Family Investments Reveals Top 20 Best Postcodes For Bringing Up Children

Online, October 4, 2011 (Newswire.com) - Winkleigh, a picturesque Devon village, tops the table thanks to a winning combination of extremely low crime figures, excellent Key Stage 2 results and average property prices of £150,837

The Family Friendly Hotspots Report was compiled using a unique analysis model combining more than 60 sets of data including education attainment from Ofsted, Land Registry property prices, police crime figures and ONS population data

These were all aggregated to generate overall scores for every single postcode region in England and Wales - over 2,400 postcodes were analysed in total

Positive indicators, included green spaces and parks, low levels of crime and good local schools- all of which was weighted against the affordability of local property prices

The Top 20 locations include a mix of villages and towns, some with rural locations such as South Petherton in Somerset and others in close proximity to city centres, such as Galgate, Lancaster and Sutton Coldfield, Birmingham.

Today, award winning children's savings provider Family Investments publishes the first ever Family Friendly Hotspots Report. This unique study identifies the top 20 postcodes offering the best range of essential and desirable factors for family living. This unprecedented picture of all 2,400 postcodes across England and Wales has been achieved by analysing over 60 different data sets covering crucial factors likely to impact a family's decision-making process when they consider moving to a new area.

The study investigated factors that cover the essentials of family living, including:

Key Stage 2 and Key Stage 4 results
School inspection outcomes
Quantity and quality of Early Years care
Local crime figures
Property affordability (based on average house prices and local salaries)
Alongside these critical elements, lifestyle factors were also considered, which combine together to create the perfect backdrop for a happy family life, these included:

Existing population of parents with young children
Parks and green spaces
Local leisure centres
Zoos and farms
Museums and theatres
Kate Moore, Head of Savings and Investments at Family Investments said, "Family Investments has developed the Family Friendly Hotspots Report based on all our experience of what matters most to families. For the last 35 years we have helped families achieve their financial goals and we look after investments for our 1.3 million Child Trust Fund customers. While we recognise that not everyone can lead a village life like the lucky residents of Winkleigh, our number one hotspot, we hope the factors we've identified will help families across the country when considering a new area to live. As parents, we might research local schools or house prices, but this new report brings all these elements and a great deal more together to create the first ever holistic picture of the best places for families to live.

"Affordability is a huge consideration for families, with the rising cost of living and the need to start saving earlier than ever pressing on every parent's mind. That's why the Family Friendly Hotspots Report uses affordability as a crucial measure of suitability for families."

Winkleigh: Top spot for families

Winkleigh, Family Investments' top location for family living, is a vibrant Devon village situated between Dartmoor and Exmoor. It has a Post Office, a butcher's shop, a wet fish shop, general stores, a vets and a doctors' surgery. There is also a lively community centre, a village hall and a sports centre. The local primary school has excellent attainment at Key Stage 2, with results well above the national average. The village also has very low reported levels of crime compared to the national average.

In terms of property prices and affordability, salaries in Winkleigh are well above the national average at £37,566, while the average value of a two-bed roomed property is below the national average - suggesting that property in the area is relatively affordable.

All data is accurate as of 1st July 2011