The most underrated places to buy a home in the UK
House prices tend to be sky-high in some of the most desirable parts of the UK. We look at ten underrated areas which boast great amenities without an outsized price tag.
House prices have continued to rise so far in 2025, with the average home costing 0.5% more in May than it did in April, and 3.5% more than it did a year ago, according to Nationwide.
This means the average UK property now costs £273,427 and, naturally, house prices dip below this in some areas and are significantly higher in the most expensive places in the country.
However, new data suggests there are a number of underrated towns where you can get more bang for your buck when buying a house.
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By analysing affordability, commuting convenience, crime rates, school ratings, quality of life and local amenities, SellHouseFast drew up a list of UK commuter towns where average house prices were below what you would expect.
The most underrated towns in Britain
Horsforth in West Yorkshire is the most underrated town in the UK, according to SellHouseFast.
Horsforth is a 29 minute drive from Leeds, its hub city, or 26 minutes by train, making it perfect for commuters who need quick access to Yorkshire’s largest city. Some 74% of the schools within five miles of the town are either good or outstanding.
As for amenities, there are 22 coffee shops, 65 bars and pubs, and 141 restaurants within five miles of the town, and plenty more when you venture into the city of Leeds.
The average price of a house in this town is £328,259, just over £50,000 more than the UK average, but notably lower than many other parts of Leeds like Roundhay (£435,245) and Bramhope (£537,503).
The second-most underrated area of the UK is Rowley Regis, a suburb of Birmingham in the borough of Sandwell.
It lies a short 21 minute train journey from Birmingham, making it easy to commute for work in the UK’s second-largest city. If you would rather drive, the commute time doubles to around 42 minutes.
The town boasts 43 coffee shops, 114 bars and pubs, and 103 restaurants within five miles of it, while 90% of schools there are rated either good or outstanding by Ofsted.
Homes in Rowley Regis cost far below the UK average, with the typical house in the town costing just £206,009, more than £67,000 less than the country-wide average.
The third-most underrated area of the UK is also a suburb of Birmingham – Sutton Coldfield. This town lies just 33 minutes away from the city by car, and only 24 minutes away by train.
If you plan on raising children in the area, then good and outstanding schools are in no short supply, while the town is also home to many local amenities to visit on the weekends.
Just a short walk from Sutton Coldfield’s city centre is the large and beautiful green space of Sutton Park, one of the UK’s largest urban parks with lakes, marshland, ancient woodlands, and even a golf course.
Typical homes in the town cost well above the UK average, lying at £394,443, but SellHouseFast reckons the town’s great transport links, local amenities, schools, and low crime make it underrated.
A full list of the UK’s ten most underrated towns can be found below:
Swipe to scroll horizontally
Rank
Town
Hub city
Car approx. commute time (mins)
Train approx. commute time (mins)
Average house price
Crime risk score /1,000
Good/ Outstanding schools within five miles
Overall score /10
1
Horsforth
Leeds
29
26
£328,259
556
74%
7.05
2
Rowley Regis
Birmingham
41.5
21
£206,009
620
90%
6.96
3
Sutton Coldfield
Birmingham
33.5
24
£394,443
475
72%
6.39
4
Chesterfield
Sheffield
40.5
12
£212,576
626
64%
6.29
5
Dronfield
Sheffield
29
10
£273,863
394
66%
6.19
6
Kenilworth
Birmingham
47.5
100
£449,304
379
70%
6.12
7
Hitchin
London
115
34
£488,466
478
83%
5.97
8
Newton-le-Willows
Manchester
55
20
£217,662
622
72%
5.73
9
Ware
London
110
48
£418,336
501
73%
5.50
10
Mossley
Manchester
55
17
£200,244
N/A
62%
5.39
Source: SellHouseFast
The UK’s cheapest underrated areas
While many of the most underrated areas in the UK have below-average house prices, one town has homes that cost around 27% less than the UK average while still boasting many local amenities, short commutes, and good schools.
Mossley, a town in the North West, is the tenth-most underrated area of the UK according to SellHouseFast.
Transport connections to Manchester are excellent in this town – it’s a 17 minute train ride away from the largest city in the north.
Commuters are best advised to get into Manchester by train, though, as driving into the city will take you around one hour.
Mossley has a combined 88 coffee shops, bars and pubs, and restaurants within five miles, and countless more are a short distance away in Manchester, one of the most vibrant cities in the UK.
The average home in Mossley will only set you back £200,244, more than £73,000 less than the UK average.
Though a little more expensive than Mossley, another commuter town near Manchester is also an underrated area of the UK with low house prices.
Newton-le-Willows is a market town and a borough of St. Helens, situated between the North West’s two largest cities – Manchester and Liverpool.
For a worker in Manchester, it will only take around 20 minutes to get a train to the city centre, or you can drive there in 55 minutes.
Meanwhile, Newton-le-Willows residents will only have to travel 17 minutes by train to get to Liverpool, or drive for around an hour.
The local amenities of Newton-le-Willows are good too. There are 14 coffee shops, 44 bars and pubs, and 44 restaurants within five miles of the town, while 72% of schools there are rated either good or outstanding by Ofsted.
The typical home in the town will only set you back £217,662, far lower than the UK average.
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Daniel is a digital journalist at Moneyweek and enjoys writing about personal finance, economics, and politics. He previously worked at The Economist in their Audience team.
Daniel studied History at Emmanuel College, Cambridge and specialised in the history of political thought. In his free time, he likes reading, listening to music, and cooking overambitious meals.
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