Best value places to live in Britain's priciest counties revealed

  • Feltham (Greater London) tops the list of best value towns in Britain’s priciest counties, with house values £334,716 cheaper than the county average

  • Whyteleafe, Surrey places second, as properties are typically 70 per cent less than the county average

  • Runcorn is best value town in Northern England’s most expensive county, Cheshire

New Zoopla data reveals the best value towns to buy a property within Britain’s most expensive counties. Topping the list is Feltham, where properties are on average £334,716 (103 per cent) cheaper than the Greater London county average, which stands at £659,627.

Zoopla analysed average property values across Britain to reveal where house-hunters can find better value pockets of housing in the priciest counties. Surrey’s Whyteleafe came in second place, with properties in the town typically £244,828 less than the county average (£595,459). The South East of England also dominates further down the list, with Stevenage in third place - where property prices are £181,549 less than the rest of Hertfordshire - and Harwich (Essex) in fourth where property values are £154,069 less than the surrounding county.

Despite being the lowest cost options in their respective areas, property prices in four of the top 10 best value towns in the most expensive counties – Feltham, Whyteleafe, Stevenage and Bracknell – exceed the national average of £299,763. Within the top 10, Harwich in Essex is the lowest priced town, with property values averaging just £198,556.

Regionally, Runcorn in Cheshire is the best choice for those looking for value in Northern England’s most expensive county, as prices in this industrial town are 84 per cent (£108,381) less than the county average. Meanwhile, in Scotland, the coastal town of South Queensferry enjoys property prices which are £52,219 (24 per cent) less than the Edinburgh county average (£266,146), and properties in Caldicot, Wales, average £46,136 less (20 per cent) than the rest of Monmouthshire.

Lawrence Hall, spokesperson for Zoopla comments: “Many of us may aspire to live in Britain’s most sought-after and expensive counties, such as Surrey, Hertfordshire or Buckinghamshire. However with average county property values above the national average, many prospective buyers are priced out, so it’s reassuring to know there are still some locations where value can be found.”

BEST VALUE TOWNS IN BRITAIN’S MOST EXPENSIVE COUNTIES

Rank

Post town

Town average property value

County

County average property value

Price percentage difference (town average vs. county average)

Price difference (town average vs. county average)

1

Feltham

£324,911

Greater London

£659,627

103.02

£334,716

2

Whyteleafe

£350,631

Surrey

£595,459

69.82

£244,828

3

Stevenage

£308,906

Hertfordshire

£490,455

58.77

£181,549

4

Milton Keynes

£299,079

Buckinghamshire

£435,693

45.68

£136,614

5

Carterton

£290,976

Oxfordshire

£425,032

46.07

£134,056

6

Bracknell

£375,135

Berkshire

£421,371

12.33

£46,236

7

Lancing

£276,584

West Sussex

£383,263

38.57

£106,679

8

Gosport

£207,182

Hampshire

£356,200

71.93

£149,018

9

St Leonards-on-Sea

£228,743

East Sussex

£353,430

54.51

£124,687

10

Harwich

£198,556

Essex

£352,625

77.59

£154,069

Source: Zoopla, March 2017

- Ends -

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