Rent vs buy calculator · England
Rent vs buy in Test Valley: is it cheaper to rent or buy?
Buying leaves you £74,760 better off after 7 years. Owning a 2-bed terraced house costs about £1,929 a month, against £1,315 to rent the same size home.
- After 7 years
- Buy +£74,760
- Difference in net wealth
- Monthly cost to own
- £1,929
- Mortgage £1,496, of which £452 is capital
- Monthly cost to rent
- £1,315
- Rent £1,144 plus council tax
- Median price
- £290,000
- terraced house
- Cash needed to buy
- £29,000
- £29,000 deposit + £0 SDLT
- Price-to-rent ratio
- 21.1
- Price divided by a year of rent
Renting vs buying in Test Valley by home size
| Bedrooms | Price | Rent / mo | Owning vs renting / mo | After 7 yrs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 bed | £180,000 | £888 | +£211 | Buy £67,172 |
| 2 bed | £290,000 | £1,144 | +£614 | Buy £74,760 |
| 3 bed | £350,000 | £1,408 | +£709 | Buy £90,889 |
| 4+ bed | £565,000 | £2,002 | +£1,403 | Buy £94,159 |
Average rent and house prices in Test Valley
The ONS average private rent in Test Valley is £1,235 a month (Aug 2026, provisional), up 6.6% on a year earlier. The median price paid is £355,000 (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 £2,049 a year (Band C) and is paid whether you rent or buy, so it does not change the verdict.
Renting or buying in Test Valley: FAQs
Is it cheaper to rent or buy in Test Valley?
For a 2-bed home in Test Valley, owning costs about £1,929 a month and renting about £1,315, both including council tax. Buying leaves you £74,760 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 Test Valley?
The ONS average private rent in Test Valley is £1,235 a month across all home sizes (Aug 2026, provisional), with £888 for 1 bed, £1,144 for 2 bed, £1,408 for 3 bed, £2,002 for 4 or more bed. Rents rose 6.6% over the past year.
What is the average house price in Test Valley?
The median price paid in Test Valley is £355,000 (ONS median price paid, year ending Mar 2026). The calculator uses £290,000 for a terraced house, the property type typical for a 2-bed home.
How much is stamp duty on an average home in Test Valley?
A first-time buyer paying £290,000 would pay £0 in SDLT. With a 10% deposit of £29,000, the cash needed on day one is about £29,000.
What is the price-to-rent ratio in Test Valley?
About 21.1: the 2-bed price is 21.1 times a year of rent. Higher ratios favour renting; lower ratios favour buying.
Which home size is best value to buy in Test Valley?
On the default assumptions, a 4+-bed home gives buying its strongest position: buying ahead by £94,159 after 7 years.
Areas with a similar price-to-rent ratio
Browse every local authority.