With 76% of UK workers now commuting at least three days a week, Zoopla has identified the cheapest commuter hotspots for those balancing office life with affordability.
The analysis shows that homebuyers could save up to 61% on property values by moving within an hour’s commute of a major city.
London remains the UK’s largest commuter destination, with the average property value inside the capital standing at £588,300.
But Zoopla’s figures highlight that buyers can make an average saving of 56% by choosing towns with direct links to the capital in under an hour.
Peterborough, with an average home value of £238,800 and a 50-minute commute to King’s Cross, offers one of the best value-for-money options.
Wellingborough, Kettering and Chatham also provide significant savings alongside manageable journey times into London stations.
Beyond the capital, the biggest savings are found in the North East and Wales. Shildon in County Durham, where the average property costs £73,800, offers a 61% saving compared with Newcastle’s £189,880, with a commute of 55 minutes.
New Tredegar, near Cardiff, also delivers a 61% discount on the city average of £280,760, with a commute of under an hour.
Other cities also present strong commuter value. Newport offers a 43% discount compared with Bristol and is just 18 minutes away by train, while Wishaw and Shotts near Edinburgh provide savings of around 60% compared with the Scottish capital.
For those prioritising short travel times, towns such as Tipton and Wednesbury outside Birmingham, and Dewsbury near Leeds, offer commutes under 25 minutes with discounts of up to a third on average city prices.
Daniel Copley, consumer expert at Zoopla, said: “As we’ve seen, the move back to more time in the office is back on the agenda for a vast number of people in the UK.
“With affordability becoming an increasingly important consideration for home buyers, many are having to widen their search area and need help to understand their options.
“Our analysis provides a useful guide to some of the most affordable commuting hotspots that offer the best of both worlds.
“The savings on offer are substantial, especially for those commuting into major regional cities like Newcastle and Cardiff, where buying a home just an hour outside of the city can save you a massive 61%.”
