Quaint harbours and historic ports. Long promenades and sandy beaches. Days spent rockpooling, hiking the coast and sharing a big vinegary portion of fish and chips.
Ok, before we drift off to dreamland: are there any affordable coastal towns out there? They tend to have a rep for being at the expensive end of the market, after all.
Well, we’ve analysed house prices and local wages in every town around the English coastline to find out.
And while the average UK couple spends 3.80 times their combined salary on a home, it’s lower in some coastal towns. Much lower.
Let’s take a look at the 8 most affordable seaside towns to buy a home in England, ranked by their affordability ratio. That’s how many times a local couple’s joint annual salary goes into the price of an average local house.
8. South Shields, Tyne and Wear
Affordability ratio: 1.90
Average salary of a couple: £64,050
Median house value: £121,730
Two bedroom semi-detached house for sale in South Shields: £120,000
South Shields is giving traditional seaside vibes in a great way, famous for its friendly people and excellent fish and chips (although that can be said for pretty much all the places on our list).
South Shields’ seaside scenery (try saying that fast three times) really is something to write home about. Think sprawling beaches, hidden coves, rolling dunes and magnesium limestone cliffs. A locals’ favourite spot is The Leas, a conservation area and coastal walk that overlooks the North Sea.
The North East town has great infrastructure and transport links, with most locals commuting to work (or a night out) in lively Newcastle.
Based on local wages, the average couple in South Shields earns £64,050 - or £32,025 each - while the average home costs £121,730. They can expect to spend 1.90 times their joint salary to buy a house outright.
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7. Sunderland, Tyne and Wear
Affordability ratio: 1.90
Average salary of a couple: £62,171
Median house value: £117,870
Three bedroom semi-detached house for sale in Sunderland: £120,000
If you’re after a seaside location with a city lifestyle, Sunderland could be the choice for you.
It’s hard to beat a classic port town like Sunderland when it comes to coastal appeal. It was once the shipbuilding capital of the world and it’s home to the iconic Roker and Seaburn beaches, where golden sands stretch as far as the eye can see.
But it’s also bigger, bolder and more buzzy than most of the coastal spots on our list, boasting a vibrant cultural scene of museums, theatres and galleries. Add the waterfront restaurants and exciting nightlife and you’ve definitely got the best of both worlds.
The average Sunderland couple earns £62,171 in a year, while the average house here costs £117,870. That means you’re looking at paying 1.90 times your joint salary to buy a property.
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Area guide: living in Sunderland
6. Whitehaven, Cumbria
Affordability ratio: 1.84
Median home value: £133,145
Average salary of a couple: £72,398
One bedroom detached bungalow for sale in Whitehaven: £135,000
Whitehaven is located on the Cumbria coast, just five miles from the edge of the Lake District. It was one of the first post-renaissance planned towns in the country and some say its street grid system is based on New York’s. Although that’s about where the similarities end.
Forget the concrete jungle - Whitehaven is all about celebrating the wonderful wildlife and natural scenery in this beautiful part of the world, from seabirds and wildflowers to jaw-dropping views.
The characterful town is dotted with original Georgian buildings and steeped in a proud shipping and mining heritage. Stroll along the rejuvenated harbour to discover waterfront restaurants and cosy pubs while you look out for the occasional visit from a tall sailing ship.
Local couples will spend 1.84 times their joint salary on a home in Whitehaven. They earn an average of £72,398 between them while the average property costs £133,145.
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5. Fleetwood, Lancashire
Affordability ratio: 1.84
Median home value: £133,145
Average salary of a couple: £72,398
Three bedroom terraced house for sale in Fleetwood: £130,000
10 miles north of Blackpool on the Fylde Coast sits the Lancashire town of Fleetwood. It’s a much-loved seaside town in its own right - without the footfall or fame of its illuminated cousin.
Fleetwood has a distinctive Victorian seaside feel, with traditional attractions like a boating lake, pitch-and-putt, colourful beach huts and seafront gardens. The esplanade winds through sand dunes on Marine Beach right the way round to the estuary of the River Wyre.
It’s a safe town with friendly people and a quiet life on offer, close to natural beauty spots like Beacon Fell and The Lake District.
Fleetwood is an hour’s drive from Preston and Blackburn and it takes 1.5 hours to reach central Manchester.
The average couple in Fleetwood earns £72,398 while the average home costs £133,145 - you’ll pay 1.84 times your joint salary to buy a house here.
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4. Maryport, Cumbria
Affordability ratio: 1.72
Median home value: £124,460
Average salary of a couple: £72,398
3 bedroom end terrace house for sale in Maryport: £125,000
The pretty coastal town of Maryport is one of the most popular places to live on the Solway Coast, perched on the edge of the Lake District.
It offers an irresistibly sleepy way of life, going under the radar compared to nearby tourist hotspots like Allonby, Keswich and Silloth.
Heaving crowds are unlikely at any time of year, so you’ll have the gorgeous scenery all to yourself (and the other friendly locals, but you won’t mind them).
Maryport’s quaint town centre is decidedly up and coming, with independent shops, cosy tearooms, excellent museums and exciting new eateries.
The average couple in Maryport earns £72,398 while the average home costs £124,460. That means you’re looking at spending 1.72 times your joint salary to buy a house outright.
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3. Seaham, County Durham
Affordability ratio: 1.67
Median home value: £109,370
Average salary of a couple: £65,438
One bedroom semi-detached house for sale in Seaham: £110,000
Seaham is a heritage-rich coastal gem, boasting nature reserves, cycle tracks and sandy beaches. All while being one of the most affordable coastal towns to buy a home in the whole country.
The Victorian port has evolved into a charming modern marina with a lifeboat museum, classic hotels and tempting bakeries nearby. Local businesses and tourist shops proudly reflect the town’s coal mining heritage, benefiting from the steady tourism to Durham’s Heritage Coast.
Located six miles south of Sunderland and 13 miles east of Durham, many locals find Seaham strikes the perfect balance between tranquillity and city proximity.
The average couple earns £65,438 in a year and pays 1.67 times that to buy the average local house, which costs £190,370.
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2. Blyth, Northumberland
Affordability ratio: 1.67
Median home value: £116,195
Average salary of a couple: £69,612
Two bedroom semi-detached house for sale in Blyth: £119,950
One of England’s most affordable coastal towns is also something of a secret spot. We’re talking about Blyth, where seaside charm is easy to see and a joy to soak up - but locals tend to keep schtum about it.
And the town is all the better for it, with a huge unspoiled beach, lovely quayside and coloured beach huts that make for a quintessential English seaside town.
The working port gives a glimpse into Blyth's rich seafaring history and there are good transport links around the town and further afield. It takes about 40 minutes to reach Newcastle by car or an hour on the train.
Blyth has a median home value of £116,195 and the average couple earns £69,612 in a year, meaning you’ll spend 1.67 times your joint salary on a property.
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1. Hartlepool, County Durham
Affordability ratio: 1.61
Median home value: £106,340
Average salary of a couple: £66,175
Three bedroom semi-detached house for sale in Hartlepool: £100,000
It’s official: Hartlepool is the most affordable coastal town to buy a home in England.
Nestled along the picturesque North Sea coast and brimming with maritime heritage, the town is all about relaxed pace, community warmth and a budget-friendly lifestyle.
Good transport links make for an easy commute to Newcastle, Durham and Middlesborough, while giving you a small and scenic town to call home.
Houses are very affordable with a median home value of £106,340, while the average couple earns £66,175 in a year. That means you can expect to spend 1.61 your joint salary on a property.
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Area guide: living in Hartlepool
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