Glenrothes in east-central Scotland was the most popular affordable town in Great Britain for families looking to buy a home, research from Zoopla found.
The research showed that most of the top 10 affordable towns were in Scotland and Wales, with only Dartford and Swanley in the South East making the list.
In Glenrothes, the average monthly mortgage payment for a three-bedroom home stood at £540, based on an average value of £136,900.
The data also showed that families in Dartford faced an average monthly mortgage payment of £1,680 for a three-bed home, with the property valued at £423,600.
In London, Barking and Dagenham was the most popular affordable area, where families would pay £1,750 per month on average for a similar property.
Additionally, Zoopla’s data found that Bootle was named the most popular affordable town in the North West, with three-bed homes valued at £142,900, which is half the national average.
Buyer interest in three-bedroom homes in these affordable towns was found to be twice as high as the regional average.
A separate Zoopla survey found that over a third of UK adults were not confident they could afford their ideal family home location.
The average monthly payment for a three-bed home across the UK was £1,210, but those surveyed felt £870 was more reasonable.
Those willing to move from their ideal location said they would only go an average of 41 minutes away.
In the North East, this dropped to 35 minutes, while in the West Midlands, people were prepared to move up to 45 minutes away.
The survey also found that 37% of respondents would be happy to move to a new region to find a more affordable home.
Two in five were unwilling to move, with nearly half saying they had a strong attachment to their current area.
Of those open to moving, 41% said they needed more space at a price they could afford, and a fifth wanted to get on the property ladder.
A third were willing to compromise on the number of bedrooms to live in a better neighbourhood.
Richard Donnell, executive director at Zoopla, said: “This latest analysis paints a clear picture of a market where affordability remains a critical factor for families planning their next home move.
“Our analysis identified the most affordable areas for families seeking value for money. What’s particularly telling is the level of buyer interest these towns are attracting; three-bedroom homes in the most popular affordable locations are seeing twice the amount of listing views compared to the regional average.
“This heightened popularity, coupled with the significant portion of would-be buyers expressing concerns about being priced out of housing, underscores the ongoing challenges facing movers and the clear appetite for value.”
Donnell added: “The willingness of many to consider different regions or compromise on property features further highlights the adaptive strategies families are employing in today’s market.
“Ultimately, understanding these regional dynamics and the intensity of demand in affordable areas is crucial for both those looking to move and the agents supporting them in this evolving landscape.
“Zoopla has invested in developing a range of tools and insights to help motivated movers track the value of their homes, plan their move and search for homes using keywords that cover property features.”
Toby Leek, president of NAEA Propertymark, said: “Purchasing a house is one of the most important decisions many people tend to make, so it’s important to carefully consider all aspects.
“While price is a key factor, it remains vitally important to consider factors such as local job markets, transport links, the provision and performance of local education and health care services, plus what future improvements might be planned within the area to help ensure any home purchase becomes a truly robust investment for years to come.”
