Sticking to a tight budget but hoping to get your foot on the property ladder? We’ve done some digging and found the cheapest places to buy a house in the UK.
Let’s take a look at the countdown.
Cheapest places to buy a house
So, where is buying a house cheapest? Here are the cheapest places to buy homes for sale in the UK, by postcode, and average property prices:
- Middlesbrough, TS1, £54,978
- Bradford, BD1, £58,673
- Sunderland, SR1, £65,478
- Grimsby, DN31, £71,105
- Shildon, DL4, £73,637
- Middlesbrough, TS3, £80,958
- Peterlee, SR8 £85,274
- Stanley, DH9, £91,391
- Lancashire, BB11, £91,516
- Liverpool, L20, £91,793
- Keighley, BD21, £91,833
- Birkenhead, CH41, £91,885
- Kingston upon Hull, HU9, £92,755
- Sunderland, SR5, £93,222
- Ferryhill, DL17, £95,380
- Blackpool, FY1, £95,526
- Hull, HU3, £97,043
- Grimsby, DN32, £97,652
- Liverpool, L5, £97,744
- Seaton Carew, TS25, £100,603
RentRound used data from Propertydata to gather this information.
As of January 2023, the average UK house price was £290,000. In England, it stood at £310,000, in Wales £217,000 and £185,000 in Scotland. Therefore these affordable towns are significantly under this.
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Top 10 most cheapest places to buy a house
Evidently, heading up north results in higher savings, compared to the southeast of England. Let’s break down the cheapest areas to buy a house and their postcodes.
1. Middlesbrough, North Yorkshire, £54,978
Situated on the south bank of the River Tees, in Middlesbrough, you’re never more than 20 minutes from the coast, countryside or town centre. It’s also a great place to buy a home without breaking the bank.
Where is the cheapest place to live in the UK 2023? In Middlesbrough, claiming top spot for affordability, with an average house price of £54,978. TS1 is the postcode in Middlesbrough. The TS3 postcode is another one featured in the top 10 most affordable areas of the UK, with an average home price of £80,958.
2. Bradford, West Yorkshire, £58,673
In the BD1 postcode, you can snap up a property for less than £60,000. Bradford is located in the foothills of the beautiful Pennines, popular with first-time buyers, renters and those looking to climb up the property ladder.
If you love period homes, you’re in luck, as Bradford is largely made up of Victorian builds.
3. Sunderland, Tyne and Wear, 65,478
Sunderland is home to a stunning coastline and buzzing city centre – depending what side of the River Wear you’re on. The SR1 postcode claims third spot on this list, where purchasing a property will set you back around £65,478.
Green outdoor spaces now form an important criteria for the best places to buy a house, so Sunderland has a lot to boast about!
4. Grimsby, North East Lincolnshire, £71,105
Grimsby features twice on our ‘cheapest places’ countdown; with the average house price in the DN31 postcode sitting at £71,105. Meanwhile, just a stone’s throw away, property prices in the DN32 postcode cost around £97,652.
This port town also boasts charm and heritage, with a rich fishing and trawlermen history, just waiting to be discovered.
5. Shildon, County Durham, £73,637
The DL4 postcode in Shildon is one of the most affordable places to buy a property in the UK. The town is also ideal for those looking to live somewhere quieter – but still with easy access to the city. It’s truly the best of both worlds, home to a number of friendly locals.
6. Peterlee, County Durham, £85,274
Looking to save for a house deposit? It will be much easier in certain parts of the UK than others, and Peterlee is no exception; particularly the SR8 postcode. Peterlee is also affectionately known as ‘Mexico City’ by locals, due to its architecture.
7. Stanley, County Durham, £91,391
Also in County Durham is Stanley, where the average asking price is less than £100,000. This former coal mining town is located a short drive from both Newcastle and Durham, popular with singles, families and couples.
8. Lancashire, North West England, £91,516
Looking for a cheap rural area? Lancashire’s BB11 postcode is another affordability hotspot in UK housing. Lancashire is a beautiful location popular with tourists and locals alike, built on medieval and industrial heritage. Being close to Manchester, Leeds and Liverpool, it’s a good spot for commuters too.
9. Liverpool, Merseyside, £91,793
Both the L20 and L5 postcodes in Liverpool feature on this list, showing Liverpool is famous for more than it’s football club and being the birthplace of the Beatles. It’s extremely culturally diverse, offering something for everyone, whether you’re there to live, work or play.
While property in this town is in hot pursuit, you can still find many homes well below the average UK asking price.
10. Keighley, West Yorkshire, 91,833
At just over £90,000, the average home price in the BD21 postcode of Keighley is a great place for first-time buyers and other buyers alike. This Yorkshire town in the City of Bradford is home to a lovingly restored steam railway and boasts scenes of incredibly charming countryside.
Places that just mist the cheapest places to buy a house top 20
They may not have made the top ten, but the other property prices of some postcodes on this list are not to be sniffed at. Just missing out is Birkenhead of Wirral, home to a now-infamous park that has inspired many others across the country.
At number 20, but still much cheaper than other parts of the UK, is Seaton Carew, where you can find a property for just over £100,000. When compared to the average house price of £552,755 in the nation’s capital, it’s clear that paying off a mortgage here will be much easier, particularly for solo buyers!
What are the cheapest commuter cities?
The closer you get to a major city, particularly the capital, the more house prices will rise. While there are some cheaper places to live in London, it’s the most expensive area to buy a house in the UK. However, you can find the best of both worlds. Rugby, Luton and Maidenhead are some of the best commuter towns for London when it comes to affordability.
What about the cheapest places to rent in the UK?
Looking to rent in an area before you buy there? Lancashire is one of the cheapest places to rent in the UK, with the DL4 postcode in Shildon taking the top spot.
Looking to move somewhere new?
Knowing average house prices is one thing, but how can you know for sure if you’ll actually like living in the area? Arm yourself with more information! You’ll want to know crime rates, neighbourhood demographics and much more. A property report will collect all this research for you. Get your full report below.
*Please note these figures as subject to change and you should always do your own research.
Last Updated: April 28th, 2023
