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An analysis of housing affordability across Wales has highlighted which areas offer the most and least accessible options for homebuyers. In the south Wales valleys, towns such as Tylorstown, Ferndale, and Maerdy emerged as some of the most affordable places to purchase a house, with average prices ranging between £87,000 and £94,000. Conversely, Lisvane, a suburb located in Cardiff, was identified as the least affordable area, with the average property price reaching £507,000.
The Office for National Statistics (ONS) determines housing affordability by comparing average house prices to average earnings within each area. According to their criteria, a location is considered affordable if the average home costs no more than five times the earnings of local workers. In Rhondda Cynon Taf, for example, where Tylorstown is situated, the average house price stood at £87,000 for the year ending September 2025, while the average salary for those working in the region was £33,976.
Local estate agent Rhys Chapman, owner of Chapman estate agents in Porth, Rhondda Cynon Taf, noted that properties priced under £170,000 in the area are particularly appealing to first-time buyers. He observed increasing interest from people relocating “over the bridge into the valleys,” attracted by the affordability of homes within their price bracket in places like the Rhondda valleys. This trend is supported by the wider list of affordable locations predominantly found in Rhondda Cynon Taf and nearby areas such as Blaenau Gwent, Bridgend, Caerphilly, Merthyr Tydfil, and Swansea.
On the other end of the spectrum, Lisvane in Cardiff represents one of Wales’s priciest housing markets. With average earnings for Cardiff workers at £38,225, the substantial house price of £507,000 highlights the high cost of living in that locality. Jonathan Thomas, director of Thomas estate agents in Tonypandy, explained that the housing landscape in Wales has shifted following the Covid-19 pandemic, as remote working led buyers to seek more affordable homes outside expensive urban centers. He has encountered buyers moving from cities such as Birmingham and Bristol who are drawn by the lower costs and better access to natural surroundings, a preference that reflects a changing attitude toward lifestyle over proximity to busy city centers. Enhanced transport links, including upgrades to the Metro on the core valley railway lines, have also made commuting to Cardiff easier for those relying on public transit.
Across Wales, the average house price sits at £213,000, which is about six times the median annual salary of £35,800. Looking ahead, Iain Mansfield, CEO of Principality Building Society, predicts continued modest growth in house prices. Mansfield emphasized the resilience of the Welsh housing market despite ongoing geopolitical uncertainties, particularly noting robust demand among first-time buyers
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