Cheapest Places in Derbyshire to Buy a 3-Bedroom House in 2024

Buying Property in Derbyshire

House prices in Derbyshire are incredibly cheap compared to so much of the UK. Here it is possible to buy a three-bedroom family home with a garden, and maybe even with a garage and drive, at a very affordable price. If you'd like to live in a delightful county with rugged hills, historic towns, and gorgeous countryside then Derbyshire might be for you. You could even settle in an attractive town or village and commute into one of the larger Northern cities and have the best of both worlds.

Cheapest 3 Bedroom Homes in Derbyshire in January 2024

Alfreton

The bustling town centre of Alfreton has a good selection of chain stores and independent traders. There is an indoor market, a library, a health centre, a leisure centre, and a swimming pool, as well as a choice of local schools through to sixth form.

Once primarily a mining community, the town now relies mostly on light manufacturing, retailing and service industries for employment. These include the chocolate company Thorntons which is based in Alfreton.

Located on a rail route, trains to London St Pancras take around two and a half hours with one or two changes. Train journeys to Manchester Picadilly last approximately one and a half hours on a direct line

Basic three-bedroom homes can be bought in Alfreton from around £150,000.

Belper

Belper is an attractive market town in the Derwent Valley, 8 miles north of Derby with a long history of industrial innovation. It was here that the famous 18th-century inventor, Jedediah Strutt, opened one of the earliest water-powered mills in the world in 1778,.Further cotton mills soon followed including one commisioned by, Jedediah Strutt's son William who sought out an iron frame maker to reinforce the building with the aim of reducing its vulnerability to future fire damage. This new idea was soon widely copied and led the way forward to the development of skyscrapers. Although the Belper cotton mills are no longer running, the North Mill still exists as a fascinating museum dedicated to an important part of our industrial heritage.

Belper has schools through to sixth form, a railway station on the Midland line from Derby to Leeds, and a good selection of everyday shops. It is quite an expensive town, property-wise, compared to other places in Derbyshire, but still cheaper than other places in the UK. The most basic three-bedroom houses in this lovely, historic location start at a little under £210,000. Property in the town is seeing quite a few price reductions as we move into 2024..

Bolsover

The Little Castle at Bolsover stands guard above the modern-day town. Popular with tourists, the array of medieval-style turrets and towers was designed as an extravagant retreat by the 17th-century poet and courtier Sir William Cavendish.

The town of Bolsover itself was a thriving coal mining community until 1993 when the last of the local pits closed. Although time has moved on, the legacy of the difficult days following the pit closures is still reflected in the property prices. £125,000 should be sufficient to buy a simple family home in Bolsover. Tenanted houses and those in need of refurbishment may come in at a little less. (January 2024) Employment opportunities are limited and many locals travel into nearby towns for work. Chesterfield has the nearest railway station for those needing to commute further afield.

Buxton

This famous spa town is popular with tourists and is often described as "the gateway to the Peak District National Park". Buxton is a handsome town with some wonderful buildings and notable geological features such as Poole's Cavern, an extensive limestone cave system featuring large stalagmites and stalagtites, and St Ann's Well, which is fed by a geothermal spring. The waters found here are bottled and sold internationally by Buxton Mineral Water Company.

Buxton has educational establishments through to University level. The Devonshire Campus of the University of Derby is housed in one of the town's many historic buildings. Buxton's railway station has frequent trains to Stockport and Manchester. A rail journey to Manchester Piccadilly takes just under an hour. Excellent sports and leisure facilities, a good local hospital, and a wide range of high street shops all contribute to making Buxton a great place to buy a family home. Budget around £165,000 to buy a basic three-bedroom house in this lovely and unique location.

Chapel-en-le Frith

Originally settled by the Normans in the 12th century, the small town of Chapel-en-le-Frith is often referred to as "The Capital of the Peak District". The cobbled marketplace above the High Street is marked by an ancient stone market cross, and there is still a regular Thursday market held here. Chapel-en-le-Frith railway station is roughly a mile from the town centre and lies on the main commuter line from Buxton to Manchester Piccadilly. The commute into Manchester takes around 50 minutes.

The town has a Morrisons supermarket and a range of local independent traders. The local schools cater for pupils through to age 16. Between £210,000 and £230,000 should be sufficient to buy a standard three-bedroom house in this quaintly named town.

Chesterfield

Chesterfield's best-known landmark is the 14th century Church of St Mary and All Saints, popularly known as the "Crooked Spire", This strange, twisted construction surprises and amuses visitors to the town.

Once the site of a Roman fort, the town of Chesterfield sits on a major coal seam, and the mining industry provided many jobs locally prior to the pit closures in the 1980s and 1990s. The demise of the coal industry resulted in high unemployment levels, and this factor has helped keep house prices below the national average. Between £110,000 and £140,000 should be sufficient to buy a basic three-bedroom home here.

Chesterfield has one of the largest open-air markets in Britain, with stalls on either side of the Market Hall. In the historic town centre, a collection of narrow medieval streets make up "The Shambles", The town station is on the Midland mainline. Trains to Manchester Picadilly take around one hour and 20 minutes from here. Chesterfield is around 6 miles from junction 29 0f the M1 motorway.

