The East of England is the most affordable area of England for homebuyers seeking a rural retreat, according to research from national estate agency, Jackson-Stops.
With post-pandemic lifestyle preferences and working patterns in a state of flux, Jackson-Stops analysed the prices of detached homes in rural and urban settings across England as part of its latest research.
Its findings highlighted four regions – the East of England, West Midlands, North West and Yorkshire & Humber – where the average sale price of a detached home was less expensive in rural areas than urban centres.
Nearly two in five (39%) buyers of detached homes across England bought in rural settings over the past decade.
The East of England was the most affordable, with the average detached home selling for 37% less in rural areas than in urban areas (£487,483 vs. £772,396).
The price difference increased from 34% before the pandemic, resulting from urban house prices having risen 14% in areas such as Cambridge, compared with 9% in rural surroundings.
Locations in the East of England that proved the most popular for buying a detached home in 2023 included Whittlesey, Watton, and Dersingham.
Nick Leeming, chairman of Jackson-Stops, said: “The East of England has grown in popularity over the last two years, home to the Cambridge-Oxford Arc as a melting pot for innovation and urban expansion.
“Whilst rural hubs around Suffolk and Norfolk have increased in demand thanks to the rise in flexible working and lifestyle trends, there remains plenty of opportunities here for buyers looking for the best of both worlds.”
Daryl Parr, director of Jackson-Stops Colchester, added: “Essex continues to be one of the most affordable home counties for those moving out of London.
“This means families can get a large, detached house in a green location, within an hour of the capital.
“There are houses that will tick all the boxes and sell quickly – these are set in the real diamonds of villages, in the heart of Constable country, usually right behind an old church.
“Hidden gem villages in the golden triangle between Ipswich, Chelmsford and Colchester are becoming more popular with buyers, where picture-postcard country views are a plenty.”
In the South West regional homebuyers paid the highest premium for rural homes, with an average 2023 sale price 11% higher than in urban areas (£563,786 vs. £508,006).
This was up from 8% in 2022 and a reverse of the pre-pandemic trend, with detached properties in urban parts of the South West selling for 4% more than rural properties in 2019.
However, Jackson-Stops’ analysis revealed that the South West saw the biggest shift in buyer preferences over the past decade in favour of rural areas.
So far this year, 62% of people buying detached homes in the region opted for rural locations, up from 54% in 2013.
Cornwall topped the charts for the volume of rural buyers; a position held for over a decade.
Richard Holder, director at Jackson-Stops Cornwall, said: “The West Country has a long legacy of drawing in all types of home buyers from across the country, lured in by rolling landscapes and blissful beaches.
“But Cornwall in particular is the kind of place that puts a spell on you – the romanticism of Poldark is more than just on-screen.
“It’s laid-back nature, warm sense of community, and close affiliation with nature, make Cornwall the ultimate countryside lovers retreat.
“Name any hamlet here and no doubt you’ll find a cobbled street lined with pretty cottages, surrounded by wildlife and heritage. It’s a magnet for downsizers and entrepreneurs, offering the good life in spades.”
