Why move to Devon? Because where we choose to live eventually becomes more than a location on a map; it shapes how we spend our mornings, how far we travel, what surrounds our children and what everyday life feels like when work is finished.
Few English counties offer quite the same range of choices.
Exeter provides historic city living, employment and university connections. Plymouth has a distinctive waterfront identity and major marine economy. Torbay brings together Torquay, Paignton and Brixham, while North Devon offers surf beaches, market towns and access to Exmoor. Further south, Dartmouth, Salcombe, Kingsbridge and Totnes sit among some of Devon’s most sought-after coastal and countryside locations.
Then there is Dartmoor: a landscape large enough to change the county’s character entirely.
The useful question is therefore not simply whether Devon is a good place to live. It is which part of Devon fits the life you want to build next.
If your relocation is already becoming a financial decision, you can also explore Mortgage Brokers in Devon and compare advisers across the county. Connect Experts’ Devon mortgage page already reflects the distinction between city apartments, rural homes and higher-value coastal properties.
From Waterfront Cities to Moorland Villages: Living in Devon
Devon cannot be reduced to one lifestyle.
Exeter offers the county’s strongest traditional city environment, with employment, university life, shopping, healthcare, restaurants, and rail links.
Plymouth feels very different. Its identity is closely tied to the sea, naval history, marine industries, and waterfront neighbourhoods. Official tourism material describes Plymouth as Britain’s Ocean City and highlights its maritime and cultural character.
Torbay includes Torquay, Paignton and Brixham, combining seaside living with year-round services.
North Devon brings together places such as Barnstaple, Braunton, Ilfracombe, Bideford and Woolacombe, while South Hams includes Totnes, Dartmouth, Kingsbridge, Ivybridge and Salcombe.
East Devon offers another character through towns such as Sidmouth, Exmouth, Honiton and Axminster.
Between them sit rural villages, farming communities and Dartmoor settlements.
The official Devon visitor guide also highlights the county’s unusual geographical range, from Exeter and Plymouth to the Jurassic Coast, rural landscapes and coastal communities.
Someone asking why move to Devon could therefore be imagining very different things:
- walking to work in Exeter;
- living close to Plymouth Sound;
- raising a family near a market town;
- surfing before work in North Devon;
- retiring near the South Devon coast;
- moving to a village with Dartmoor on the doorstep.
Devon’s appeal is that you can make those choices within the same county.
Devon Housing: One County, Many Very Different Markets
Housing is one of the clearest examples of why Devon shouldn’t be treated as a single market.
The latest ONS figures for July 2026 recorded average house prices of:
- £222,000 in Torbay
- £223,000 in Plymouth
- £283,000 in Exeter
- £283,000 in North Devon
- £286,000 in West Devon
- £302,000 in Teignbridge
- £340,000 in East Devon
- £355,000 in South Hams
These are provisional averages and individual towns can differ substantially, but the spread is useful. A household buying in Plymouth or Torbay can face a very different affordability calculation from somebody looking around Salcombe, Dartmouth or parts of East Devon.
First-time buyer prices show similar variation. In July 2026, first-time buyers paid an average of £192,000 in Torbay, £199,000 in Plymouth, £229,000 in North Devon, £244,000 in Exeter and £271,000 in East Devon.
A buyer might therefore be comparing:
- a waterfront or suburban property in Plymouth;
- an Exeter terrace or apartment;
- a Torbay flat;
- a family home near Barnstaple;
- a cottage near Dartmoor;
- a coastal house in Sidmouth;
- a period property in Totnes;
- a higher-value home around Dartmouth or Salcombe.
Property type matters alongside price.
Devon contains leasehold apartments, older stone cottages, listed buildings, converted barns, rural homes with land, coastal properties and newer developments. Each can raise different questions around valuation, construction, access, insurance and lender criteria.
First-time buyers wanting to understand how deposits and affordability work alongside the property search can also use the First-Time Buyer Mortgage Guide.
Education Can Shape Where Families Settle in Devon
A move can change a child’s journey as much as an adult’s commute.
Devon offers primary and secondary education, further education, universities, independent education and vocational routes.
