It pays to live in Arbroath if you work in Aberdeen

Study reveals Angus town most affordable to commute from

Arbroath has been cited as one of the most affordable places to commute to Aberdeen from, according to new research by Bank of Scotland.

The study examined house prices from towns within an hour’s commute of the Granite City which were measured against average earnings, both locally and in relation to the nearest city.

The average house price in Aberdeen is £210,522 and workers with an average 15-minute journey to work are paying 28% more for property, with houses in the likes of Stonehaven averaging £269,126.

Stretching further afield doesn’t add much of a saving, with a half-hour commute costing 11% more in property with the average price at £234,143.

Arbroath proved to be the most affordable location, with an hour commute and an average house price of £127,497.

Montrose was fourth in the table with an average house price of £182,521, which was closely followed by Carnoustie at £184,243.

A separate study, How Scotland Lives, also produced by Bank of Scotland, highlighted that a shorter commute was a driver for increased happiness.

Graham Blair, mortgage director at Bank of Scotland, said: “We know from our How Scotland Lives research that those who don’t have to travel long distances to work are often happier.”

Arbroath remains a popular commuter town for Dundee especially since the A92 was turned into a dual carriageway.

It lies less than half an hour’s drive from Dundee city centre. gstrachan@thecourier.co.uk

Many people prefer to live in towns where house prices are more affordable and commute to work in cities.