The quest for a peaceful and ideal seaside location to retire to can often be a daunting task. A recent study by Compare the Market, however, could make this task easier for many.
The comparison site has researched and ranked the 40 most populated coastal towns in England and Wales, considering factors such as quality of life, living costs, the number of walking trails, and the percentage of the population aged over 65.
According to the study, Sunderland takes the top spot as the best seaside town for retirement, with more than 20% of its population over the age of 65.
The town offers a low cost of living, with average costs amounting to only £468 per month (excluding rent), and one of the cheapest average house prices (£160,230).
Sunderland also boasts a high number of GPs per 10,000 people (20.7), a high quality of life score (74 out of 100), and lower-than-average annual rainfall.
Following Sunderland in the top five spots are Bournemouth, Clacton-on-Sea, Scarborough, and Bognor Regis. The most affordable seaside town to retire to, however, is Blackpool, with the lowest monthly cost of living and a reasonable average house price of £164,884.
Anna McEntee, a life insurance expert at Compare the Market, said: “Retirement is an exciting time to start a new chapter, and escaping to the perfect seaside town can make all the difference.”
She added: “Coastal towns like Sunderland and Bournemouth are ideal locations. We encourage anyone planning for retirement to consider some of these seaside spots and explore their options to find the perfect place to enjoy their golden years.”
