RECENT national news reports suggested that York was the most expensive city in the north to buy property, with the average house costing 7.5 times the average salary.

However, I would question these figures as being significantly inaccurate.

Methods of ascertaining average salary vary. However, the most up to date figures from the office of national statistics suggest that the average full-time salary in York is £25,740. However, not all workers are in full-time employment and therefore the overall average salary in York is £20,280.

According to the Land Registry in 2013 the average house price in York was over £214,000.

More up to date figures from Right Move now suggest that York’s average house price is over £243,000, which seems about right.

Based on these figures I would suggest that the average house price in York is more like 9.5 times the average full-time York salary but 12 times the overall average York salary.

Dale Edwards, Newborough Street, York