Rent vs buy calculator · England
Rent vs buy in West Northamptonshire: is it cheaper to rent or buy?
Buying leaves you £29,312 better off after 7 years. Owning a 2-bed terraced house costs about £1,613 a month, against £1,138 to rent the same size home.
- After 7 years
- Buy +£29,312
- Difference in net wealth
- Monthly cost to own
- £1,613
- Mortgage £1,212, of which £366 is capital
- Monthly cost to rent
- £1,138
- Rent £954 plus council tax
- Median price
- £235,000
- terraced house
- Cash needed to buy
- £23,500
- £23,500 deposit + £0 SDLT
- Price-to-rent ratio
- 20.5
- Price divided by a year of rent
Renting vs buying in West Northamptonshire by home size
| Bedrooms | Price | Rent / mo | Owning vs renting / mo | After 7 yrs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 bed | £143,250 | £752 | +£127 | Buy £36,929 |
| 2 bed | £235,000 | £954 | +£475 | Buy £29,312 |
| 3 bed | £282,000 | £1,166 | +£544 | Buy £38,728 |
| 4+ bed | £430,000 | £1,681 | +£916 | Buy £40,396 |
Average rent and house prices in West Northamptonshire
The ONS average private rent in West Northamptonshire is £1,084 a month (Aug 2026, provisional), up 3.3% on a year earlier. The median price paid is £292,000 (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 £2,210 a year (Band C) and is paid whether you rent or buy, so it does not change the verdict.
Renting or buying in West Northamptonshire: FAQs
Is it cheaper to rent or buy in West Northamptonshire?
For a 2-bed home in West Northamptonshire, owning costs about £1,613 a month and renting about £1,138, both including council tax. Buying leaves you £29,312 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 West Northamptonshire?
The ONS average private rent in West Northamptonshire is £1,084 a month across all home sizes (Aug 2026, provisional), with £752 for 1 bed, £954 for 2 bed, £1,166 for 3 bed, £1,681 for 4 or more bed. Rents rose 3.3% over the past year.
What is the average house price in West Northamptonshire?
The median price paid in West Northamptonshire is £292,000 (ONS median price paid, year ending Mar 2026). The calculator uses £235,000 for a terraced house, the property type typical for a 2-bed home.
How much is stamp duty on an average home in West Northamptonshire?
A first-time buyer paying £235,000 would pay £0 in SDLT. With a 10% deposit of £23,500, the cash needed on day one is about £23,500.
What is the price-to-rent ratio in West Northamptonshire?
About 20.5: the 2-bed price is 20.5 times a year of rent. Higher ratios favour renting; lower ratios favour buying.
Which home size is best value to buy in West Northamptonshire?
On the default assumptions, a 4+-bed home gives buying its strongest position: buying ahead by £40,396 after 7 years.
Areas with a similar price-to-rent ratio
Browse every local authority.