It's The Good Life in the South West (March 2008)

The State of the South West 2007 report, produced by the government funded South West Observatory Core Unit in Taunton, produced evidence to support the widely held view that life in the region is good.

According to the report, people live longer, are richer and enjoy the lower rates of crime and unemployment compared to any other English region.

At 3.8%, unemployment is the lowest.

Despite high house prices, disposable income is the highest outside the South East.

Educational standards are high with above average numbers of people gaining at least five GCSE A* grades.

Data from a range of experts is used in a survey of people, the economy, the environment, the labour market, migration, transport and communication, housing, public health, crime, social life, welfare, culture, government and politics.

One finding will not surprise many South West residents, or us as business transfer agents or, we suspect, estate agents – more than half the newcomers to the region are from London and the South East.

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