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Property investment stats for Plymouth, South West

A complete guide to property investment in Plymouth.

Last updated: 18 September 2025

Investment summary

Plymouth stands out for its strong rental market, with a high proportion of private rented homes and a large student population in the 89th percentile nationally. The city offers a relatively affordable entry point for investors, as shown by the price-to-income ratio of 4.4 and median price per square foot of £248 per sq ft. Rental yields are especially attractive, with the average at 6.5% and the top postcode district reaching 8.1%. The current median asking sale price of a 3-bedroom house is £260,000, while a 2-bedroom flat is at £160,000.

Liquidity is healthy, with properties spending an average of 35 days on the market and annual sales at 3,500. Achieved prices are close to asking, with a modest £1,000 (the typical achieved discount) discount, suggesting steady demand.

Image of Plymouth, South West

Key investment stats for Plymouth

Median price per sq ft

£248 / sq ft

Average rental yield

6.5%

Capital growth (1y)

1.0%

Sales in past year

3,500

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

Live property stats in Plymouth

Live prices in Plymouth, South West

* Extreme prices clipped for legibility

Properties for sale

Median price

£250,000

25% of properties below...

£180,000

75% of properties below...

£350,000

Most expensive property

£6,950,000

Live listings

1,575

Median days on market

35

Should you invest in Plymouth?

Opportunities

  • The strong rental yields of 6.5% and particularly high yields in the top postcode district (8.1%) make Plymouth appealing for income-focused investors.
  • The city’s large student population (in the 89th percentile) and high proportion of private renters support ongoing demand for rental properties.
  • Affordability remains a strength, with a price-to-income ratio of 4.4, making entry less challenging compared to many UK cities.

Risks

  • The relatively low owner-occupation rate (30th percentile) could mean less long-term stability among residents, with more frequent tenant turnover.
  • The degree-educated and professional population is not especially high (37th and 29th percentiles), which may limit future price growth potential.
  • Families are underrepresented (28th percentile), so the market may be more sensitive to changes in student or young professional demand.

Outlook

Expect Plymouth to remain a solid choice for investors seeking reliable rental income, given the strong rental yields of 6.5% and ongoing demand from students and young adults. Price growth has been steady, with capital growth over 1 year at 1.0% and over 3 years at 14.2%, equating to annualised growth of 4.5%. This suggests a market that is not overheated but has shown consistent performance.

With asking rents for a 3-bedroom house at £1,188 and for a 2-bedroom flat at £900, income prospects look positive. Liquidity remains healthy, so investors should be able to transact efficiently. While there are some structural risks due to the city's demographic mix, the fundamentals point to stable returns over the next year.

Live properties in Plymouth

Investment properties in Plymouth, South West

2 bedroom maisonette for sale
35% below median price

£110,000 - Guide Price

2 bedroom maisonette for sale

Milehouse Road, Plymouth. A really ...

Properties needing refurbishment in Plymouth, South West
Needs Refurb
2 bedroom apartment for sale
On market for 178 days

£110,000 - Guide Price

2 bedroom apartment for sale

King Street, Plymouth, Devon, PL1

Slow to sell properties in Plymouth, South West
Slow to Sell
1 bedroom flat for sale
Reduced by 25%

£30,000 - Offers in Excess of

1 bedroom flat for sale

Central Park Avenue, Plymouth, Devo...

Big price drop properties in Plymouth, South West
Big Price Drop
4 bedroom terraced house for sale
High yield opportunity

£225,000 - Guide Price

4 bedroom terraced house for sale

Pearson Avenue, Plymouth, Devon, PL...

HMO properties in Plymouth, South West
HMO
6 bedroom detached house for sale
5,093 sq ft

£1,750,000

6 bedroom detached house for sale

Mannamead, Plymouth, Devon

Properties with planning granted in Plymouth, South West
Planning Granted
8 bedroom terraced house for sale
8% local yield

£375,000

8 bedroom terraced house for sale

North Road East, Plymouth. 8 bed ST...

High rental yield properties in Plymouth, South West
High Rental Yield
3 bedroom bungalow for sale
48% below median price

£350,000

3 bedroom bungalow for sale

Elburton Road, Plymouth, Devon

Low price-per-sq-ft properties in Plymouth, South West
Low Price per Sq Ft
1 bedroom flat for sale
28% below median price

£110,000 - Guide Price

1 bedroom flat for sale

Bayswater Road, Plymouth, Devon, PL...

Auction properties in Plymouth, South West
Auction

Achieved vs asking prices

Key takeaway: Seller's market

Buyers should not expect big bargains — discounts are marginal.

Headline stats

• Median discount: £1,000

• 1 in 4 properties sell at > £7,500 below asking

• 1 in 10 properties sell at > £12,000 below asking

In percentage terms:

• Median discount of 0.4%

• 25% of properties discounted by > 2.9%

• 10% of properties discounted by > 4.6%

Best places to invest in Plymouth

Top postcodes for rental yield and (annualised) capital growth

Rank
Postcode
Yield
Capital growth
Median £/sq ft
1PL48.1%3.0%£187 / sq ft
2PL27.2%3.8%£204 / sq ft
3PL17.1%2.0%£223 / sq ft
4PL56.0%6.6%£235 / sq ft
5PL35.8%4.6%£241 / sq ft
6PL65.5%3.9%£269 / sq ft
7PL95.2%4.7%£308 / sq ft
8PL74.3%4.0%£295 / 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.