Post-pandemic rural-urban property price gap widens

Post-pandemic, the house price gap between rural and urban properties is bigger than ever, according to analysis of Land Registry sales by the estate agency Jackson-Stops. The average rural property now costs £347,278 compared to £295,526 for its urban counterpart, a difference of 18%. The pandemic has caused a surge in demand for rural properties, but now that people are returning to the office, properties closer to urban areas are performing better. The popularity of rural areas has caused a crisis for some residents who have been priced out of their towns and villages. The southwest is the only region where rural prices are still rising, up 2% this year. The average rural home in the southwest costs 20% more than an urban property. The Cambridge-Oxford arc has also seen increased demand for rural properties due to flexible working and lifestyle trends. 

The Times