Moving to another town might make buying your own home achievable
Homes are more affordable in some areas(Image: georgeclerk via Getty Images)
Purchasing a property is an aspiration for many people eager to escape the rental cycle – but doing it on one salary can feel out of reach. Recent data reveals the average house price in England currently stands at £272,622, meaning even accumulating the deposit can appear overwhelming and unattainable for some.
The challenge is particularly tough for those in single-income households, whether living alone, as part of a family. With the national average yearly wage at £39,312, mortgage repayments might seem unmanageable without external assistance.
Nevertheless, according to property specialists Sell House Fast, there are seven towns in England where purchasing a home on one salary remains possible. This holds true even when accounting for the reduced earnings in those areas.
Jack Malnick, Managing Director at the housing company, said: “Buying a home on a single salary can feel like a major financial challenge, but it remains achievable for many buyers with the right location and a realistic budget. For those looking to get onto the property ladder alone, understanding where their income goes furthest can make all the difference.
“These places in England offer single people, or those relying on a single family income, a more manageable route onto the property ladder, a welcome relief at a time when homeownership looks unaffordable for many.”
The company’s research examined towns and cities throughout England using the House Price Index and Forbes figures. It then weighed up median wages, average property prices, required deposits, mortgage amounts and maximum home budgets to arrive at an “affordability headroom” figure, reports the Mirror.
Burnley emerged as the most affordable location, with the average house price of £135,012. Even taking into account the lower median salary of £29,680 this had the greatest financial buffer with a maximum home budget of £13,388 above the average property price. Three North East locations followed – Middlesbrough, County Durham and Hartlepool – then Hyndburn and Blackpool, both in Lancashire, with Hull, East Yorkshire rounding off the list.
Residents of some of these towns speak positively about their areas – though not everyone was eager to spread the word. One Reddit user, when asked about Burnley, commented: “I’ve lived in/near Burnley all my life. If you like your countryside, lots of good walks, nice parks and friendly people (yes, honestly) then I say go for it. The central town areas can be a bit iffy, but if you live on the outskirts where there’s nice pubs, restaurants, you’re set.
“Worsthorne, cliviger, or slightly further out like Fence, Barrowford. Nice villages with pubs and restaurants (there’s a Timothy Taylor’s pub with a Michelin star in Fence! ). There’s a stigma attached to Burnley but that’s fine by me. Keeps it quiet and cheap!” Another resident commented: “My mum lives in Ightenhill it’s a nice area. There are obviously some really high levels of deprivation in Burnley and the town centre isn’t the best but there’s a really good life to be had here. There are lots of nice parks and walks in the country.
“It’s easy driving distance to Manchester, Leeds and Liverpool, as well as the Lakes and Dales. There are plenty of nice places to eat and there’s even a posh spa and gym (Crow Wood) that’s within walking distance of Ightenhill. It’s well catered for sports wise as well with the football club, two great cricket clubs, a rugby union side, a tennis club and two golf courses.”
Meanwhile, a Hartlepool resident said her home town was a “best kept secret”. She said: “I live five minutes walk from a beautiful beach at Seaton Carew, 20 minutes drive from the moors and gorgeous countryside and am on a major road and public transport routes if I want to go elsewhere.
“I lived in London for years and today my old tiny flat near Wimbledon costs more than a big four-bedroom house in Hartlepool. The quality of life here is our best kept secret – it’s so much better and you can actually afford to do things, unlike when I was in London and broke all the time.”
And one Hull resident commented on Facebook: “I am not from Hull and have lived in many places over my time, including some places people only dream about visiting. I now live in Hull and all the negativity is undeserved, all cities have there challenges Hull included but!!! I live walking distance from the city centre, the old town is lovely, the marina is gorgeous, queens gardens, east park, Humber park, that’s only a few places I have visited, way much more to discover but I believe I will live here for a very long time now and couldn’t be happier about my surroundings. Not even mentioned how friendly the people are.”