Great Britain’s least affordable areas are mainly in London, east of England and the south-west

Postcode district affordability for a couple both earning median wage of surrounding local authority

Can buy, can rent

Mortgage less than 4.5 annual income

Monthly rent less than 30% monthly income

GB

42%

984 districts

affordable

Scotland

92% of districts affordable

North-east

88%

Yorkshire

and Humber

North-west

76%

73%

East

Midlands

50%

West

Midlands

50%

Wales

63%

Can’t buy, can rent

Mortgage more than 4.5 annual income

Monthly rent less than 30% monthly income

GB

48%

1,091 districts

affordable

East

85%

South-west

83%

South-east

73%

Can’t buy, can’t rent

Mortgage more than 4.5 annual income

Monthly rent more than 30% monthly income

GB

11%

254 districts

unaffordable

London

63% of districts unaffordable

Can buy, can rent

Can’t buy, can rent

Can’t buy, can’t rent

Mortgage less than 4.5 annual income

Monthly rent less than 30% monthly income

Mortgage more than 4.5 annual income

Monthly rent less than 30% monthly income

Mortgage more than 4.5 annual income

Monthly rent more than 30% monthly income

GB

GB

GB

48%

42%

11%

1,091 districts

affordable

254 districts

unaffordable

984 districts

affordable

Scotland

92% of districts affordable

North-east

London

88%

63% of districts unaffordable

North-west

East

Yorkshire

and Humber

73%

85%

76%

West

Midlands

50%

South-west

Wales

83%

63%

South-east

East Midlands

73%

50%

Can buy, can rent

Can’t buy, can rent

Can’t buy, can’t rent

Mortgage less than 4.5 annual income

Monthly rent less than 30% monthly income

Mortgage more than 4.5 annual income

Monthly rent less than 30% monthly income

Mortgage more than 4.5 annual income

Monthly rent more than 30% monthly income

GB

GB

GB

48%

42%

11%

1,091 districts

affordable

254 districts

unaffordable

984 districts

affordable

Scotland

92% of districts affordable

North-east

London

88%

63% of districts unaffordable

Yorkshire

and Humber

North-west

76%

73%

East

East

Midlands

85%

50%

West

Midlands

50%

South-west

Wales

83%

63%

South-east

73%

Guardian graphic. Source: TwentyCi housing and rental market data running year to 4 June 2023, ONS household income data running year to 5 April 2022. Analysis based on median property or rental cost per postcode district. Sales include properties listed as for sale, sold or subject to contract. Rentals include asking prices for rents, including where let has been agreed. While people could buy a property with a 90% mortgage exceeding a 4.5 loan-to-income ratio, or rent a property costing more than 30% of their monthly income, experts warn that beyond these thresholds it is unaffordable.