Area Guide to Cornwall

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At the very tip of south-west England, Cornwall is home to just over 500,000 people. The majority of the population are white, with people between the ages of 50-54 being the largest group, similar to that of Devon. Many of Cornwall's residents are retired, often from other parts of the UK, attracted by the climate, beautiful coastline and small towns with a slower pace of life.

Cornwall is best regarded as a place for people to holiday, with miles of beautiful rugged coastline and sandy beaches, though relatively high rainfall will likely put of those looking for a suntan. Despite the picturesque coastline, inland areas have a rather barren empty feel, though most towns and places of interest are situated on the coast.

A relatively high level of residents who have relocated to the area to retire, mask the real poverty and low earning of the native Cornish people. In fact, the average wage is lower in Cornwall than any other region of the UK, due to a lack of industry and poor transport links away from the south-west.

Property prices are high keeping local first time buyers off the property ladder. Places like Fowey, Padstow and St Mawes are all in the top 10 most expensive coastal towns in the UK. Many detached chalet styled homes can be found in these places, with the usual poky Cornish cottages around every corner. Padstow seems to offer less value for money, with slightly less space and more houses converted to flats to be found.

Despite the lower earnings and a case for higher poverty, less of the housing stock falls into the 'slum' category seen in major towns and cities across the country. Don't expect to find many, if any, of the usual concrete tower blocks, more likely semi-detached council housing in areas such as Newquay and Penzance. Most towns tend to have some poorly maintained small cottages which are privately owned, though these are mainly found in the central areas.