Where are Edinburgh’s young professionals buying property?

Our latest House Price data reveals the ten Edinburgh neighbourhoods where young professionals are buying the most one- and two-bedroom flats.

We’ve looked at the locations in and around the city centre where the highest volumes of one- and two-bedroom flats are being sold, with prices sitting around the official Registers of Scotland first-time buyer average of £244,188. The results offer an interesting insight into where young professionals are buying property in Edinburgh and what these popular neighbourhoods have to offer.

Unsurprisingly, the top ten is made up of the city’s trendiest pockets, where younger buyers are prioritising easy access to excellent amenities such as cafes, coffee shops, bars and restaurants, alongside fast and frequent transport links to make commuting a breeze.

Let’s take a closer look at the areas where young professionals are most likely to buy a property in Edinburgh...

Leith: Edinburgh’s buzzing waterfront neighbourhood

It comes as no surprise that hipster hotspot Leith takes the crown for young professionals. Booming with life and buzzing with personality, Leith has plenty of allure for young people looking for a home with plenty going on around it. This neighbourhood is where there are the highest sales volumes of one- and two-bedroom flats, demonstrating its demand with younger buyers.

Average property prices in Leith

The average selling price of one- and two-bed flats in Leith is currently £241,381, but buyers are paying a substantial premium to secure a property here, with homes achieving 104.6% of their Home Report valuation on average. Properties are in high demand too; these flats go under offer in a median time of just 16 days, and a quarter of them go to a closing date.

Slateford: A popular choice for young professionals

South-west of the city centre, Slateford is an increasingly popular choice for young professionals seeking a property – in fact, sales volumes of one- and two-bedroom flats in this suburb rose by 91% this year, compared to 2025. With its own train station, canalside walks, picturesque parks and plenty of amenities, Slateford buzzes with energy while feeling a bit more peaceful.

Average property prices in Slateford

The average selling price of one- and two-bed flats in Slateford is currently £253,804, and buyers are paying 102.5% of the Home Report valuation on average. Flats take 28 days to go under offer, with 24% of those on the market going to a closing date, indicating high levels of interest in this particular Edinburgh property market.

Newhaven: Coastal living with city connections

On the northern shore, Newhaven has become even more of a hub for young professionals since the tram line stretched into the area three years ago. Now offering a quicker commute (plus faster access to the airport), this part of town enjoys the best of both worlds – a quieter coastal feeling with the city centre close at hand. There’s plenty to enjoy here, with highly regarded local restaurants and coffee shops drawing a crowd alongside independent shops, plus gyms, parks and other essential amenities.

Average property prices in Newhaven

One- and two-bedroom flats sell for an average of £246,497 in this area, with buyers paying just over 101% of the Home Report valuation. 8% of one- and two-bedroom flats go to a closing date, and they take around 30 days to go under offer, meaning it could be more straightforward to secure a home here with less intense competition and enough supply to meet demand.

The Shore: Cosmopolitan living by the waterfront

The cosmopolitan Shore has real allure for younger buyers, with wine bars, coffee shops, pubs and restaurants galore around its waterfront setting. There’s so much to enjoy in this area, from farmers markets to luxury hotels, and with an array of property types ranging from elegant traditional tenements to glitzy, modern apartments, plus the tram and great bus links, it’s easy to see why so many young professionals would want to call this area home. Demand is high, with sales volumes of one- and two-bed flats rising almost 30% year-on-year.

Average property prices in The Shore

Living in The Shore comes at a premium though, with one- and two-bedroom flats being the highest priced on this list, at £254,760 on average. Buyers pay just over 102% of the Home Report valuation, and 17% of flats go to a closing date. Flats here sell quickly too, with buyers snapping them up in a median time of only 15 days – so if you want to own a home in The Shore, you can’t hang around.

Trinity: Peaceful, elegant and well connected

Elegant Trinity has plenty of appeal, tucked away to the north of the city, sandwiched between Newhaven and Inverleith. It’s peaceful and refined, but don’t be fooled – there’s still plenty of life happening here, and a real sense of community spirit and local pride. Restaurants, coffee shops and independent businesses abound, and there are great bus links to get into the centre effortlessly.

Average property prices in Trinity

Properties are priced at the higher end of the spectrum here, with one- and two-bed flats selling for £252,614 on average. Buyers pay 102.5% of the Home Report valuation on average, indicating healthy demand for property for sale in Trinity. Alongside this, properties of this type take a median of 17 days to sell, with 21% of them going to a closing date.

