Somerset

Accessible housing costs come at the expense of local school quality and higher council tax in Somerset. A median house price of £285,000 sits below the regional median, yet this remains a significant financial commitment at 7.7 times median annual earnings. Renters fare similarly, with monthly payments taking 31.8% of gross median pay. While housing is relatively attainable compared to much of the South West, the trade-off is stark in the classroom, where only 81.7% of pupils attend Good or Outstanding schools, the lowest share in the region. Furthermore, Band D council tax at £2,561 is higher than 82% of England authorities. This area suits those prioritising a lower entry price into the property market who are comfortable navigating below-average educational performance.

Written from the indicators on this page, 2026-10 data.

Colour shows quintile position against 361 UK Local Authorities. Green is the best position for someone moving here; red is the worst. Direction is set per indicator — higher pay, lower rent, less crime, less deprivation are all green.

Somerset head-to-heads