The headline ratio is one of the most quoted statistics in UK housing policy and one of the least examined. A 9.1x ratio of median price to median wage is not just a number; it shapes mortgage availability, the age of first-time buyers, household formation rates, and the geography of who lives where. Here is what the 2026 figures look like and where the genuine affordable areas still are.
The headline ratios in Q1 2026
| Region | Median price | Median wage | Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| London | £530,000 | £38,800 | 13.7 |
| South East | £390,000 | £33,900 | 11.5 |
| South West | £305,000 | £29,900 | 10.2 |
| East of England | £335,000 | £34,900 | 9.6 |
| West Midlands | £260,000 | £30,000 | 8.7 |
| East Midlands | £245,000 | £29,800 | 8.2 |
| Wales | £215,000 | £28,200 | 7.6 |
| Yorkshire | £220,000 | £28,500 | 7.7 |
| North West | £215,000 | £28,800 | 7.5 |
| Scotland | £165,000 | £30,600 | 5.4 |
| North East | £155,000 | £29,800 | 5.2 |
Historical context
The UK national ratio sat between 3x and 4.5x from the 1950s through 1996. It crossed 5x in 2000, 7x in 2007, briefly dipped to 6.4x in 2009, then climbed steadily to today's 9.1x.
The pre-2000 average is widely cited as the “normal” ratio. Whether the post-2000 elevation reflects a permanent regime change (driven by global capital, longer mortgage terms, lower interest rates) or an unsustainable bubble that has not yet corrected is the central debate of UK housing economics.
Where the affordable postcodes still are
Median price-to-wage ratios below 5x in 2026:
- Parts of South Yorkshire (Rotherham, Doncaster, parts of Sheffield).
- Parts of Lancashire (Blackburn, Burnley, Preston outer).
- Most of County Durham.
- Most of Northumberland.
- Hull and parts of East Riding.
- Parts of Stoke-on-Trent.
- Parts of Glasgow, Dundee, Aberdeen.
Where the ratio exceeds 12x
- Most of inner London (Westminster, Kensington and Chelsea, Camden hit 16x+).
- St Albans, Hertford, Cambridge (commuter towns with strong demand).
- Brighton, Lewes, parts of Sussex coast.
- Cornwall (St Ives, Padstow, Falmouth driven by second-home market).
- Bath, parts of Bristol.
What this means for first-time buyers
Mortgage lenders typically lend up to 4.5x income, with some specialists going to 5.5x for high earners. At a 4.5x multiple, a buyer on £33,000 can borrow £148,500. Add a typical 10% deposit and they are buying at £165,000.
That works in the North East and Scotland. In London it does not. The ratio implies either a much larger deposit, two-income households, or moving outward.
The Bank of Mum and Dad
Around 53% of UK first-time buyers in 2025 received financial help from family, averaging £25,000. The proportion is closer to 70% in London. Family financial support has become the de facto top-up making 4.5x salary multiples work in a 13x market.
What changes the ratio
- Wages catching up: requires sustained 5%+ wage growth above 2% house price growth. Has not happened in 25 years.
- Prices falling: nominal price falls would correct the ratio quickly but the political and economic costs are large.
- Supply expansion: building 350,000+ homes a year would tilt the balance. Current build is around 235,000.
- Mortgage product changes: longer mortgage terms (40 to 50 years) have already absorbed some of the affordability stress.
Check the local picture before you commit
A PropertyReportUK report shows actual sold prices for the street, the EPC and council tax band, plus rental yield data if you are weighing buy-to-let. National ratios are an average; the local reality is what matters. Get a report.