Newington: A vibrant favourite close to the city centre

This list wouldn’t be complete without mentioning Newington! The original student hub of the city, Newington also holds plenty of appeal for young professionals who may already be familiar with the neighbourhood. It’s walking distance from the city centre, so whether it’s a walk to work or a walk home from a pub, Newington offers almost unbeatable access to everything that’s going on in Edinburgh. There are beautiful green spaces, and coffee shops, restaurants and bars aplenty, all with a vibrant local feel that’s all its own.

Average property prices in Newington

One- and two-bedroom flats in Newington are selling for £249,462 on average, with buyers paying a higher percentage of the Home Report valuation, at just over 103%. 21% of flats go to a closing date, and they sell quickly too, taking 20 days to go under offer.

Polwarth: Canal walks, green spaces and city convenience

Sandwiched between Dalry and Merchiston, with Morningside and Bruntsfield close by, Polwarth is a pocket of the city that provides access to just about everything you could want. There’s the buzz of Gorgie and Dalry, the tranquillity of the Union Canal and Harrison Park, and the leafy, village vibes of Morningside and Merchiston all close at hand, making this a very popular choice for young professionals who want a little slice of everything Edinburgh has to offer.

Average property prices in Polwarth

One- and two-bedroom flats in Polwarth currently have an average selling price of £242,979, and command a hefty premium, with buyers paying 104.7% of the Home Report valuation on average to secure a flat here. High demand means homes are selling super quickly – in fact, Polwarth flats are the quickest-selling on this list, taking 14 days to go under offer. This means that a high proportion of them go to a closing date too – 29% of them, in fact.

Corstorphine: A well-connected west Edinburgh suburb

Often referred to as a family-friendly suburb, Corstorphine clearly has plenty to offer younger buyers too. With excellent transport links across the city, and proximity to the airport for all those spontaneous weekends away, Corstorphine is a great choice for those who need to get around the city and further afield too. The neighbourhood has a vibrant local high street filled with independent businesses, and gorgeous green spaces for morning runs or weekend strolls too.

Average property prices in Corstorphine

Corstorphine’s one- and two-bedroom flats are the cheapest on this list, selling for £229,674 on average, with buyers paying 101.7% of the Home Report valuation. These properties take a median time of 22 days to sell, and 20% of flats for sale go to a closing date, meaning there’s plenty of interest in homes for sale in Corstorphine.

Abbeyhill: Bohemian charm beside Holyrood Park

To the east of the city centre, Abbeyhill enjoys an artsy, bohemian reputation and a fantastic setting that means it’s as quick to walk into the city centre as it is to enjoy a stroll around Holyrood Park (hike up Arthur’s Seat optional). There are plenty here that young professionals would enjoy, with quirky bars and cafes, renowned coffee shops and bakeries on the doorstep, alongside fast, frequent bus links into town or along the coast at Portobello. A mix of tenements, modern apartments and the famous colony houses mean there’s plenty of options for buyers too.

Average property prices in Abbeyhill

This prime setting and quirky community feel commands high prices, and high demand. One- and two-bedroom flats in Abbeyhill sell for £241,596 on average, but they command the highest premium of all the areas on the list, with buyers paying a significant 107.2% of the Home Report valuation to secure a home here. This aligns with a supremely speedy selling time of 15 days, and the highest proportion of closing dates on this list, with 34% of flats for sale in Abbeyhill going to closing.

Easter Road: Lively city living close to Leith and Holyrood

Neighbouring Abbeyhill, Easter Road enjoys the same proximity to the city centre and Holyrood Park, with Leith in easy reach too. This part of the city has long had a lively reputation, with the Hibs football ground just off Easter Road itself, and plenty of vibrant pubs, cafes, coffee shops and bakeries lining the route. There’s just about everything you could want here without having to even leave the neighbourhood, which adds to its appeal for young professionals.

Average property prices in Easter Road

One- and two-bed flats in the Easter Road area have a current average selling price of £246,064, with buyers paying a premium of just over 103% of the Home Report valuation. A high proportion go to a closing date (25%), and these flats generally go under offer in just 17 days, indicating plenty of demand from buyers hoping to secure a property in Easter Road.

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