Rent vs buy calculator · England
Rent vs buy in New Forest: is it cheaper to rent or buy?
Buying leaves you £12,857 better off after 7 years. Owning a 2-bed terraced house costs about £1,940 a month, against £1,311 to rent the same size home.
- After 7 years
- Buy +£12,857
- Difference in net wealth
- Monthly cost to own
- £1,940
- Mortgage £1,498, of which £452 is capital
- Monthly cost to rent
- £1,311
- Rent £1,132 plus council tax
- Median price
- £290,500
- terraced house
- Cash needed to buy
- £29,050
- £29,050 deposit + £0 SDLT
- Price-to-rent ratio
- 21.4
- Price divided by a year of rent
Renting vs buying in New Forest by home size
| Bedrooms | Price | Rent / mo | Owning vs renting / mo | After 7 yrs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 bed | £205,000 | £864 | +£385 | Buy £14,968 |
| 2 bed | £290,500 | £1,132 | +£629 | Buy £12,857 |
| 3 bed | £356,000 | £1,391 | +£762 | Buy £13,065 |
| 4+ bed | £550,000 | £1,988 | +£1,328 | Rent £15,637 |
Average rent and house prices in New Forest
The ONS average private rent in New Forest is £1,244 a month (Aug 2026, provisional), up 1.7% on a year earlier. The median price paid is £385,000 (ONS median price paid, year ending Mar 2026).
Default scenario: 2-bed home, 7 years stay, 10% deposit, 4.80% fixed mortgage, monthly difference invested in a S&S ISA at 7.5%. Council tax is £2,151 a year (Band C) and is paid whether you rent or buy, so it does not change the verdict.
Renting or buying in New Forest: FAQs
Is it cheaper to rent or buy in New Forest?
For a 2-bed home in New Forest, owning costs about £1,940 a month and renting about £1,311, both including council tax. Buying leaves you £12,857 better off after 7 years. This assumes a 2-bed home, 7 years stay, 10% deposit, 4.80% fixed mortgage, monthly difference invested in a S&S ISA at 7.5%.
What is the average rent in New Forest?
The ONS average private rent in New Forest is £1,244 a month across all home sizes (Aug 2026, provisional), with £864 for 1 bed, £1,132 for 2 bed, £1,391 for 3 bed, £1,988 for 4 or more bed. Rents rose 1.7% over the past year.
What is the average house price in New Forest?
The median price paid in New Forest is £385,000 (ONS median price paid, year ending Mar 2026). The calculator uses £290,500 for a terraced house, the property type typical for a 2-bed home.
How much is stamp duty on an average home in New Forest?
A first-time buyer paying £290,500 would pay £0 in SDLT. With a 10% deposit of £29,050, the cash needed on day one is about £29,050.
What is the price-to-rent ratio in New Forest?
About 21.4: the 2-bed price is 21.4 times a year of rent. Higher ratios favour renting; lower ratios favour buying.
Which home size is best value to buy in New Forest?
On the default assumptions, a 1-bed home gives buying its strongest position: buying ahead by £14,968 after 7 years.
How many years until buying pays off in New Forest?
The lead first changes hands in year 4 on the default settings. Staying longer spreads stamp duty and selling costs over more years.
Areas with a similar price-to-rent ratio
Browse every local authority.