The scenic city of Bath has been named as the top hotspot for first time buyers in a new property report.

Alongside Wolverhampton in second place and Chester in third, it’s been rated the safest and best place to buy for job prospects and even average salaries.

The report by MoneySupermarket ranked 35 cities against six important factors for first-time buyers, including disposable income, the rate of contents theft and average cost of a one-bedroom property.

While Bath has moved from second to first place over the last year – due in part to an improvement in job opportunities – London remains in last place, thanks to sky-high property prices and a higher-than-average rate of contents theft.

Top five cities for first-time buyers:

Bath currently holds the highest score for jobs per capita, and retains its position as one of the best cities for disposable income, contributing to it moving into first place.

In Wolverhampton, despite an increase in the average cost of a one-bedroom property over the course of the year, disposable incomes and average salaries have risen, putting it in second place.

Chester’s rise in the rankings is thanks to a drop in the contents theft rate compared to last year, combined with affordable housing. The average cost of a one-bedroom property now sits at £106,050 – well below the national average of £131,830.

In fourth place, Aberdeen ranks 16 places ahead of its Scottish neighbour Glasgow. With a relatively low contents theft rate, higher than average disposable income, and good property prices, it’s an option for first-time buyers who can get a one-bedroom property for an average of £93,600.

Despite having the highest rate of contents theft amongst the top five locations, Derby’s low property prices and relatively high disposable income push it into the top five.

MoneySupermarket’s report also looked at the worst cities for first time buyers – with London top of the pile.

Worst five cities for first-time buyers:

Despite good earning potential and high disposable income, London is ranked bottom for the second year in a row. The average price for a one-bedroom property decreased from £513,084 (2018) to £486,924 (2019), which is still £355,094 above the national average.

Dropping six places, the average annual salary and disposable income in Birmingham has decreased by 22%, leaving this city as the second worst for first-time buyers across the UK.

The Steel City of Sheffield has relatively few job opportunities, with 2.54 jobs per 100 capita, significantly behind other Midlands and Yorkshire cities, such as Nottingham (5.56) and Wakefield (6.19).

Meanwhile affordable housing saved Sheffield from coming in last place, with it being the cheapest city to buy a house out of the bottom five. Sheffield also has one of the highest content theft rates in the country.

Leicester’s average annual salary has seen a significant drop, from £30,576 to £24,300 over the past year. With the cost of a one-bedroom property going up from £101,554 to £109,420, it remains one of the least attractive options for first-time buyers.

Welsh capital Cardiff has also plummeted down the rankings, from 10th to 28th place, due to a 123% increase in the rate of contents theft.

On the flip side, seaside city Brighton has jumped up 10 places to 12 position due to a 28% increase in income score, which maps disposable income and annual salary.

"For many, buying your first property is one of life’s great milestones and can be incredibly exciting," explained Rachel Wait, at MoneySuperMarket.

"However, as is the case with any financial decision you make, it pays to think carefully about your budget and do your own research before committing to anything.

"As well as looking at house prices in your area of choice, measures such as crime rates and local job opportunities can help inform your decision and ensure you’re in the location best suited to you. It’s also important to start thinking about your credit score , as mortgage lenders will check your credit history to see whether you’re a reliable borrower and will use this and its affordability assessment to decide how much you can borrow."

Top 35 cities for first time buyers

1. Bath

2. Wolverhampton

3. Chester

4. Aberdeen

5. Derby

6. Wakefield

7. York

8. Oxford

9. Sunderland

10. Armagh

11. Stoke-on-Trent

12. Brighton and Hove

13. Newcastle upon Tyne

14. Coventry

15. Portsmouth

16. Peterborough

17. Southampton

18. Belfast

19. Liverpool

20. Glasgow

21. Plymouth

22. Nottingham

23. Bradford

24. Newry

25. Leeds

26. Kingston upon Hull

27. Swansea

28. Cardiff

29. Manchester

30. Bristol

31. Edinburgh

32. Leicester

33. Sheffield

34.  Birmingham

35. London

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