The county is home to the University of Exeter and the University of Plymouth, while further education providers include Exeter College, City College Plymouth, South Devon College and Petroc.
For families choosing an area, practical considerations can include:
- school admissions;
- catchment areas;
- journey times;
- rural school transport;
- childcare;
- sixth-form options;
- independent-school fees;
- whether both parents commute.
Devon County Council provides school-admissions guidance and confirms that families considering fee-paying independent schools normally apply directly to the individual school.
Independent education is also established in parts of the county, including around Exeter, Tiverton and Tavistock. The existing Devon mortgage parent page already identifies education costs as a legitimate part of household affordability planning.
Where independent education is part of the longer-term plan, Education Finance may be relevant.
The key connection isn’t simply whether a school is nearby. Education costs, travel, and childcare can all affect how comfortable a mortgage feels after moving.
Devon’s Economy Is Broader Than Tourism
Not everybody moving to Devon is leaving an economic centre behind.
Devon County Council identifies the visitor economy, agri-food, and health and social care as key employment sectors in the county. Together with related bedrock sectors, they account for around 212,000 jobs, representing 47% of employment, and approximately £8.7 billion of annual GVA.
The economic picture changes by location.
Exeter supports employment across professional services, healthcare, education, technology, public administration and retail.
Plymouth has particularly strong connections to marine, naval, defence, engineering, healthcare and university sectors.
Torbay has an important visitor and service economy.
Rural Devon supports agriculture, food production, construction, trades and smaller enterprises.
Coastal communities add hospitality, tourism, leisure and marine businesses.
This means people relocating to Devon may receive income in very different ways.
Some applicants have a conventional salary.
Others may receive:
- company-director income;
- retained profits;
- dividends;
- seasonal income;
- overtime;
- bonuses;
- consultancy income;
- self-employed profits;
- income from more than one business.
Those distinctions can affect mortgage underwriting.
For somebody relocating for a new job, starting a business or switching to hybrid or remote working, the mortgage question may be influenced as much by how income is earned as by where the home is located.
Planning the Mortgage Alongside a Move to Devon
Looking at the property and the borrowing together can prevent one decision from overtaking the other.
Devon’s housing markets can create very different deposit and mortgage requirements.
A buyer looking at Plymouth may have different borrowing needs from somebody purchasing in South Hams.
The move may affect:
- deposit size;
- loan-to-value;
- monthly repayments;
- commuting costs;
- insurance;
- lender choice;
- affordability;
- valuation;
- property maintenance;
- household expenditure.
The property itself also needs consideration.
A new-build home near Exeter may present different questions from a listed cottage.
A city apartment may involve leasehold terms and service charges.
A rural property may include land, private drainage, outbuildings or unusual access.
A coastal property can raise additional questions about condition, exposure, insurance, or flood information.
If you are comparing several Devon locations, Find a Mortgage Adviser by Location lets you compare advisers by town, county or postcode.
The question worth asking is not simply:
“What is the maximum I can borrow?”
It is:
“What level of borrowing still allows the life I moved to Devon to enjoy?”
That distinction matters when relocation changes commuting, school costs, household bills, or work patterns.
Higher-Value Coastal Homes and More Complex Borrowing
Devon is not uniformly a high-value housing market.
A substantial difference exists between the county’s cities and some of its most desirable coastal locations.
ONS figures illustrate the wider pattern. The average South Hams property was £355,000 in July 2026, compared with £223,000 in Plymouth and £222,000 in Torbay. East Devon averaged £340,000.
Individual markets within those districts can sit considerably above their local-authority averages.
Higher-value locations can include areas around:
- Salcombe;
- Dartmouth;
- Kingswear;
- Dittisham;
- parts of Totnes;
- Sidmouth;
- Budleigh Salterton;
- Topsham;
- selected coastal and rural villages.
Larger mortgages may also coincide with less straightforward income.
Applicants may have:
- dividends;
- retained company profits;
- investment income;
- partnership income;
- bonuses;
- property income;
- multiple companies or income streams.
In those circumstances, experience with High Net Worth Mortgage Brokers may be more relevant than simply finding the adviser with the nearest office.
The existing Devon parent page already identifies South Hams and parts of East Devon as areas where higher-value borrowing may be more common.
