A town in the North East with a rich railway heritage has been identified as the most budget-friendly town in the UK for families.
Shildon in County Durham holds the distinction of being the world’s first railway town. It witnessed the inaugural steam locomotive journey with passengers on a public railway when the Stockton and Darlington Railway, spanning 26 miles, commenced operations.
Zoopla’s research has spotlighted Shildon, home to the Locomotion museum, for its affordability. The average house price in Shildon stands at £82,000, enabling potential buyers to enter the property market with a value to earnings ratio of 1.36, translating to a typical monthly mortgage payment of £325.
This analysis arrives at a pivotal moment for the housing market, coinciding with the active Easter home buying season.
Zoopla’s affordability ranking focuses on 300 sought-after towns for families seeking three-bedroom homes, assessing popularity based on property views and subsequently ranking them by affordability.
The top three spots are occupied by areas in the North East of England, with seven of the top 10 towns located in the same region. Homes in Shildon are priced three times lower than the most affordable towns in the South East of England, according to Zoopla.
In Ferndale, the most cost-effective town in Wales, the average price for a three-bedroom home is £113,000, with a value to earnings ratio of 1.85. Similarly, Cumnock, a historic market town in East Ayrshire, leads the affordability ranking in Scotland with an average property value of £113,600 and a value to earnings ratio of 1.68.
Richard Donnell, Zoopla’s executive director, emphasized the current housing market dynamics, highlighting the abundance of available homes and the increasing buyer focus on affordability.
He noted the significant affordability contrast across the UK, particularly in the North East where families can secure homes at considerably lower costs compared to the most economical towns in southern England.
While affordable options exist in every region, buyers often need to weigh lower house prices against proximity to major job centers. Many of the low-cost towns in southern England are coastal, potentially leading to higher travel expenses, which may not suit everyone’s needs.
Donnell encouraged buyers to utilize available tools for making well-informed decisions, understanding the trade-offs involved, and facilitating successful property moves in 2026.