Clay Cross

Until the early nineteenth century, Clay Cross was a small village known as Clay Lane, but increasing demand for coal and other minerals soon saw the population swell as enterprising locals opened mines to uncover the wealth hidden beneath their feet. Over time, Clay Cross became as well known for its ironworks as it was for its coalmines, and the latter part of the nineteenth century through to the end of the 20th century were prosperous years for the town. After the closure of both pits and steelworks, the town suffered from a lack of jobs resulting in stagnation of the local economy. Fortunately, there has been a revival in Clay Cross's fortunes in more recent years, and gradually new houses and shops are beginning to appear.

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Clay Cross has schools through to sixth form and a local community hospital. The nearest railway station is 6 miles away in Chesterfield. Three-bedroom properties start from around £140,000 upwards.

Derby

Derby was awarded city status on 7 June 1977 by Queen Elizabeth II to mark the 25th anniversary of her ascension to the throne. This honour was well-deserved. Derby has long been associated with inventors, wealth creators, and industrial innovators including:

• The first water-powered silk mill in Britain was built in Derby in 1717 by John Lombe and George Sorocold.
• In 1759, Jedediah Strutt patented and built a machine called the Derby Rib Attachment that revolutionised the manufacture of hosiery.
• In 1840, the North Midland Railway set up its original engine works in Derby. The town continued to have links with the manufacture of locomotive engines until the end of the 20h century.

Derby has a good selection of local schools, a University which claims to be the "No.1 University in the East Midlands for graduate employment", and a well-regarded teaching hospital. It is, of course, on a train route, and direct line trains travel from here to both London St Pancras and Leeds. Considering how well-served the city of Derby is, it is good to know that very basic three-bedroom houses may be bought cheaply from around £140,000, with pre-tenanted houses and doer-uppers coming in at a little less.

Dronfield

Once a tiny village mentioned in the Domesday Book,modern day Dronfield is now a substantial town. The coal and mineral deposits that are particularly plentiful in this part of Derbyshire helped ensure that by 1900, Dronfield had developed into a very large mining community. Other industries grew up alongside the mines, including ironworks, soap production, and woollen mills. Some of the oldest buildings in Dronfield date from a period of great prosperity in the 18th and 19th centuries. Industry flourished here, and even now, long after the closure of the coal mines, the town continues to do well. Popular as a base for commuters into Sheffield and Chesterfield, Dronfield has a station on the Midland mainline. With schools through to sixth form, a range of local shops, and a modern leisure complex, the town has plenty going on. Between £225,000 to £250,000 should be sufficient to begin your search for a three-bedroom house in this sought-after location.

Eckington

Eckington is a town 7 miles northeast of Chesterfield and 8.5 miles southeast of Sheffield. Eckington has schools through to sixth form, a regular Friday market, and a selection of everyday shops and businesses. The nearest railway stations are approximately 4.5 miles away at Dronfield and Chesterfield. Begin your Eckington property search with a budget of £210,000 for the cheapest three-bedroom homes, but be aware that property at the lowest end of the market is rarely available, and £280,000 might well be a more realistic budget.

Glossop

Glossop is a market town in the High Peak area of Derbyshire, about 15 miles east of Manchester and 24 miles (39 km) west of Sheffield. During the 18th century, Glossop became a centre for cotton spinning, and the mills provided employment for the local people and generated wealth for their owners. The 20th century saw a decline in the success of the mills, and unemployment was extremely high during the 1930s. However, other industries soon grew up in the area, and modern-day Glossop has a diverse range of job opportunities, including those based around the tourist industry, as Glossop is popular with visitors to the Peak District.

With schools through to sixth form, a vibrant local community involved in both sports and the Arts, a good range of local shops, and a railway station, Glossop has a great deal to offer. House prices here are modest. Budget around £200,000 for a simple three-bedroom home in good order, or a little less for a DIY project.

Heanor

Heanor is a town in the Amber Valley district, 8 miles northeast of Derby. Once principally a town where the traditional Derbyshire industries of textile manufacture and coal mining were dominant, modern-day Heanor relies largely on light manufacturing for job opportunities. Heanor has a good range of basic shops, including a few chain stores. The local schools have places through to sixth form. The nearest railway station is at Langley Mill, about two miles away. At the cheaper end of the Derbyshire housing market, allow a budget of at least £130,000 to secure a three-bedroom house in Heanor.

Hilton

Hilton is a large village in South Derbyshire. Popular with commuters travelling into Derby, Nottingham, and the West Midlands for work, the village has grown very quickly in recent years. The primary school provision has been expanded to cope with the increase in pupils, however, there is no senior school within the village at present. The small selection of local shops includes an Aldi supermarket. House prices are surprisingly high here in this rapidly expanding rural community. Allow at least £210,000 when shopping for a basic three-bedroom house.

Ilkeston

Ilkeston was once a spa town, and people would travel long distances to 'take the waters'. The mineral baths closed just before 1900, and Ilkeston came to rely less on tourism, and more on steel-working as its major source of employment. In its heyday British Steel employed up to 7,000 people at nearby Stanton and the closure of the ironworks in 2007 was a massive blow. Recovery has been aided by the construction of a new business park.

