Would-be homeowners in parts of the North East may need to borrow more than 11 times the average income to be able to afford a house - see how your neighbourhood compares.
With homes across the country now almost twice as unaffordable as they were at the turn of the century, exclusive analysis has revealed just how out of reach home ownership can be in some areas. Figures from the ONS show that in the year to September 2021, the average house in England and Wales cost around 8.9 times the average income - up from 5.1 times in the year to September 2002.
Within the North East, that ratio ranged from 6.5 times average incomes in Northumberland (up from 4.4 times in 2003), to 4.4 times average incomes in County Durham (up from 3.3 times in 2003). These figures look at the income of every household member, plus any income from benefits, before things like tax, national insurance and pension payments are taken into account.
