For parents juggling school catchment maps and mortgage calculators, there’s good news: Lincoln has landed a spot on a new list of cities where great schools don’t come with eye-watering house prices.
The study, carried out by University of Technology Sydney Online, looked at more than 130 locations across England to find where families can get the most bang for their buck, balancing quality education with affordable property. The rankings are based on the proportion of schools rated ‘Outstanding’ by Ofsted between January 2024 and January 2025, alongside average house price data from the Office for National Statistics.
Lincoln came in 22nd place overall, with homes averaging £187,000, making it the 12th most affordable location in the study. While the city didn’t score top marks on school quality, with just under 7% of schools rated outstanding, its historic charm and comparatively low property prices still make it a standout choice for families seeking long-term value.
Wigan topped the list thanks to a rare mix: high-performing schools and house prices under £200,000. Preston and Chorley followed closely, with Burnley offering the lowest house prices overall at just £118,000. Luton rounded out the top five.
At the other end of the scale were places like Bath, Brighton and Hove, and parts of Hertfordshire, where house prices are high but outstanding schools are harder to come by. Unsurprisingly, London fell outside the top tier, ranking 72nd, well behind regional cities like Liverpool, which placed 15th.
For families who don’t want to sacrifice either their child’s future or their financial sanity, cities like Lincoln offer a rare middle ground. The perfect school might still take some searching, but it doesn’t have to cost a fortune to live nearby.
Image credit: Stock.adobe.com/U-JINN Photography
