With 35% of buyers revealing that a change of scenery is on the cards for 2021, a new study by Oxford Home Schooling reveals England’s best and worst places for young families to live.
The study ranked local authorities on a number of key factors: the percentage of schools that are rated ‘Good’ or ‘Outstanding’ by Ofsted, the percentage of school places available, the affordability of housing, based on average wages and property prices, and the number of crimes per 1,000 people.
Rutland came out on top, scoring highly across all categories. Despite an impressive 95% of its schools being scored highly by Ofsted, more than a third (34%) of the student spots available were not filled last year. With the nation’s second-lowest crime rate, at just 41 incidents per 1,000 people, it’s also an incredibly safe place to live.
Such statistics are considerably better than the national averages. Across the country, nearly nine in ten (87%) schools are considered ‘Good’ or ‘Outstanding’, while just 11% of school places are not applied for. Regarding crime, there is an average of 93 offences per 1,000 people across England - more than double the rate in Rutland.
The rest of the ten best places to live are spread across the country, with Cumbria and Herefordshire completing the top three.
The most affordable area to live, however, is County Durham, where the average wage (£24,000) represents 23% of the typical property value (£104,560). This is more than twice as good as the national average (11%).
At the other end of the scale, Bristol was surprisingly named the worst area to raise a family in 2021. It scored poorly across all ranking factors, with few school places available (2%), relatively low Ofsted gradings (78% ‘Good’ or ‘Outstanding’) and a high crime rate - 113 incidents per 1,000 people.
The most unaffordable place for families is Kensington and Chelsea, where salaries make up less than 3% of the average house price (£1.4 million). In fact, 23 of the 26 most unaffordable areas are found in London, including all of the top 18.
Dr Nick Smith, principal at Oxford Home Schooling, said: "2020 has been an incredibly difficult year for many families and some will be looking for a fresh start as we near its conclusion.
"Lots of people are moving house, in part due to the Stamp Duty holiday, and families will have a lot to consider when choosing their new area. Education will likely be a key factor, with some moving to be within certain school catchment areas. For those considering such action, our research has highlighted the local authorities which offer quality education, affordable housing and safety for your family."
