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Affordability of homes in Bristol (spoiler: they aren't)

Affordability of homes in Bristol (spoiler: they aren't)

The Office for National Statistics (ONS) published data on the affordability of homes on 26 March 2026.

They have produced an interactive tool that allows you to explore this data.

In 1997, the average sale price for a home in England and Wales was 3 to 4 times that of the average salary for a full-time worker. By 2025, these affordability ratios had doubled in both England and Wales, meaning the average house price was 6 to 8 times the average worker’s annual earnings in many areas.
We consider an area affordable if average homes cost up to 5 times the average earnings of those working nearby. We call this the affordability threshold.
Please Note: The "Affordability Threshold" used in these reports has no relationship with "Affordable Housing" as used by Bristol City Council.

The ONS Tool helps you to explore Affordability data from across the UK.

I have taken the data for Bristol and produced a report concentrating on Bristol Neighbourhoods.
Anywhere with an Affordability Index of 5 or lower is considered to be "Affordable".

Bristol compared to England and Wales

The last time housing in Bristol was "Affordable" was in 2001, with an Affordability Ratio of 4.34

Affordability has got less abysmal since the 2021 peak of 9.66 and in 2025 was 8.33

This is due to local wages raising more quickly than house prices. But with the cost of living crisis, many people do not feel that housing has become more affordable in the last few years.

But when you look at some other Cities/Towns in the South West you can see that Bristol is actually more affordable than Bath and Stroud.

Looking at the Regions in England/Wales, the data shows that the London/South East/East of England regions are all less affordable than Bristol.

But there are no regions in England/Wales that meet the Affordability Threshold, although the North East region is closest at 5.03

Bristol Neighbourhoods in 2025

The Affordability Ratio for Bristol as a whole was 8.33 in 2025.

The chart below shows the Affordability Ration for areas of Bristol ranked from "Most Unaffordable" to "Least Unaffordable".

Most Unaffordable Areas

  • In Henleaze, the average house price is £705,000
  • To be able to buy an average price house in Henleaze, you would need
  • Earnings of £141,000
  • Savings of £95,750 (for 10% deposit of £70,500 and Stamp Duty of £25,250)

Least Unaffordable Areas

  • In Hartcliffe, the average house price is £245,000
  • To be able to buy an average price house in Hartcliffe, you would need
  • Earnings of £49,000
  • Savings of £26,900 (for 10% deposit of £24,500 and Stamp Duty of £2,400)
You can personalise these calculations to fit your own circumstances by using the ONS Tool.
You can explore my Housing Affordability reports on BU Reports.

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