borders Bristol attract tenants who earn above Somerset's median. The county-wide salary figure understates what BS49 tenants actually take home. The same applies to BS48 Backwell at 44.8% and BS24 Weston-super-Mare at 42.9%. These northern postcodes draw from the Bristol labour market.
BA20 Yeovil Centre at 29.6% and TA24 Minehead at 29.2% are the only two postcodes below 30%. BA21 Yeovil North at 31.1% sits just above. These are the postcodes where rent is most affordable relative to local wages. For investors, lower rent-to-income ratios reduce the risk of tenant arrears and void periods.
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View Property DealsAre Somerset House Prices High? Price-to-Earnings Ratios
Three of Somerset's 43 postcodes sit below the national price-to-earnings benchmark of 7.5x: TA6 Bridgwater (7.0x), BA21 Yeovil North (7.0x), and BA20 Yeovil Centre (7.4x). This ratio compares asking prices to the local median annual salary of £36,279 from the Nomis Labour Market Profile for Somerset. The national benchmark of 7.5x is calculated from England's average sold price of £291,865 against Great Britain's median salary of £39,125.
The full spread from 7.0x to 16.0x reflects the two-tier nature of Somerset's market: affordable market towns at one end, lifestyle-driven villages at the other. The remaining 40 postcodes exceed the national benchmark, with the premium rural postcodes stretching to 16.0x in BS28 Wedmore.
| Rank | Area | Price-to-Earnings Ratio |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | TA6 (Bridgwater East) | 7.0x |
| 2 | BA21 (Yeovil North) | 7.0x |
| 3 | BA20 (Yeovil Centre) | 7.4x |
| 4 | TA1 (Taunton Town Centre) | 7.6x |
| 5 | TA2 (Taunton North, Monkton Heathfield) | 7.6x |
| ... 33 more postcodes from 7.8x to 12.8x ... | ||
| 39 | TA3 (North Curry) | 13.0x |
| 40 | BS48 (Backwell, Nailsea) | 13.2x |
| 41 | BS25 (Winscombe, Churchill) | 14.4x |
| 42 | BS26 (Axbridge) | 15.3x |
| 43 | BS28 (Wedmore) | 16.0x |
| — | TA15 (Montacute) | Not enough data |
| — | TA17 (Hinton St George) | Not enough data |
TA6 Bridgwater and BA21 Yeovil at 7.0x, plus BA20 Yeovil Centre at 7.4x, are the three postcodes below the national benchmark. TA6 and BA21 are also in the top five for yield, while BA20 sits ninth at 4.0%. That combination of affordable pricing relative to local wages and rental returns is what makes these postcodes the starting point for most Somerset buy-to-let analysis.
BS28 Wedmore at 16.0x and BS26 Axbridge at 15.3x are completely detached from local incomes. Prices in these postcodes are driven by lifestyle demand from buyers outside Somerset, not by what local workers earn. The same applies to BS48 Backwell (13.2x) and BS25 Winscombe (14.4x), where Bristol proximity inflates prices well beyond what Somerset wages can support.
For investors comparing across the South West, Somerset's affordable postcodes offer price-to-earnings ratios broadly in line with Exeter and Bournemouth, but the county's premium postcodes push the average ratio well above those cities.
Deposit Requirements in Somerset
A 30% deposit on Somerset's cheapest postcode, TA6 Bridgwater, comes to £75,903. The most expensive, BS28 Wedmore, requires £173,774. Six postcodes need deposits under £85,000. At the other end, twelve postcodes exceed £120,000, putting them in territory where capital efficiency becomes a real consideration. The table below uses 30% rather than the minimum 25% because it typically unlocks better interest rates.
