Longford is the most affordable location in the country to buy a house for first-time buyers, new research has revealed.

This research by switcher.ie found the Midlands town provides the best chance for the average couple to save for a deposit followed by Leitrim, Donegal, Mayo and Roscommon.

The most expensive areas, unsurprisingly, are in-and-around Dublin with Dun Laoghaire coming in first followed by Wicklow, South Dublin, Fingal and Louth.

The research found it would take an average couple 21 years to save for a deposit for a home in Dun Laoghaire compared to one-and-a-half years in Longford.

The figure for Dun Laoghaire is down from last year’s figure of 27 years.

However, if you're looking to buy an apartment on your own in Dun Laoghaire it would take 46 years to come up with the deposit.

Houses, © PA Archive/PA Images