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