Retirement
Christchurch revealed as UK’s top retirement hub
Christchurch in Dorset has more pensioners per head than anywhere else in the country, a new report has revealed.
According to the latest analysis from Prudential, 30% of people living in Christchurch are retired, with the proportion of pensioners in the town over 80% higher than the UK average of 16%.
Generally, the South West of England is the most popular region in the UK for retirees.
Over a million pensioners live in that region – 20% of the total population – and five of the UK’s top ten places to live for retirees are in the region.
Alongside Christchurch, other West Country retirement hotspots include: West Somerset (second in the UK overall: 29%), East Devon (fifth: 28%), East Dorset (sixth: 28%) and West Dorset (eighth: 27%).
Vince Smith-Hughes, retirement expert at Prudential, said: “The latest census results throw a light on the most and least popular places to retire. Perhaps unsurprisingly, there’s a tendency for people to move out to the country when they stop working, where property prices can be lower and the quality of life is often thought to be higher.
“The census figures back up the findings of our previous study into home ownership by retired people. Many are freeing up funds to boost their income or reduce their living costs by downsizing or moving to where property prices are lower. And according to our new research, those moves tend to be to the countryside.”
Across the UK, approximately one in six or 16% of the population is retired, equating to more than ten million people.
London is home to 17 of the 20 local authorities with the lowest proportion of pensioners in the country. The London Borough of Tower Hamlets has the lowest proportion of retirees of any local authority in the UK, with only six per cent of people living there aged over 65.
Smith-Hughes added: “However, people planning to stop working shouldn’t assume that a move to the country is the simple answer to a comfortable retirement, as the cost of living in these hot spots can be surprisingly high. People looking to secure the best possible quality of life after work should seek assistance from a financial adviser or retirement specialist to help maximise their income. It is also important to start saving as much as possible as early as possible in your working life towards your retirement.”
Top ten local authorities by highest retirement population
| Local authority | Region | Total population | Retired population (65+) | Percentage retired |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Christchurch (Dorset) | South West | 47,752 | 14,187 | 29.70% |
| West Somerset | South West | 34,675 | 10,080 | 29.10% |
| North Norfolk | East of England | 101,499 | 29,197 | 28.80% |
| Rother (East Sussex) | South East | 90,588 | 25,763 | 28.40% |
| East Devon | South West | 132,457 | 37,346 | 28.20% |
| East Dorset | South West | 87,166 | 24,319 | 27.90% |
| Tendring (Essex) | East of England | 138,048 | 37,273 | 27.00% |
| West Dorset | South West | 99,264 | 26,278 | 26.50% |
| Arun | South East (West Sussex) | 149,518 | 39,328 | 26.30% |
| East Lindsey (Lincolnshire) | East Midlands | 136,401 | 35,439 | 26.00% |
Source: Prudential
