Homeowners are ditching England for Scotland and Wales — and it’s no surprise
New statistics show Brits are overwhelmingly moving to Scotland and Wales (Picture: Getty Images)
When it comes to buying a home in the UK, it’s true that some areas are more affordable than others.
While London battles a housing crisis, with average rents towering above £1,000 in some cases, the overwhelming sentiment for many is simply: ‘shall we just up and move?’
Now, new statistics reveal a record-breaking number of people are flocking from England to other parts of the UK, including Scotland and Wales. Many of them are in search of more affordable house prices.
These figures are based on internal migration, which refers to the movement of people already living in the UK to another part of it.
It’s worth noting that this only includes movers who cross country borders once they’ve packed up the delivery van. Those who move between different counties within the same country, i.e. upping sticks from East Sussex to Hertfordshire, haven’t been counted in this ONS study.
Between June 2019 and June 2024, movement out of England to other parts of the UK increased by 66% to 116,000, the highest since records began in 2005.
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And it’s clear to see why: Rightmove’s latest House Price Index, published on April 1, finds that, across England, Scotland and Wales, the average home is now listed at £373,971.
However, breaking that down by the regions, prices in Scotland were much more palatable, at £208,122; though it’s worth noting that this jumped up by 4.3% from the previous month.
As for Wales, the going rate is now £274,007, an increase of 3%.
By comparison, houses in the East of England cost £421,237 on average, while the South West sits at £387, 771.
As Richard Donnell, executive director of research at Zoopla, explains, the factors that are really fuelling house moves are jobs and local economies.
He tells Metro : ‘Housing growth is something that follows in time.’
It’s not just local housing markets, though. Richard adds: ‘There will be a cohort of movers who have decided to make the leap due to other factors like proximity to green space and quality of life.’
The cheapest areas to buy a home in Wales and Scotland
Three areas of the Rhondda Valley made the affordability list (Picture: Getty Images)
Looking to abandon England and start a new life elsewhere?
Last month, Zoopla released a list of the most affordable towns to buy a family home in 2026. The statistics were broken down by region, with many spots in the North East, Wales, and Scotland making the overall top 10.
As for the Wales-specific stats, three areas came up trumps.
The first was Ferndale in the Rhondda Valley, where the average three-bedroom home will set you back £113,000. And, if you were to assume a 20% deposit, the monthly mortgage payments on a home of this calibre would be £445.
The most affordable areas to buy in Wales in 2026
- Ferndale (average three-bed home: £113,000, value to earnings ratio: 1.85, estimated monthly mortgage with a 20% deposit: £445)
- Treorchy (average three-bed home: £132,900, value to earnings ratio: N/A, estimated monthly mortgage with a 20% deposit: £523)
- Abertillery (average three-bed home: £136,200, value to earnings ratio: N/A, estimated monthly mortgage with a 20% deposit: £536).
Source: Zoopla.
Next, there’s neighbouring Treorchy, which is also in the Rhondda Valley. Here, a three-bed will set you back a little more, at £132,900, with an assumed monthly mortgage repayment of £523.
However, it’s worth noting the nuances of these valley areas, which, being traditional mining towns, were economically decimated after they closed in the 1980s under Margaret Thatcher.
As one 2017 study published by the Institute for Sustainable Development concluded, barely half the mining jobs lost in the area during the 1980s had been replaced by other opportunities by 2008. Ever since, the Valleys have struggled with population recovery, state welfare support, and housing.
Irvine is one of the most affordable areas in Scotland (Picture: Getty Images/iStockphoto)
So, while these are the cheapest areas for housing in Wales, it’s not without reason – nor history.
Elsewhere, if you’ve set your sights on Bonnie Scotland, a three-bed in Cumnock will set you back £113,600, which, with a 20% deposit, translates to a £447 monthly mortgage repayment.
Meanwhile, Irvine has a worthy second option, with averages of £120,900, a monthly payment of £476, and a value-to-earnings ratio of 1.7.
Glenrothes up in Scotland also made the cut (Picture: Getty Images/500px)
The most affordable areas to buy in Scotland in 2026
- Cumnock (average three-bed home: £113,600, value to earnings ratio: 1.68, estimated monthly mortgage with a 20% deposit: £447)
- Irvine (average three-bed home: £120,900, value to earnings ratio: 1.70, estimated monthly mortgage with a 20% deposit: £476)
- Glenrothes (average three-bed home: £141,900, value to earnings ratio: N/A, estimated monthly mortgage with a 20% deposit: £558).
Source: Zoopla.
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