Downsizing, Retirement and Later-Life Moves in Devon
Not every move is about gaining another bedroom.
For some people, why move to Devon becomes a retirement question.
A household may be:
- downsizing;
- moving closer to family;
- leaving a larger city;
- looking for a coastal environment;
- reducing commuting;
- releasing capital from a larger home;
- planning around pension income.
Places such as Sidmouth, Exmouth, Dartmouth, Brixham, Torquay and quieter rural communities may appeal to people whose priorities have changed.
Later-life finances also require different questions.
A homeowner may need to consider:
- whether an existing mortgage remains affordable;
- how pension income is assessed;
- whether downsizing will release enough capital;
- future property-maintenance costs;
- proximity to healthcare and services;
- how housing wealth fits into retirement planning.
Equity release should be treated as a separate specialist decision rather than assumed to be the answer to a later-life housing need.
Where appropriate, homeowners can seek specialist guidance from Equity Release Advisers in Devon.
Roads, Rail and Distance Matter Differently in Devon
Devon is well connected nationally, but local travel varies considerably depending on where you live.
The M5 reaches Exeter and connects the county towards Bristol and the Midlands.
The A38 provides the main strategic road route towards Plymouth and onward into Cornwall.
The A30 provides another major east-west route across Devon.
Rail is particularly important around Exeter, Newton Abbot, Totnes, Plymouth and the South Devon coast. Branch routes also serve places including Exmouth, Barnstaple, Okehampton and Paignton.
But distance in Devon should not be judged only by mileage.
A ten-mile journey on a rural road can feel very different from ten miles along a motorway.
People considering a move should think about:
- station access;
- frequency of trains;
- school runs;
- access to hospitals;
- seasonal coastal traffic;
- rural road conditions;
- parking;
- how often work requires travel;
- whether one or two household cars are necessary.
For remote and hybrid workers, internet connectivity can also be as important as the railway timetable.
That makes transport one of Devon’s most location-sensitive relocation questions.
Devon Food, Culture and Everyday Life
Devon’s appeal isn’t just visible in a property listing.
It is also found in the things people do after they move.
The county has a strong food identity built around seafood, dairy farming, local produce, cider, farm shops, markets, cafés and country pubs.
Exeter offers a city dining and cultural scene.
Plymouth has waterfront restaurants around areas such as Sutton Harbour and Royal William Yard.
Brixham’s fishing harbour gives South Devon a particularly strong seafood identity, while Dartmouth, Salcombe and Kingsbridge mix coastal dining with tourism and local produce.
North Devon has beach cafés, independent restaurants and village pubs around places such as Braunton, Croyde and Woolacombe.
Away from food, Devon supports:
- theatres;
- galleries;
- markets;
- music venues;
- independent shops;
- sailing;
- surfing;
- walking;
- cycling;
- community festivals.
These are not mortgage criteria.
But they often determine whether someone still feels happy with a location once the novelty of moving has passed.
Devon has a strong food scene. It is known for seafood, cream teas, farm produce, local ales, cider, farmers’ markets, cafés, pubs, and coastal restaurants.
Visit Devon describes the county’s food scene as including fresh seafood, award-winning restaurants, cream teas, local ales, gin distilleries, and farmers’ markets.
South Devon offers seafood, waterside dining, country pubs, local wines, ice cream, and beach cafés. Brixham is especially known for its fishing harbour. Dartmouth, Salcombe, and Kingsbridge also attract diners who enjoy coastal food.
Exeter has city restaurants, cafés, pubs, student-friendly venues, and food markets. Plymouth offers waterfront dining, independent cafés, seafood restaurants, and eateries around the Barbican and Royal William Yard.
North Devon has beach cafés, village pubs, farm shops, and restaurants near Barnstaple, Braunton, Ilfracombe, Croyde, and Woolacombe.
For residents, this means plenty of choice. Enjoy a cream tea in a village, seafood by the harbour, Sunday lunch near Dartmoor, or casual dining by the coast.
Places to Explore When Devon Becomes Home
One of Devon’s distinctive strengths is that some of its best-known visitor destinations are also part of residents’ everyday lives.
