We don’t think anyone should be moving out of the great city, but if you’re thinking of settling down and buying a house, Bristol is, well, expensive. If looking for somewhere cheaper, Zoopla has just published the 10 most affordable places to buy a home in the South West. And one spot is only a 40-minute drive, half an hour by train, from Bristol.
Weston-Super-Mare was named the 10th most affordable town to buy a home in the South West. With an average salary of a couple being £73,113, and a median home value of £273,780, it’s still not exactly cheap. But is a great deal more affordable than the average house price of £396,440 in Bristol.
Zoopla describes Weston-Super-Mare as having “all the fun and kitsch charm you’d expect from a British seaside town, with its Victorian villas, pedestrianised high street and classic attractions.” Being so close to Bristol, it’s the ideal choice for those wanting to stay within commuting distance of the city.
We’re hardly the first person to have this great idea either, with almost three-quarters of people moving to the seaside town coming from Bristol in 2022. Between the two miles of sandy shores and the iconic Grand Pier, you’ll find a town full of independent shops, cafes and bars to explore, as well as museums, theatres and more. It even has its own version of Upfest, Weston Wallz.
Where are the cheapest places to buy a home in the South West?
If Weston-Super-Mare still feels a little out of your price range, there are plenty more options available to you. Many on the list are probably a little too far away to relocate to. Liskeard (8th), Par (6th), and Camborne (4th) are all in Cornwall, while the cheapest place to buy a home in the South West is Plymouth – where the average home costs £217,650 – in Devon.
The cheapest place to buy a home near Bristol is probably Cinderford (2nd) in Gloucestershire. Just over an hour’s drive away, the average house costs £255,040 with an average salary of a couple of £77,330. It doesn’t have great transport links, however, and it may “not be the prettiest Forest of Dean town”, but its proximity to walking trails and sprawling views at every turn is a bonus.
For better commuter options to Bristol, try Swindon (9th). Described as a “town on the rise”, it’s just 10 miles from the Cotswolds with a train station that runs to both Bristol and London Paddington in under an hour. Here, the average salary of a couple is £74,458 with a median house value of £276,390. Other nearby places on the list include Yeovil (7th), where the average house price is £248,660, and Coleford (5th), where the average house costs £277,900.
10 most affordable places to buy a home in the South West
10. Weston-Super-Mare, Somerset
9. Swindon, Wiltshire
8. Liskeard, Cornwall
7. Yeovil, Somerset
6. Par, Cornwall
5. Coleford, Gloucestershire
4. Camborne, Cornwall
3. Portland, Dorset
2. Cinderford, Gloucestershire
1. Plymouth, Devon
To learn more about the most affordable places to buy a home in the South West head here.