The most and least affordable areas to buy a home in Wales revealed

The most and least affordable places to buy a home in Wales have been revealed in new data published by the Office for National Statistics (ONS).

Tylorstown, Ferndale and Maerdy in the south Wales valleys were among the most affordable areas, with average house prices between £87,000 and £94,000.

The least affordable area was Lisvane, a suburb in Cardiff with an average house price of £507,000.

The ONS calculates affordability based on a combination of average earnings and average house prices.

It said an area was considered affordable if average homes cost up to five times the average earnings of those working nearby.

According to the data, the top ten cheapest communities for average house prices in Wales are:

1. Tylorstown, Rhondda Cynon Taf

2. Ferndale and Maerdy, Rhondda Cynon Taf

3. Penrhiw-ceibr, Rhondda Cynon Taf

4. Treherbert, Rhondda Cynon Taf

5. Abertillery South and Llanhilleth, Blaenau Gwent

6. Tonypandy West and Clydach Vale, Rhondda Cynon Taf

7. Caerau near Maesteg, Bridgend

8. New Tredegar and Darren Valley, Caerphilly county

9. Merthyr Vale, Troed-y-rhiw and Bedlinog, Merthyr Tydfil

10. Landore, Swansea, and Ystrad & Llwynypia and Pentre, Rhondda Cynon Taf

The average house price in Tylorstown was £87,000 in the year ending September 2025, while the average earnings for workers in Rhondda Cynon Taf were £33,976.

ONS data showed average house prices across Rhondda Cynon Taf as a whole were £163,000, a 4.2% increase on the previous year.

Rhys Chapman, 31, owner of Chapman estate agents in Porth, Rhondda Cynon Taf, said properties in the area listed for less than £170,000 were "attractive to first-time buyers".

He said had noticed interest from buyers "coming over the bridge into the valleys", pointing to the "price bracket" and "affordable range" of homes on the market in areas like the Rhondda.

According to the data, the top 10 most expensive communities, for average house prices, in Wales are:

1. Lisvane, Cardiff

2. Cyncoed North, Cardiff

3. Rhaglan & Llantilio Crossenny, Monmouthshire

4. Cowbridge, Vale of Glamorgan

5. Ogmore-by-Sea & Llandow, Vale of Glamorgan

6. Chepstow North & Trellech, Monmouthshire

7. Peterston-super-Ely & Wenvoe, Vale of Glamorgan

8. Heath, Cardiff

9. Crickhowell, Llangynidr & Llangorse, Powys

10. Penylan North, Cardiff

The average house price in Lisvane was £507,000, while workers in Cardiff earned an average of £38,225.

Jonathan Thomas, company director of Thomas estate agents, said the housing market in Wales "flipped" after the Covid pandemic as people started working from home.

He noticed buyers moving away from more expensive areas due to commuting less, and buying properties further out that were "far cheaper".

"I've carried out viewings recently with a couple from Birmingham who were moving to Porth for work and regularly meet with people from Bristol who are looking to move to our area," said the estate agent, based in Tonypandy.

Estate agents in the area said the Metro upgrade to the core valley railway lines had made Cardiff "more accessible" for people who rely on public transport to commute to work.

"I'd say the trend that I notice the most is the fact that people now value outdoor activity a lot more than the ease of commuting or being located in a busy city centre," said Jonathan.

House prices in Wales rose faster than the UK average last year, with some areas seeing increases of 7%, according to ONS data published earlier this year.

The average house price in Wales is £213,000, six times the median annual average earnings of £35,800.

Iain Mansfield, chief executive officer at Principality Building Society, said "modest" house price growth in Wales was likely to continue.

"The Welsh housing market continues to show signs of resilience," he said.

"Looking ahead, there is a large degree of geopolitical uncertainty - but there is underlying resilience, particularly among first-time buyers."