Would-be homeowners in parts of Cheshire would need to borrow 14 TIMES the average income in order to afford a typical house.
Exclusive research by the Chronicle’s data unit has pinpointed a number of house-price hotspots where owning a property is increasingly a distant dream.
In Adlington, Prestbury, and Mottram St Andrews - the least affordable place in Cheshire, you would need to borrow 13.9 times your income to afford a home.
With an average net household income of £37,301 and house prices averaging £520,000, the area is the least affordable place in Cheshire.
Chester itself is one of the fastest rising places in the country for house prices, as a recent survey showed a triple digit increase in asking prices.
Related: How much is that Cheshire house? Take our quiz and see if you can guess the asking price
A home could be bought for 3.7 times the average income in central Crewe, the most affordable part of Cheshire, where the average household income is £22,743, and the median house price is £84,000.
Based on a maximum income multiple of 4.5 times, just 11.2% of Cheshire is affordable to those living there.
Use our tool below to see how your area ranks for affordable house prices
You would need to borrow 73 times your income to afford a home in Belgravia, the least affordable place in England and Wales.
With an average net household income of £46,318 and house prices averaging £3.2m, the area is the least affordable place in England and Wales.
The most affordable area in England and Wales is in central Burnley, where a home is a much more affordable 1.9 times the average income of £20,280, at a median price of £39,500. A similar ratio is seen in the area of Bradford along Great Horton Road, with an average income of £20,749 and a median house price of £40,000.
Overall, just 17% of England and Wales would be affordable to the average household based on maximum borrowing of 4.5 times income.
Bank of England rules that banks should not have more than 15% of their lending at more than 4.5 times income means it is much harder to get mortgages for higher multiples.
The average net weekly income is based on the income of every member of the household, including both employment income, investment returns, and benefits, minus taxes, pension contributions, and maintenance payments.
Weekly income has been adjusted to 2014 levels based on Office for Budget Responsibility figures for wage inflation in 2013 and 2014, and then multiplied to get an average annual income.
The 10 least affordable places in England and Wales
Area // Local authority name // Net Annual Household Income // Median house price // Ratio
Belgravia // Westminster // £46,317 // £3,400,000 // 73.4 times
Around Royal Hospital Chelsea // Kensington and Chelsea // £44,540 // £1,972,500 // 44.3 times
South Knightsbridge // Kensington and Chelsea // £51,079 // £2,000,000 // 39.2 times
Covent Garden, Mayfair, St James’ // Westminster // £39,139 // £1,530,000 // 39.1 times
South of Victoria Station // Westminster // £34,275 // £1,300,000 // 37.9 times
Kensington Gardens // Kensington and Chelsea // £52,866 // £1,865,000 // 35.3 times
Sutton Estate, South Kensington // Kensington and Chelsea // £37,170 // £1,240,000 // 33.4 times
Westminster, St James’ Park // Westminster // £40,719 // £1,260,000 // 30.9 times
Wimbledon Common // Merton // £53,031 // £1,630,000 // 30.7 times
Gloucester Road, South Kensington // Kensington and Chelsea // £55,649 // £1,657,500 // 29.8 times
The 10 most affordable places in England and Wales
Area // Local authority name // Net Annual Household Income // Median house price // Ratio
Along Great Horton Road // Bradford // £20,749 // £40,000 // 1.9 times
Central Burnley // Burnley // £20,279 // £39,500 // 1.9 times
Perthcelyn and Penrhiwceiber // Rhondda Cynon Taf // £21,052 // £42,000 // 2 times
North Ormesby // Middlesbrough // £19,294 // £39,000 // 2 times
Little Marsden // Pendle // £22,797 // £46,000 // 2 times
South Nelson // Pendle // £19,432 // £40,000 // 2.1 times
Near Goodison Park // Liverpool // £20,068 // £45,000 // 2.2 times
South Rose Grove // Burnley // £20,158 // £45,000 // 2.2 times
Bradley // Pendle // £19,616 // £42,500 // 2.2 times
Maerdy // Rhondda Cynon Taf // £19,723 // £44,500 // 2.3 times