The research shows where sellers can maximise their equity and where smaller homes offer the least financial benefit.

The study analysed house price data and average property sizes across major UK cities to determine where downsizers gain the most value when moving to a smaller property.

The findings show that northern cities provide significantly better value, while cities in southern England can offer far less financial incentive for homeowners to downsize.

Best cities in the UK for downsizers

Cities where homeowners can typically sell larger family homes and purchase significantly cheaper, smaller properties include:

1. Bradford 2. Preston 3. Sunderland 4. Stoke-on-Trent 5. Blackpool

These cities offer some of the largest average property sizes and best value per square metre, meaning downsizers can still secure spacious homes while releasing equity from larger properties.

For example, homes in cities such as Stoke-on-Trent and Bradford can sell for around £1,100 to £1,300 per square metre, dramatically lower than prices seen in southern England.

Worst cities in the UK for downsizers

At the opposite end of the spectrum, downsizing in several cities may deliver less financial benefit due to high prices and smaller homes.

The least favourable cities include:

1. Bristol 2. Southend-on-Sea 3. Manchester 4. Reading 5. London

In these cities, smaller homes often command extremely high prices relative to their size, meaning homeowners moving to a smaller property may release significantly less equity.

For example, properties in London average around 47 square metres for typical homes bought at the average price, compared with roughly 90 square metres in many northern cities, illustrating the stark regional difference in housing value.

London also consistently ranks as the most expensive housing market in the UK, with some boroughs averaging property prices above £1 million.

Good Move director Nima Ghasri said: “The data shows that there is a huge difference between the north and the south when it comes to house prices, with London having one of the most expensive housing markets in the UK.

“This said, there are benefits to downsizing no matter where you are in the country; whether it’s to release equity, to support financial struggles, or for empty nesters who find they need less space. Selling your home can be complex and complicated, and for those who need to sell their home fast, there are options available, such as cash house buyers.”

Average prices per square metre in London can be several times higher than those in northern cities, meaning downsizers relocating regionally may be able to unlock significant housing equity.

This growing gap has increasingly encouraged homeowners approaching retirement to consider relocating to more affordable regions.

The ranking was created by analysing housing affordability and value metrics across major UK cities.

Cities were evaluated based on where homeowners could purchase larger homes for lower prices were ranked as better locations for downsizers, as these markets enable sellers to release more equity when moving to a smaller property.

Conversely, cities with high price-per-square-metre values and smaller homes ranked poorly because downsizing yields less financial gain.

Downsizing is becoming an increasingly common strategy among homeowners aged 55 and over, allowing sellers to release equity from larger homes while reducing maintenance costs and housing expenses.

However, this research shows that the financial benefits of downsizing vary significantly depending on location, with some homeowners gaining far more from moving to smaller homes in lower-cost regions.