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Ilkeston has been named the most affordable town in the East Midlands to buy a home, according to new research by property website Zoopla.
The Derbyshire town has topped the regional rankings in a nationwide study examining house prices and local earnings across 929 towns in Great Britain.
The research, published on Friday 6 November, puts the typical value of a home in Ilkeston at £192,100, some £107,000 below the national average of £299,100.
Rather than simply comparing property prices, Zoopla measured affordability by looking at how much homes cost in relation to local earnings.
Its analysis found that a typical property in Ilkeston is valued at 2.7 times the combined annual earnings of two full-time workers, compared with 4.3 times nationally.
The findings place Ilkeston ahead of other towns and cities across Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire, Leicestershire, Lincolnshire and Northamptonshire.
Situated between Derby and Nottingham, Ilkeston has long offered an alternative to buying property in the two neighbouring cities. The town has its own railway station, established residential areas and access to major road links, including the M1.
The latest findings suggest that property values remain comparatively low when measured against local earnings, although the figures do not necessarily reflect the experience of every homebuyer.
Zoopla’s calculations are based on two full-time earners, meaning affordability may be considerably different for someone buying alone or earning below the local average.
A buyer purchasing a property at the town’s typical value of £192,100 would also need to find £19,210 for a 10% deposit, before taking account of legal fees and other moving costs.
Across Great Britain, Shildon in County Durham was identified as the most affordable town overall, with a typical home valued at £73,600.
Zoopla also identified 36 towns where the typical property value was less than twice the combined annual earnings of two full-time workers, with many concentrated in Scotland and the North East of England.
Although Ilkeston was not among the ten most affordable towns nationally, it emerged as the leading location in the East Midlands.
Richard Donnell, executive director at Zoopla, said that house prices had been increasing more slowly than earnings, helping to improve affordability in parts of the country.
However, higher mortgage rates continue to affect the cost of borrowing, while the ability to save a deposit remains an important factor for prospective buyers.
The study used Zoopla property valuations from October 2026 alongside earnings data from the Office for National Statistics. Only towns with at least 5,000 homes were included.
The findings give Ilkeston a notable regional distinction, with the town’s typical property value substantially below the national average and its house-price-to-earnings ratio the lowest in the East Midlands.
For those wondering what their money could buy in Ilkeston, one property currently on the market offers an example. A three-bedroom semi-detached house on Nelson Street is advertised for £160,000. Being marketed by Burchell Edwards with no onward chain, the property benefits from a new roof, recently installed boiler and enclosed rear garden. Full details and photographs can be viewed here:
https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/94134528#/?channel=RES_BUY
Thinking of moving to Ilkeston? Whether you’re a first-time buyer, moving home or looking to remortgage, Ilkeston News highly recommends local mortgage adviser Carl Derbyshire. For advice or to get in touch, visit Carl Derbyshire Mortgages.