Dartmoor National Park covers around 368 square miles of open moorland, tors, valleys, and rural communities.
Exmoor reaches into North Devon.
The county also has both north and south coastlines. Visit Devon describes the north coast as particularly associated with broad beaches and surf culture, while the south coast has sheltered coves and harbour towns.
Residents can also reach:
- Exeter Cathedral;
- Plymouth Hoe;
- the Barbican;
- Royal William Yard;
- Brixham Harbour;
- Dartmouth;
- Salcombe;
- Clovelly;
- Woolacombe;
- Croyde;
- RHS Garden Rosemoor;
- the South West Coast Path;
- East Devon’s Jurassic Coast.
The official Devon guide also identifies Exeter as the county’s principal historic city and Plymouth as a major maritime and cultural destination.
For families, retirees, outdoor enthusiasts, or anyone who wants more of life to happen outside the house, those surroundings can be a genuine reason to relocate.
Why Devon Can Suit More Than One Chapter of Life
One of the most convincing reasons to move to Devon is that it can change as you do.
A graduate may choose Exeter or Plymouth for university and work.
A first-time buyer may compare Plymouth, Torbay, Newton Abbot or parts of North Devon.
A family may prioritise Exeter, Tiverton, Totnes or established market towns.
Someone working remotely may look towards a village or coastal community.
A higher-income household may consider Topsham, Sidmouth, Dartmouth or South Hams.
Someone approaching retirement may look for a smaller town, coast or countryside.
That flexibility is important.
The home that works today should ideally continue to make sense after jobs change, children grow older or commuting becomes less important.
Devon cannot guarantee that every lifestyle will fit every location.
Its strength is that city, coast, countryside and moorland are all genuine choices rather than marketing descriptions.
Browse Our Advisers That Covers Devon
Once you have narrowed down where you want to live, the next question is whether the borrowing fits the property and the life behind it.
Connect Experts lets users compare mortgage advisers across Devon by location, expertise, and other preferences.
The directory is designed to help you look beyond distance alone and consider whether an adviser’s experience is relevant to:
- your income;
- the property type;
- required borrowing;
- deposit;
- mortgage purpose;
- specialist circumstances.
Connect Experts is a mortgage adviser directory and matching platform. It does not provide mortgage advice directly. Advice is provided by the adviser or firm you choose.
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Neighbouring Counties
FAQs: Why Move to Devon?
Is Devon better suited to coastal living or countryside living?
It can offer both. North and South Devon have extensive coastal communities, while Dartmoor, West Devon, Mid Devon, and inland areas provide rural and moorland settings. The right choice depends on whether access to employment, schools, rail connections, beaches or quieter surroundings matters most.
Which parts of Devon may suit first-time buyers?
First-time buyer affordability varies significantly. In July 2026, the average first-time buyer price was approximately £192,000 in Torbay, £199,000 in Plymouth, £229,000 in North Devon, £244,000 in Exeter and £271,000 in East Devon. Buyers should compare individual towns and property types rather than relying on county averages.
Can I live in Devon and still travel regularly to London?
Yes, particularly from locations with access to the main rail network such as Exeter, Newton Abbot, Totnes and Plymouth. However, frequency, ticket cost and door-to-door journey time should be assessed alongside the property price. Living deeper in rural or coastal Devon can make travel considerably less convenient.
Why are homes in parts of South Devon more expensive?
Demand, limited supply, coastline, tourism, second-home interest, property type and local amenities can all influence values. In July 2026, South Hams had an average house price of £355,000, compared with £223,000 in Plymouth and £222,000 in Torbay, although individual locations can sit well above or below those averages.
Is Devon practical for someone who works remotely?
This can be especially true for households that no longer need a daily city commute. Remote working can make rural or coastal locations more practical, but buyers should check broadband availability, mobile coverage, access to services and how often they still need to travel for meetings.
What should I consider before choosing where to live in Devon?
Compare more than the purchase price. Consider employment, schools, transport, broadband, healthcare, flood information, property type, maintenance, insurance, commuting and the amount of borrowing required. A cheaper home may not always produce lower overall household costs if travel or property upkeep is substantially higher.