| Rank | Area | 30% Deposit Required |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | TA6 (Bridgwater East) | £75,903 |
| 2 | BA21 (Yeovil North) | £76,345 |
| 3 | BA20 (Yeovil Centre) | £81,042 |
| 4 | TA1 (Taunton Town Centre) | £82,501 |
| 5 | TA2 (Taunton North, Monkton Heathfield) | £83,242 |
| ... 33 more postcodes from £84,616 to £139,723 ... | ||
| 39 | TA3 (North Curry) | £141,486 |
| 40 | BS48 (Backwell, Nailsea) | £143,635 |
| 41 | BS25 (Winscombe, Churchill) | £156,236 |
| 42 | BS26 (Axbridge) | £166,440 |
| 43 | BS28 (Wedmore) | £173,774 |
| — | TA15 (Montacute) | Not enough data |
| — | TA17 (Hinton St George) | Not enough data |
The five cheapest deposits match the five highest-yielding postcodes almost exactly. TA6 (£75,903 deposit, 5.2% yield), BA21 (£76,345, 4.4%), BA20 (£81,042, 4.0%), TA1 (£82,501, 4.7%), and TA2 (£83,242, 5.0%). In Somerset, the postcodes where yields work are also the postcodes where entry costs are lowest. That alignment is not always the case in other counties.
The deposit gap between the cheapest and most expensive postcode is £97,871. That spread reflects the two-tier nature of Somerset's market. An investor with £75,000 to £85,000 in capital can access the market towns where rental demand exists. An investor looking at BS28 Wedmore or BS26 Axbridge needs nearly double that, for a postcode with no rental data and lower yields.
Deposit is only part of the upfront cost. Budget for stamp duty (use our stamp duty calculator for an accurate figure), legal fees, and survey costs. For a full breakdown, see our guide to buy-to-let costs. Investors looking for lower entry points may also want to explore below market value properties, repossessed houses for sale, or strategies for investing in property with no deposit.
What the Somerset Data Tells Buy-to-Let Investors
Somerset's 18 postcodes with rental data deliver gross yields between 3.4% and 5.2%, with entry deposits from £75,903. The market towns along the M5 corridor and A303 route have active rental markets and affordable entry points. The rural villages and premium postcodes have higher prices, no rental data, and growth figures driven by lifestyle demand rather than tenant economics.
For yield, the data favours TA6 Bridgwater (5.2%), TA2 Taunton North (5.0%), and BS24 Weston-super-Mare (4.9%). All three have 30% deposits between £75,903 and £95,099. TA6 combines the highest yield with the lowest asking price and 59 sales per month, giving it the deepest market liquidity in the county. TA1 Taunton Centre at 4.7% adds a fourth option in the same area, with 50 sales per month and the county town's institutional employment base.
For capital growth, the five-year data is mixed. BS28 Wedmore leads at 33.0%, but from a base of £579,248. TA6 Bridgwater at 19.4% from a base of £253,011 is the more meaningful figure for investors. TA1 Taunton (17.4%) and BA21 Yeovil (16.7%) follow. Six postcodes are in negative territory over five years. The countywide Land Registry figure of +14.7% over five years sits below the England average of +16.7%.
The critical question for Somerset is rental data coverage. Only 18 of 43 postcodes have rent data. That 42% coverage rate limits where buy-to-let works in practice. The postcodes without rental data include some of Somerset's highest-priced areas: BS28, BS26, BS25, and others where prices are supported by owner-occupier demand rather than a letting market.
For investors considering Somerset alongside investment property options elsewhere, the market towns offer the most realistic starting points. Investors looking for off-market property or renovation projects will find more stock in the TA and BA postcodes than the premium BS areas.
TA6 Bridgwater has the lowest asking price (£253,011), highest yield (5.2%), and highest transaction volume (59 sales/month) of any Somerset postcode. The Hinkley Point C nuclear power station has transformed the town's rental market. How that demand evolves when the construction phase ends is the key question for investors buying in Bridgwater today.
How Somerset Buy-to-Let Compares to Nearby Areas
Compared against six nearby South West locations, Somerset's mean asking price of £370,381 and top yield of 5.2% sit mid-table. The table below uses the same methodology for each: mean asking price across all postcodes, mean monthly rent across postcodes with data, and top single-postcode gross yield.
| Location | Mean Asking Price | Mean Monthly Rent | Top Gross Yield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Somerset | £370,381 | £1,142 | 5.2% |
| Bath | £450,726 | £1,782 | 5.8% |
| Bristol | £372,904 | £1,777 | 8.2% |
| Exeter | £387,814 | £1,284 | 5.6% |
| Bournemouth | £355,164 | £1,408 | 7.7% |
| Truro | £442,300 | £1,234 | 4.4% |
| Wells | £364,636 | £1,086 | 3.7% |
Somerset's mean asking price of £370,381 is almost identical to Bristol's £372,904, but the rent picture is very different. Bristol's mean monthly rent of £1,777 is 56% higher than Somerset's £1,142. That rent gap is what pushes Bristol's top yield to 8.2% compared to Somerset's 5.2%. The difference is urban density. Bristol has deep, year-round rental demand across almost all postcodes. Somerset's rental market is concentrated in a handful of towns.
