Rural realities

The Countryside Agency dishes the data in its State of the Countryside report:

• Nice area? 72% of people living in villages and hamlets say they are very satisfied with the areas where they live; the equivalent urban figure is 45%.

• Well schooled? Pupils from villages and hamlets get better academic results than their urban counterparts.

• Home or away? Within Britain’s sparser rural areas, one household in ten is a second residence or holiday let.

• Affordable housing? House prices are almost ten times the average local household income in these areas.

• Coming or going? Net migration to rural districts (by well-heeled ‘refugees’ from urban areas) is roughly 100,000 a year.

• Most ubiquitous service point? The cashpoint. 90% of rural households are within 4km of one.

Hannah Bullock Get a copy of the findings from
020 7932 5800 or State.Report@countryside.gov.uk

10 November 2005

Hannah Bullock