At a Glance
Average Property Price - ME4
£276,880
35
National percentile
Average Monthly Rent - ME
£1,248
66
National percentile
Average Net Household Income - ME4
£37,505
47
National percentile
Flat / Maisonette Yield - ME
6.2%
84
National percentile
10-Year Annualised Price Growth - ME4
4.4%
77
National percentile
10-Year Annualised Rent Growth - ME
4.8%
89
National percentile
Property Price & Volume Trends
The latest average property price in ME4 is £277,000, placing it below the national average. Over the past decade, prices have grown by 4.4% annually—among the faster rates nationally. However, transaction volumes have declined notably: 296 sales were recorded in the latest full year, down from a 10-year average of 497 per annum.
Rent & Yield Trends
Average monthly rent in the broader ME postcode area is £1,248, above the national median. Rents have climbed 4.8% annually over ten years—among the strongest growth rates in the country. The flat yield currently stands at 6.2%, a marked improvement on its 10-year average of 4.9%, signalling a favourable shift for buy-to-let investors.
Income & Affordability Trends
Average net household income is £37,505, close to the national midpoint. The price-to-income ratio has deteriorated from 6.4x in 2016 to 7.7x today, indicating homes have become notably less affordable relative to earnings. Rental affordability has also tightened: renters now spend 29.8% of income on housing, up from 26.7% in 2016.
Resident Demographic Profile
The population skews notably younger than the national average, with 21.5% under 15 (against 17.5% nationally) and just 10.3% aged 65 or older (versus 19.6%). Housing tenure is heavily weighted towards private rental: 34.3% rent privately, compared to 21.7% nationally, while outright ownership is far lower at 17.1%. Employment is distinctive for a higher proportion in elementary roles (14% versus 10.2% nationally) and plant/machine work (9.1% versus 6.6%), offset by fewer professionals (17% against 20.5%).