Zoopla reveals Kent’s most affordable places to buy cottage

For some, buying a cottage and living in the countryside or by the coast may be the ultimate dream, but this can often be a rather expensive one.

But data from Zoopla has revealed which areas in Kent could be the most affordable to buy a cottage, with Thanet, Medway, Folkestone and Hythe all making the list.

Whilst areas such as Sevenoaks, Tonbridge, Malling and Tunbridge Wells were among Kent’s most expensive, with these cottages potentially setting you back anything up to £550k.

Areas such as Sevenoaks, Tonbridge, Malling and Tunbridge Wells were among Kent’s most expensive to buy a cottage. (Image: Zoopla)

We’ve rounded up the top most affordable areas to buy a cottage in Kent and what you need to know about them:

Thanet

With the average price for a cottage coming in at £310,000, Thanet is Kent’s most affordable area to buy a cottage in 2025.

Thanet is known for being home to some of Kent’s most visually striking beaches, like that of Botany Bay and Viking Bay in Broadstairs, known for their sandy stretches of beach and chalky white cliffs, making this the ideal place to live for fans of the great outdoors.

For things to do, the area is situated within driving distance of popular towns like Broadstairs, Margate and Ramsgate, offering a plethora of attractions and activities to do for the family, with all of them offering easy train links to London.

Medway

Located around Kent’s River Medway, this part of Kent combines the areas of Chatham, Rochester, Strood, Rainham and Gillingham.

According to Zoopla, a cottage in Medway could cost you around £320,000, with Medway being the closest area to London within just 90 minutes drive of the city, and with travel links to London via Rochester, Strood, Gillingham and Rainham.

A cottage in Medway could cost you around £320,000. (Image: Zoopla)

The area is well known for its historic dockyards, which you can learn about on a visit to Chatham Dockyards, featuring an extensive collection of historic naval artefacts as well as numerous ships and a submarine.

Aside from the history, Medway also offers much in the way of arts festivals and theatres, plus riverside walks perfect for unwinding after work.

But for anyone looking to escape into the countryside, Medway offers the opportunity to explore the surrounding North Downs.

Folkestone and Hythe

Offering a mix of food, history and beaches, Folkestone and Hythe are popular locations to visit during the summer.

But for those looking to live there, the average asking price for a cottage in the areas of Folkestone and Hythe could cost would-be homeowners around £326,000.

The average asking price for a cottage in the areas of Folkestone and Hythe could cost would-be homeowners around £326,000. (Image: Zoopla)

Folkestone has undergone a major revival over the last few years, with the addition of the Creative Quarter and Harbour Arm Promenade making it a prime place for weekend socialising, night life, and family days out with regular outdoor cinema screenings and events.

Its main sands - Mermaid Beach - is also a popular spot, on account of its sandy stretches of beach and coastal walks.

Just 4 miles away from Folkestone, Hythe offers a quieter, more traditional coastal place to live, with shingle beaches, the Royal Military Canal, and access to the Kent Downs Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

The area is also famous for its 1920s miniature railway stretching 13 miles between Hythe and Dungeness, along with its historic Victorian pier.