According to UK Finance, people buying homes in the area typically spend 24.8% of their gross income on mortgage payments.
This makes Slough one of the places where new borrowers are most financially stretched, alongside London commuter belt areas like Luton and Spelthorne.
Last year, UK homebuyers typically spent 21.3% of their gross income on mortgage payments, marking the highest level since 2008.
Mary-Lou Press, president of the National Association of Estate Agents Propertymark, pointed out that higher interest rates and the challenge of saving for a deposit are locking many potential buyers out of the market.
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“Higher interest rates and the challenge of saving for a deposit mean many people who could afford monthly repayments are still locked out of buying,” she said.
“It’s no longer just about income; access to upfront cash is becoming the biggest barrier.”
Aneisha Beveridge, head of research at Hamptons, said: “Homeowners in London’s commuter belt are among those feeling the impact of higher mortgage rates most sharply.”
“These are areas where a much larger share of households rely on a mortgage, especially compared to central London.
“It’s also where first-time buyers and upsizers are stretching the hardest to get a bit more space, often pushing loan-to-income multiples to make the numbers work.
“That said, it’s worth keeping some perspective. For many renters, spending this proportion of income on housing would feel like a step forward.
“Even with rates edging up again over the last month, owning with a mortgage is still often cheaper than renting, so affordability challenges are increasingly about access and upfront barriers, rather than just the cost of monthly repayments.”
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Nationally, UK Finance said 723,000 house purchase mortgages were handed out last year, marking a 17% annual increase.
Mortgage rates have been gradually easing down in recent weeks after a jump earlier this year caused by market uncertainty due to the conflict in the Middle East.
James Tatch, head of analytics at UK Finance, said: ”It’s been challenging times for those trying to buy a property in recent years, with affordability pressures weighing heavy.
“But the pain is not felt equally across the country. Property prices, wages and demographics vary greatly across and within regions.
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“All of these have an impact on affordability and if you’re a landlord, how profitable your investment property is.
“The UK housing market faces both challenges and opportunities at a national and local level, and understanding these local markets enables better decision-making from government, local authorities and others.
“We look forward to continuing our work with these stakeholders to improve the mortgage market.”