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Property investment stats for Barnsley, Yorkshire and The Humber

A complete guide to property investment in Barnsley.

Last updated: 18 September 2025

Investment summary

Barnsley sits in a sweet spot for investors who want a mix of affordability and strong returns. The average price-to-income ratio of 3.9 makes it accessible for buyers, while the 6.5% rental yield is impressive for the region. Properties move quickly, with homes spending a median of 36 days on the market, showing there’s decent liquidity.

Capital growth over the past three years has been robust at 18.7%, with an annualised rate of 5.9%. The rental market is supported by a relatively high proportion of private renters, and asking rents for both houses (£872 for a three-bedroom) and flats (£780 for a two-bedroom) reflect the area’s solid demand.

Image of Barnsley, Yorkshire and The Humber

Key investment stats for Barnsley

Median price per sq ft

£180 / sq ft

Average rental yield

6.5%

Capital growth (1y)

5.5%

Sales in past year

877

* Property stats calculated for last full calendar year (2024).

Live property stats in Barnsley

Live prices in Barnsley, Yorkshire and The Humber

* Extreme prices clipped for legibility

Properties for sale

Median price

£187,000

25% of properties below...

£110,000

75% of properties below...

£273,746

Most expensive property

£695,000

Live listings

326

Median days on market

36

Should you invest in Barnsley?

Opportunities

  • The top-performing postcode district offers a rental yield of 7.1%, which stands out for buy-to-let investors seeking income.
  • The median sale price for a three-bedroom house is £199,995, making it accessible for investors looking to enter the market or expand their portfolio.
  • Properties are typically discounted by £2,000 (the typical achieved discount) from the asking price, creating opportunities for buyers to negotiate on value.

Risks

  • The proportion of degree-educated residents and professionals is low (in the 13th and 8th percentiles), which could limit long-term growth in higher-value tenant demand.
  • The student population is below average, so there’s less potential in the student rental sector compared to some other towns.
  • Owner-occupation is in the 25th percentile, indicating reliance on the rental market for exit strategies or resale, which might affect liquidity in some cycles.

Outlook

Looking ahead, Barnsley’s affordability and high rental yields should keep it attractive to investors, especially with the current 6.5% yield and accessible asking prices. The area’s strong recent capital growth (5.5% over the last year) suggests ongoing momentum, though the low proportion of professionals may keep a lid on premium price growth.

Demand from younger renters is likely to remain steady, given the population aged 20-40 is well above average. The market is liquid, and with properties selling in a median of 36 days, investors can expect reasonable exit times. While growth may not match the fastest-rising cities, the fundamentals here look solid for steady returns.

Live properties in Barnsley

Investment properties in Barnsley, Yorkshire and The Humber

5 bedroom detached house for sale
On market for 178 days

£550,000 - Guide Price

5 bedroom detached house for sale

Doncaster Road, Barnsley, S70 1UD

Slow to sell properties in Barnsley, Yorkshire and The Humber
Slow to Sell
2 bedroom apartment for sale
Reduced by 15%

£110,000 - Guide Price

2 bedroom apartment for sale

Fitzwilliam Street, Barnsley

Big price drop properties in Barnsley, Yorkshire and The Humber
Big Price Drop
4 bedroom terraced house for sale
High yield opportunity

£130,000 - Offers in Region of

4 bedroom terraced house for sale

Doncaster Road, Barnsley

HMO properties in Barnsley, Yorkshire and The Humber
HMO
7 bedroom semi-detached house for sale
1,458 sq ft

£250,000

7 bedroom semi-detached house for sale

Darley Avenue, Barnsley, S71

Properties with planning granted in Barnsley, Yorkshire and The Humber
Planning Granted
1 bedroom flat for sale
26% below median price

£65,000 - Offers Over

1 bedroom flat for sale

Fitzwilliam Street, Barnsley, S70

Low price-per-sq-ft properties in Barnsley, Yorkshire and The Humber
Low Price per Sq Ft

Achieved vs asking prices

Key takeaway: Balanced market

Buyers have some negotiation leverage, but not much.

Headline stats

• Median discount: £2,000

• 1 in 4 properties sell at > £5,000 below asking

• 1 in 10 properties sell at > £10,000 below asking

In percentage terms:

• Median discount of 1.2%

• 25% of properties discounted by > 3.4%

• 10% of properties discounted by > 6.8%

Best places to invest in Barnsley

Top postcodes for rental yield and (annualised) capital growth

Rank
Postcode
Yield
Capital growth
Median £/sq ft
1S707.1%6.6%£171 / sq ft
2S715.8%6.0%£201 / sq ft
3S755.2%4.9%£236 / sq ft

Data sources

GeoGlider calculates property investment stats by blending official and proprietary datasets. Here's a quick overview of key sources and how we use them:

  • HM Land Registry: Property transaction and sold-price records for England & Wales used to calculate historical capital growth, price levels and comparables.

  • Office for National Statistics (ONS): Demographic and economic indicators for the UK, including Census 2021, supporting area profiling and market context.

  • Ordnance Survey: Authoritative UK geospatial data powering accurate boundaries, roads and terrain for mapping and spatial analysis.

  • GeoProp: Our proprietary AI pipeline that processes millions of property listings to extract rich features and live market signals.

  • Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities: Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) scores and property floor areas.

  • HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC): Household income and employment data to understand local affordability and economic conditions.

Data is updated continuously, matched across sources and rigorously validated.