Looking to get on the property ladder, but not sure where to start? The most popular UK area for first-time buyers has been named – and it’s just under an hour from London.
Dartford might be best known for its famous crossing (and for being the birthplace of none other than Mick Jagger), but it’s also proving popular with brand-new homeowners.
According to new data from the Office For National Statistics (ONS), in 2023, the Kent town had the highest rate of first-time buyers in the country at 20.2 sales per 1,000 dwellings, a figure that’s jumped up from 15.0 per 1,000 over the last 10 years. Clearly, Dartford is the place to be.
This was closely followed by Harlow in the east of England at 16.3 per 1,000, with honourable mentions to Nuneaton and Bedworth in the West Midlands at 15.5 per 1,000.
Unsurprisingly, the number of first-time buyers seeking properties in London has decreased in the last decade, as 12.7% of all UK-wide FTB mortgages were found in the Big Smoke, marking a decrease from 16.8% in 2013. Ouch.
How much does housing cost in Dartford?
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So, what’s all the buzz about Dartford for?
According to data from Zoopla, the average house price for a first-time buyer in the area is £350,000 – considerably cheaper than the general average for the area, which currently stands at £372,986.
While that might be more expensive than the UK-wide average, which is now £267,200, it’s an accessible way for London commuters to live relatively close to the city (there are direct trains to Victoria in just 52 minutes) without paying a premium – which is exactly what prompted one couple to make the move last year.
‘We purchased our dream home in Dartford after 10 years of renting’
Sebastian and Joanna Adamczyk, 39 and 35, picked up the keys to their first mortgaged home in July 2024. After 10 years of renting in the capital, they chose Dartford as their new digs – and are now paying £20 less each month in mortgage payments at £1,730.
‘We saved every penny we could for two years, then decided we might have enough to look at buying our own home. We both work in central London so being able to get in and out was key to where we looked for a place to live,’ Joanna shares.
The couple had heard that Dartford was a ‘nice place to live,’ so one day they ‘caught a train and went to have a look,’ wandering through the ‘high street with all the lovely cafes and shops.’ The moment they arrived, they had a ‘lovely feeling about the place.’
‘After a spot of window shopping, we walked to the huge Central Park to relax and on the way out we saw a sign that told us that Bellway was building apartments at Copperhouse Green just round the corner,’ Joanna adds. From then, it was an instant yes.
‘It is great to be able to pop out and just stroll along to the shops and cafes, but we absolutely love being able to hop on a bus and be at the amazing Bluewater Shopping Centre 15 minutes later. In the first two weeks after moving in, we went five times,’ she adds, noting that they moved in on their 10th anniversary – which was July 19, 2024.
‘Living here is the best present we could ever have given ourselves. It’s as if we are meant to be here and we love it.’
Things to do in Dartford
Thinking about making the move as a first-time buyer? Dartford was described by local @NebCrushrr over on Reddit as a ‘lively place’ with a ‘busy’ town centre that hosts a ‘real community.’ Sounds perfect.
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For a spot of greenery, there’s Darenth Country Park, found on the edge of the North Downs. An ancient Saxon burial ground, the Chapel Orchard has more than 150 varieties of trees – including apple, pear, plum, and even cherry.
Plus, there’s the dreamy Central Park – Sebastian and Joanna’s favourite – which is inundated with stunning flowerbeds, a café and even an outdoor fitness area, as well as the Beacon Wood Country Park and Brooklands Lake, both perfect for an afternoon stroll.
There’s culture and history to be found at The Orchard Theatre, Dartford Open Air Theatre and Dartford Borough Museum, which is free to enter if you’re looking to save a few pennies.
And for the little ones, who could forget Dinotropolis? This dinosaur adventure park is complete with impressive animatronics and even raptor racing.
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