Bournemouth at £355,164 mean asking price is actually cheaper than Somerset on average. Combined with higher rents (£1,408) and a top yield of 7.7%, Bournemouth offers stronger headline numbers. But Somerset's cheapest postcodes (TA6 at £253,011, BA21 at £254,482) undercut anything in Bournemouth. The entry floor in Somerset is lower even if the average is higher.
Wells at £364,636 and Truro at £442,300 sit at opposite ends of the comparison for different reasons. Wells has the lowest rent (£1,086) and lowest top yield (3.7%) in this group. Truro has the highest mean asking price outside Bath. Both are small markets with limited rental data. Somerset has 45 postcodes and 18 with rental data, giving investors far more options to find the right combination of yield, price, and market depth. Explore more options across the best buy-to-let locations in England.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the cheapest places to buy property in Somerset?
TA6 Bridgwater at £253,011 is the cheapest postcode in Somerset by average asking price. BA21 Yeovil North follows at £254,482, then BA20 Yeovil Centre (£270,141), TA1 Taunton Centre (£275,002), and TA2 Taunton North (£277,473). All five have rental data and sit in the county's main market towns. TA6 and BA21 both require 30% deposits under £77,000.
Is Bridgwater a good area for buy-to-let investment?
TA6 Bridgwater has the highest gross yield (5.2%), lowest asking price (£253,011), and highest transaction volume (59 sales per month) of any Somerset postcode. Hinkley Point C, the UK's largest infrastructure project at £35 billion, has driven rental demand from construction workers and supply chain employees. The five-year growth of 19.4% reflects that demand. The question for investors is what happens when the construction phase ends and the operational workforce, which is smaller, replaces it.
What is the average rent in Taunton?
Average monthly rents in Taunton are £1,081 in TA1 (Town Centre) and £1,147 in TA2 (Taunton North, Monkton Heathfield). TA2 delivers a gross yield of 5.0% and TA1 delivers 4.7%. Combined, the two Taunton postcodes account for 90 sales per month, making Taunton the most liquid market in Somerset after Bridgwater.
Is Weston-super-Mare a good buy-to-let area?
BS24 Weston-super-Mare has the third-highest gross yield in Somerset at 4.9%, with monthly rents of £1,297 against asking prices of £316,998. That requires a 30% deposit of £95,099. The postcode recorded 32 sales per month and 12.1% five-year growth. Weston-super-Mare sits on the M5 with direct access to Bristol, which supports tenant demand from commuters priced out of the city.
Does Glastonbury have rental data?
BA6 Glastonbury has price data (average asking price £384,751, price per square foot £303) but no current rental data in our dataset. Glastonbury's housing market is influenced by tourism and lifestyle demand rather than a conventional letting market. The BA6 postcode shows five-year growth of 4.9% and 16 sales per month.
How does Somerset compare to Bath for property investment?
Bath has a higher mean asking price (£450,726 vs Somerset's £370,381), higher mean rent (£1,782 vs £1,142), and a higher top yield (5.8% vs 5.2%). Bath is a compact city with deep, year-round rental demand from students, professionals, and tourists. Somerset is a rural county where rental markets concentrate in market towns.
Somerset's entry prices are lower. TA6 Bridgwater at £253,011 is 44% below Bath's cheapest postcode. The trade-off is scale of rental demand. Bath has rental data across most of its postcodes. Somerset has rental data in only 18 of 43.
Are there cities in Somerset?
Somerset does not have any formally designated cities. Taunton is the largest settlement and administrative centre. Other major towns include Bridgwater, Yeovil, Frome, and Weston-super-Mare (which sits in the overlapping postcode area). The nearby city of Wells holds city status but is one of England's smallest cities by population. Bath, which borders Somerset, is covered in our separate Bath buy-to-let guide.