What is the house price to earnings ratio in England and Wales?
In 2025 the typical home in England cost 7.6 times the typical annual earnings of a full-time employee, and in Wales 6.0 times, according to the ONS Housing affordability in England and Wales: 2025, released 26 March 2026. The ratio divides the median house price by median full-time earnings. ONS said affordability had improved since ratios peaked in 2021.
Ratios vary widely: in 2025 they ranged from 4.1 in Hyndburn and Kingston upon Hull to 25.2 in Kensington and Chelsea, with London at 10.6. ONS publishes median and lower-quartile versions, based on where people work or where they live, so check which one a claim uses. The ratio leaves out mortgage rates and deposits. Scotland and Northern Ireland are not covered by this release.
When is the next figure out?
DWP statistics are pre-announced on the GOV.UK research and statistics calendar and published at 9:30am. Universal Credit statistics moved from monthly to quarterly releases in February, May, August and November after a 2026 consultation, with the final monthly release on 14 April 2026; provisional estimates were dropped and each quarterly release adds three months of finalised data. The benefits compendium, Benefit Combinations and National Insurance number allocations are now released together once a year. Fraud and error estimates appear each spring, and expenditure tables follow the Budget and spring forecast.
Every official release due in the next two weeks is on the release calendar.
Where the figures come from
- Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) statistics and Stat-XploreWhere to find DWP figures on Universal Credit, PIP, State Pension and Pension Credit, how to build a Stat-Xplore table and use the free Open Data API.
- MHCLG housing and homelessness statistics (with MoJ possessions and devolved equivalents)Official figures on temporary accommodation, rough sleeping, waiting lists, social lettings, evictions and tenure in England and the rest of the UK.
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This answer says where the official figures are published and how they are defined. It gives no verdict on any claim. To report an error, send a correction request. More questions about homelessness, social housing and renting: all Homelessness, social housing and renting questions.