# Revealed: the top 10 UK cities for first-time buyers

- URL: https://talkfuse.com/story/revealed-the-top-10-uk-cities-for-first-time-buyers/
- Published: 2026-07-18T05:00:49+00:00
- Updated: 2026-07-18T06:13:13+00:00
- Original publisher: The Guardian (publisher lean: Left)
- Original article: https://www.theguardian.com/money/2026/jul/18/top-uk-cities-first-time-buyers-rent-property
- Topics: Art, Business, Celebrity, Culture, Entertainment, UK, World

## Summary

Research from estate agents Savills, shared exclusively with Guardian Money, has identified the UK's top 10 cities for first-time buyers, reflecting a decade-long shift in where young workers choose to rent, save and eventually buy. The trend away from London is driven by soaring costs, with the average deposit for a first home in Greater London now around £130,000, prompting graduates and early-career workers to weigh housing costs alongside job prospects when choosing where to settle.

The rankings assess cities on flat price-to-income ratios, rent-to-income ratios and population growth, favouring places with strong local economies and vibrant lifestyles alongside affordability. Stoke-on-Trent tops the list with the best affordability, boasting an average flat price of £88,448, average annual earnings of £35,079 and a price-to-income ratio of just 2.5, alongside strong transport links to London and Manchester. Experts note this represents a "weakening" rather than reversal of London's dominance, as decades of underinvestment in housing supply relative to the capital's growing population have made it progressively harder to buy there.

- Savills has ranked the UK's top 10 cities for first-time buyers based on affordability and job prospects
- Rising London deposits (around £130,000) are pushing young buyers towards regional cities
- Stoke-on-Trent ranks first, with a flat price-to-income ratio of just 2.5

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Summarised by TalkFuse (https://talkfuse.com/). Quote the original publisher for the reporting and link this page for the summary and discussion.