Ilkeston has schools through to sixth form and a further education college. There is a community hospital with minor injuries unit. The town had not had its own railway station for many years, but the good news is that a rail link has recently been opened, and this may have contributed to a sharp increase in property prices in the last few years. That said, Ilkeston remains a very affordable location. Budget a minimum of £130,000 to buy a ready to live in, three-bedroom property.

Killamarsh

Coal has been mined in Killamarsh since at least the 15th century, and a number of surrounding collieries kept the men of the town in employment right up until the 1980s when the last two pits, Westthorpe and High Moor, closed. Like so many other towns in this region, Killamarsh has had to reinvent itself. The mines were large employers, and it took time to establish new industries. Fortunately, Killamarsh is blessed with good connections to nearby major towns via regular bus services, and the Halfway terminus of the Sheffield Supertram network.

Killamarsh has a library, medical centre, and a range of shops catering for most everyday needs. It also has a choice of primary schools, however there is no secondary school at present. Most secondary school-aged children take the bus to nearby Eckington.

Allow around £170,000 for a basic three-bedroom town in Killamarsh, but keep an eye out for an occasional bargain at considerably less.

Long Eaton

With schools through to sixth form, a diverse mix of chain stores and independent traders on the High Street, and an interesting selection of sports and leisure facilities in the town, Long Eaton has a lot going for it. The town lies on the Midland Main railway line, 7.5 miles southeast of Derby.

Once a major centre for lacemaking, the old lace mills in the town have been repurposed and provide some interesting industrial architecture in the town centre. Ready-to-occupy, three-bedroom homes begin at around £165,000 in Long Eaton.(January 2024)

Matlock

Situated at the southeastern edge of the Peak District, Matlock is the county town of Derbyshire. Once famous as a spa town and often referred to as "Matlock Bath", Matlock is home to Derbyshire County Council. The town has a wide range of shops and businesses at its heart. The local community holds an annual festival each July, which includes music, art and performance. Matlock is on the Derwent Valley railway line and has a station where tickets can be bought for both the modern-day trains and the preserved steam-driven trains run by Peak Rail on part of the track no longer used by the formal commercial network.

Beween £195,000 and £240,000 should be sufficient to buy a basic three-bedroom property in this interesting Peak District town.

New Mills

New Mills is a town in Derbyshire, approximately 15 miles from Manchester, a fact which goes some way towards explaining the relatively high (for Derbyshire) property prices. £220,000 is around the lowest amount you might expect to pay for a three-bedroom family home in New Mills, with the occasional DIY project or tiny terrace house slipping in a little below that. The town was once a mining community with a number of cotton mills within its boundaries. The natural waterways running through the area made it an ideal place for textile manufacturers. Some of the old mill buildings were taken over by the confectionery company Swizzels Matlow after the Second World War, and the company is still a major local employer.

Set in an area of outstanding natural beauty with dramatic scenery all around, New Mills is very much a location for nature lovers. The town is blessed with two railway stations, schools through to sixth form, a range of shops catering for most everyday requirements, and it is surrounded by stunning countryside to be enjoyed and explored.

Sandiacre

The Erewash Canal passes through the town of Sandiacre, and the barges that once plied up and down this waterway would have transported coal and iron to and from the local foundries and past the lace factory, which still stands near the towpath, now converted to apartments. Sandiacre is a small, quiet, rural town with a basic range of facilities which include schools through to sixth form. The nearest local train station is at Long Eaton, just over 2 miles away. Allow a bare minimum of £175,000 when shopping for a 'ready-to-occupy' three-bedroom property here, but expect to pay a lot less for a DIY project or really tiny terrace house.

Staveley

The former mining town of Staveley lies alongside a recently restored stretch of the Chesterfield Canal. The town suffered greatly following the closures of the local coal mines, iron foundry and chemical works, which were once the major employers in the town. However, new industries are gradually moving into the area.

Staveley is conveniently located close to junction 30 of the M1. The nearest railway station is a few miles away, at Chesterfield. Staveley has schools through to sixth form and a range of local shops, including a Morrisons supermarket. Three-bedroom houses in Staveley start from a little under £140,000. (January 2024)

Swadlincote

The Domesday Book of 1086 recorded Swadlincote as a small manor. For many centuries, Swadlincote remained a sleepy, rural settlement, but the industrialisation of the 1800s brought the collieries, brickworks and potteries that came to dominate the area. The potteries, in particular, became a mainstay of the local economy, with the manufacture of sewage pipes being a speciality.

Modern-day Swadlincote relies on light manufacturing and service industries for most of its locally based employment opportunities. The town has schools through to sixth form and a range of shops, including a Morrisons supermarket. The nearest railway station is Burton-on-Trent, about 4 miles away. Allow around £130,000 to buy a small three-bedroom family home in Swadlincote.

This article is accurate and true to the best of the author’s knowledge. Content is for informational or entertainment purposes only and does not substitute for personal counsel or professional advice in business, financial, legal, or technical matters.

© 2016 Amanda Severn