964,136 completed sales in England and Wales were lodged with HM Land Registry for 1996. The median was £57,000 — £123,646 in 2026 money.
Section 01
Was 1996 a good year to buy?
A home bought at the 1996 median of £57,000 and sold at the latest median of £285,000 gained +400.0% in cash. Restate the 1996 price in 2026 money and it is worth £123,646, so the real gain is +130.5%. The first number is the one people quote; the second is the one that decided whether they were better off.
Section 02
What sold in 1996
| Measure | Value |
|---|---|
| Sales recorded | 964,136 |
| Median price paid | £57,000 |
| In 2026 money | £123,646 |
| Detached median | £89,450 |
| Semi-detached median | £54,500 |
| Terraced median | £44,000 |
| Flat median | £48,000 |
| New build share | 12.1% |
| Leasehold share | 19.5% |
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