Rural house prices

But with the cost of housing on the up across the country, are prospective homeowners being priced out of these areas? And where are the cheapest rural places to live in the England?

Here’s a look at how much it costs to buy property in rural England, how this compares to urban areas, and how it has changed.

With the cost of a countryside home skyrocketing, make sure to compare mortgage deals first if you’re considering a move.

Cheapest rural places to live in England

1. County Durham, North East - £122,818

Of all the areas in the country that are primarily rural, County Durham is the cheapest to move to. Here the average property price is just £122,818.

Located in the North East, County Durham is an area of great historical significance. Home to the city of Durham, which is known for its mediaeval cathedral and castle as well as one of the country’s oldest universities.

2. Copeland, North West - £140,165

In second place is Copeland, on the west coast of Cumbria, with an average house price of just £140,165.

Copeland is a picturesque area that covers the southwestern part of the Lake District and is home to England’s highest mountain, Scafell Pike. 

3. Wyre, North West - £187,615

All three of the cheapest rural areas are found in the North, with the average house in the district of Wyre costing £187,615.

Located in Lancashire, Wyre is split in two by the river that gives it its name, with Fleetwood being the biggest town in the area.

Most expensive rural places to live in England

1. Waverley, South East - £536,336

On the other hand, the area where you’ll fork out the biggest premium to live in the countryside is Waverley, in Surrey. Here the average price of a property is £536,336.

Waverley has some of the most green space in the country and borders the North Downs, with major towns including Godalming, Farnham and Haslemere.

2. Winchester, South East - £507,658

Winchester itself is a small city, but the area surrounding it is largely rural and is among the most expensive in the country at £507,658.

The surrounding area is home to towns and villages such as Bishop's Waltham, Denmead, New Alresford, and Kings Worthy.

3. South Oxfordshire, South East - £495,695

Yet another area in the South East of the country completes the top three most expensive rural areas, at just under £500,000.

The area is dominated by the Chiltern Hills and its biggest town is Henley-on-Thames, known for the famous Henley Royal Regatta.

How quickly have rural house prices risen?

The average house price in rural areas currently stands at £314,500. However, back in 2017, the average cost in these same areas was just £239,842. This means that rural property prices have grown by just under a third in the past five years.

To compare, house prices in urban areas have risen from £273,224 to £328,234 over the same period, an increase of around a quarter.

The coronavirus pandemic is likely to have played some part in this. Buyers are increasingly looking for more space and are not necessarily being tied to the city for work commitments anymore.

Tied to this, fewer homes are going on sale in rural areas, with potential sellers instead choosing to stay put, which inflates prices even further.

But which rural areas have seen demand increase the most?

Rural areas with the biggest price increases

1. North Devon, South West

2017: £217,667

2022: £323,394

Increase: 48.57%

With a five-year price increase of almost half, it seems that the rural area most in demand is North Devon. Here prices have risen from £217,667 to £323,394 over the past five years.

North Devon is popular for its beaches, dramatic cliffs and wild seas, and it also borders the Exmoor National Park.

2. Harborough, East Midlands

2017: £251,730

2022: £372,570

Increase: 48.00%

Not too far behind is Harborough, in the East Midlands, which has seen an increase of 48%.

The town of Market Harborough has been named the most liveable place in England in the past. The town also benefits from the fact that it is just an hour away from London on the train.

3. Torridge, South West

2017: £209,108

2022: £304,894

Increase: 45.81%

In third place is Torridge, which is located adjacent to North Devon and has seen house prices increase by 45.81% in the past five years.

As with North Devon, it is known for its rugged coastline and undisturbed natural beauty. The South West Coast Path also offers a defined trail to explore the best of the area.

Rural areas with the smallest price increases

1. East Hampshire, South East

2017: £369,426

2022: £419,597

Increase: 13.58%

Demand hasn’t necessarily increased quite so much across the whole country. The rural area where house prices have risen the least is East Hampshire, although even here they have still gone up by 13.58%.

Made up of chalk uplands, the area’s two principal towns are Alton and Petersfield, both of which have a number of historic landmarks and attractions.

2. Copeland, North West

2017: £117,323

2022: £140,165

Increase: 19.47%

At the other end of the country, the local authority of Copeland saw its average house price increase by just under 20%.

This area in Cumbria is situated on the coast of the Irish Sea and also covers part of the Lake District and is one of the cheapest rural places to live England.

3. Sevenoaks, South East

2017: £407,028

2022: £488,621

Increase: 20.05%

In third place with a price increase of just over 20% is Sevenoaks, which is amongst the more expensive rural places to live England.

The area in Kent is named after the town of the same name, which is popular with those looking to commute to London.

The most beautiful rural counties according to social media

1. Cornwall

Instagram posts: 8.6m

TikTok views: 580.3m

Looking at the rural areas that get the most love on social media, the winner by some distance is Cornwall. Cornwall is both the most posted about county on Instagram and also most viewed on TikTok.

It’s easy to see why, with the area being packed with sandy beaches, as well as picture-perfect seaside villages such as St Ives and Padstow. 

2. Devon

Instagram posts: 4.7m

TikTok views: 371.4m

Just up the coast from Cornwall is Devon, and that’s the county that takes second place here. Devon appears in 4.7 million Instagram posts and has been viewed more than 370 million times on TikTok.

As we’ve seen, house prices are on the up in Devon, which, like Cornwall, has some great beaches, cliffs and moorlands to explore.

3. Norfolk

Instagram posts: 4.0m

TikTok views: 173.2m

Norfolk comes in third place, with 4 million Instagram posts and more than 170 million views on TikTok.

This East Anglian county is perhaps best known for the Broads. These are a network of rivers and lakes that crisscross the east of the county and form a national park area.