UK House Prices vs Wages: 1997 to 2026

In 1997 the typical home in England cost about 3.5 times a typical full-time salary. By 2021 it was 9.1 times. Now it's 7.6. Here's what happened, why homes are getting slightly more affordable (hint: it's not falling prices), what 7.6x means if you're buying on one salary, and where in England and Wales the gap is biggest. 00:00 3.5x to 9.1x 00:17 What the ratio means 00:38 How affordability doubled 01:01 The 2021 peak 01:14 Where we are now 01:38 Why it's improving 01:59 What 7.6x means for a buyer 02:23 London vs the North 02:46 Most and least affordable places 03:06 How rare an affordable area is 03:26 The good news 03:38 Next week Sources (Office for National Statistics): Housing affordability in England and Wales: 2025 (26 March 2026) - https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationand... 2024 release - https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationand... 2021 release - https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationand... Ratios are workplace-based medians for full-time employees. The "single typical earner" example (4.5x mortgage) is an illustration, not financial advice. Narration uses an AI voice. #ukhouseprices #housingcrisis #britainbynumbers