Rural homes 'costlier than urban'

Rural homes are less affordable than urban ones, with average prices more than seven times the typical local wage, a bank has reported.

House price inflation has pushed the average rural property value up to £246,104, which is £30,000 above that of a town house, Halifax said.

Carrick, Cornwall, was deemed the least affordable rural area.

The survey found the average house price in the district was £269,241, over 10 times the average local salary.

Chiltern in Buckinghamshire was identified as the most expensive rural location was an average price tag of £474,850.

Property ladder

Martin Ellis, chief economist at Halifax, said people in rural areas faced "particularly tough" housing market conditions.

"In general, higher average property prices, together with lower earnings, mean that housing is less affordable than in urban areas," he said.