Tiny city is UK’s best value with £207k homes and well-paid jobs — not York or Bath

The historic city has been named a better place to live than the likes of Leeds, Cardiff, York and Bath.

Dunfermline, Scotland’s historic former capital, has claimed the top spot in a new league table as Britain’s best value city. Despite only gaining official city status in 2022 ahead of the late Queen’s Platinum Jubilee celebrations, the ancient Scottish settlement has beaten major competitors including Leeds and Cardiff to secure first place in The Telegraph’s value-for-money rankings.

Analysis by property specialists Savills shows Dunfermline emerges as the most attractive and affordable option for young graduates grappling with today’s cost of living crisis. The league table saw Newcastle, Salford, Leeds and Cardiff round out the top five most economical cities across the country.

Dunfermline’s success lies in its combination of “well-paid jobs, comparatively low house prices, a favourable ratio of property costs to household income and somewhere which is teeming with culture and amenities”.

Whilst Aberdeen boasts marginally lower property prices and a slightly superior house price-to-income ratio, Dunfermline secured the title due to its robust employment market and vibrant cultural offerings.

The research highlights Dunfermline’s advantageous proximity to Edinburgh, with rail connections transporting commuters to Scotland’s capital in just 32 minutes.

Despite sitting merely 30 minutes apart, homes in Dunfermline cost more than £133,000 less than comparable Edinburgh properties on average. Savills’ research reveals that typical properties in the Fife city command £206,900, with average household earnings sitting at £56,225.

By comparison, the average London home cost £723,132 last year, against a Great Britain average of £346,683.

Those making the move to Dunfermline can enjoy the breathtaking woodland surroundings of Pittencrieff Park, whilst a mere five minutes from the city centre lies the exciting Townhill Country Park and Town Loch – the national training centre for waterskiing and wakeboarding.

The area also boasts a wealth of wild swimming spots, including Aberdour Silver Sands Beach, as well as a flourishing community of independent craft artisans.

The former Art Deco fire station has been reinvented as Fire Station Creative, a buzzing arts hub home to artists, printmakers and jewellers. Newcomers can also discover up-and-coming bands through the city’s lively open mic scene.

Steeped in history, this ancient Scottish capital serves as the burial ground for some of Scotland’s most celebrated monarchs – among them Robert the Bruce.

Local campaigner Michelle McWilliams, who took part in the city status bid, said at the time: “We were Europe’s fastest-growing town. Now we’re one of its most creative and historic small cities.”

London failed to make the top ten, with Lucian Cook, head of residential research for Savills, observing: “House prices are as high as eight times household incomes across 75 percent of the capital.”

Separately, jobs platform Adzuna has found that Leeds offers the most lucrative employment prospects of any city outside London.