UK's most affordable cities and towns to live in - and the least affordable places

Couples with dual incomes are now facing the prospect of spending nearly four times their combined yearly earnings to secure a home, according to Zoopla.

The property website's data indicates that households with both partners working full-time typically need to fork out 3.8 times their average annual income to buy a property.

For single buyers, the situation is even more daunting, with the average cost of a home being 7.6 times their annual salary. Zoopla's research into the most affordable areas across Britain involved examining house price-to-earnings ratios for a two-salary household, using local average wages as a benchmark.

The study found that in Cumnock, East Ayrshire, , and Shildon, County Durham, in the North East of England, the average property price is just 1.1 times the typical local household income.

Even the most affordable location within the London area exceeded the national average affordability ratio for a household with two earners. Croydon emerged as the capital's most budget-friendly area, with homes there averaging at about 4.7 times local incomes.

Izabella Lubowiecka, a senior property researcher at Zoopla, commented: "London remains the least affordable area for home-buyers. Those in London looking to get more for their money may want to consider buying in one of the South East and East of England’s commuter belt, where there are many towns that are more affordable than London."

"The same is true in markets around many regional cities and we see buyers seeking value for money."

NAEA (National Association of Estate Agents) Propertymark president Toby Leek said: "Affordability for many is a real issue and, as purse strings remain tightened despite easing factors such as slight drops in inflation, prospective and current home-owners will be looking to enter the market with caution, but also, in some cases, further flexibility in where they nest themselves."

He went on to note changes in people's work habits mean they're not tied to an office and can consider different spots to buy a home.

The report was released as research commissioned by Santander UK found that almost three-quarters (73%) of potential first-time buyers would consider moving to New Towns.

This reflects a trend against 57% of so-called "second steppers" ready to leave their initial owned place, and just 41% of those looking to downsize in later in life.

Not everyone's keen on a New Town move, though, with some put off by the quality of houses, although high quality healthcare and green spaces might tempt others. Almost half (47%) of prospective homeowners polled in September say the steep prices are the main barrier stopping them buying a property.

Graham Sellar, Santander's head of business development for mortgages, emphasised the importance of community-focused planning in new towns: "New Towns have incredible potential but, to maximise the impact they can have, they must be built with the people who will call them home in mind.

"Our research shows just how important it is to create lively communities with green spaces as well as easy access to healthcare when it comes to appealing to more home-buyers."

Here's Zoopla's rundown of the most affordable towns across the UK. The list includes the postal town, average house value, estimated annual household income, and the house value-to-earnings ratio:.

East Midlands, Gainsborough, £170,000, £70,500, 2.4.

East of England, Wisbech, £209,800, £70,900, 3.0.

South East, Dover, £250,000, £79,300, 3.2.

South West, Plymouth, £222,200, £68,300, 3.3.

Wales, Ferndale, £101,600, £67,700, 1.5.

West Midlands, Stoke-On-Trent, £139,200, £62,100, 2.2.

Yorkshire and the Humber, Hull, £119,800, £62,200, 1.9.

London, Croydon, £417,800, £84,800, 4.7.

North East, Shildon, £73,200, £65,800, 1.1.

North West, Workington, £123,700, £76,900, 1.6.

Scotland, Cumnock, £80,300, £75,800, 1.1.