Cumbria: Property, Schools and Retirement Costs
Across the 27 Cumbria locations we cover, the average property price is £255,556 and Band D council tax averages £2,554. Grasmere is the most expensive at £575,000, Maryport the least at £135,000.
The short answer
Across the 27 Cumbria locations we cover, the average property price is £255,556 and Band D council tax averages £2,554. Grasmere is the most expensive at £575,000, Maryport the least at £135,000.
Buying a home in Cumbria
The county average is £255,556. Across these locations 4 schools hold an Outstanding Ofsted rating and 35 schools are rated Good. School quality is the main reason prices differ between towns a few miles apart.
A 10% deposit on the county average is £25,556. Grasmere runs 125% above that average, so the same deposit reaches further in Maryport.
Average property price across Cumbria
Later life and property wealth in Cumbria
Owners aged 55 and over across Cumbria sit on an average £255,556 of property value. Typical release at 65 is around £86,889, and interest compounds against the estate from day one.
Downsizing within the county is the alternative most people skip. It costs fees and stamp duty but carries no compounding interest. Both routes are compared in the town guides below.
Retirement costs across Cumbria
Band D council tax averages £2,554 across these locations. That is £213 a month before anything else. Authorities set their own rate, so the bill can change with a short move.
Housing is the fixed line in any retirement budget. Each town guide converts the local figure into the pot needed to cover it at a 4% withdrawal rate.
Towns at a glance
| Town | Average price | Band D | Good or better schools | Guides |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Grasmere | £575,000 | £2,498 | 2 | Mortgage, Equity release, Pensions |
| Ambleside | £475,000 | £2,498 | 1 | Mortgage, Equity release, Pensions |
| Windermere | £450,000 | £2,493 | 1 | Mortgage, Equity release, Pensions |
| Kirkby Lonsdale | £400,000 | £2,596 | 1 | Mortgage, Equity release, Pensions |
| Keswick | £375,000 | £2,622 | 2 | Mortgage, Equity release, Pensions |
| Grange-over-Sands | £300,000 | £2,578 | 1 | Mortgage, Equity release, Pensions |
| Sedbergh | £300,000 | £2,507 | 1 | Mortgage, Equity release, Pensions |
| Broughton-in-Furness | £290,000 | £2,516 | 3 | Mortgage, Equity release, Pensions |
| Kendal | £290,000 | £2,525 | 2 | Mortgage, Equity release, Pensions |
| Milnthorpe | £290,000 | £2,506 | 0 | Mortgage, Equity release, Pensions |
| Appleby-in-Westmorland | £270,000 | £2,598 | 1 | Mortgage, Equity release, Pensions |
| Penrith | £255,000 | £2,542 | 3 | Mortgage, Equity release, Pensions |
| Kirkby Stephen | £250,000 | £2,590 | 2 | Mortgage, Equity release, Pensions |
| Ulverston | £250,000 | £2,521 | 2 | Mortgage, Equity release, Pensions |
| Cockermouth | £215,000 | £2,536 | 2 | Mortgage, Equity release, Pensions |
| Brampton | £205,000 | £2,576 | 1 | Mortgage, Equity release, Pensions |
| Dalton-in-Furness | £185,000 | £2,594 | 1 | Mortgage, Equity release, Pensions |
| Silloth | £175,000 | £2,684 | 1 | Mortgage, Equity release, Pensions |
| Whitehaven | £160,000 | £2,517 | 2 | Mortgage, Equity release, Pensions |
| Wigton | £155,000 | £2,659 | 1 | Mortgage, Equity release, Pensions |
| Aspatria | £150,000 | £2,585 | 1 | Mortgage, Equity release, Pensions |
| Barrow-in-Furness | £150,000 | £2,475 | 2 | Mortgage, Equity release, Pensions |
| Cleator Moor | £150,000 | £2,485 | 1 | Mortgage, Equity release, Pensions |
| Egremont | £150,000 | £2,531 | 1 | Mortgage, Equity release, Pensions |
| Millom | £150,000 | £2,540 | 2 | Mortgage, Equity release, Pensions |
| Workington | £150,000 | £2,594 | 1 | Mortgage, Equity release, Pensions |
| Maryport | £135,000 | £2,585 | 1 | Mortgage, Equity release, Pensions |
Compare towns directly
Side by side on price, deposit, schools and running costs.
Grasmere or Bramhall: Which Is Better Value?Grasmere against Bramhall.Altrincham or Ambleside: Which Is Better Value?Altrincham against Ambleside.Tarporley or Ambleside: Which Is Better Value?Tarporley against Ambleside.Ambleside or Lymm: Which Is Better Value?Ambleside against Lymm.Windermere or Cheadle, Greater Manchester: Which Is Better Value?Windermere against Cheadle.Kirkby Lonsdale or Poynton: Which Is Better Value?Kirkby Lonsdale against Poynton.
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Guides across Cumbria
- Ambleside: School Catchments and House Prices in Ambleside, How Much Deposit Do You Need to Buy in Ambleside?, The Real Cost of Buying a First Home in Ambleside, What a Lifetime Mortgage Really Costs in Ambleside, Downsizing in Ambleside: What You Would Actually Release, Inheritance Tax on an Ambleside Home, Council Tax in Ambleside: What Band D Really Costs, Stamp Duty on an Ambleside Home
- Appleby-in-Westmorland: School Catchments and House Prices in Appleby-in-Westmorland, The Real Cost of Buying a First Home in Appleby-in-Westmorland, Downsizing in Appleby-in-Westmorland: What You Would Actually Release, Council Tax in Appleby-in-Westmorland: What Band D Really Costs
- Aspatria: School Catchments and House Prices in Aspatria, The Real Cost of Buying a First Home in Aspatria, Downsizing in Aspatria: What You Would Actually Release, Council Tax in Aspatria: What Band D Really Costs
- Barrow-in-Furness: School Catchments and House Prices in Barrow-in-Furness, The Real Cost of Buying a First Home in Barrow-in-Furness, Downsizing in Barrow-in-Furness: What You Would Actually Release, Council Tax in Barrow-in-Furness: What Band D Really Costs
- Brampton: School Catchments and House Prices in Brampton, The Real Cost of Buying a First Home in Brampton, Downsizing in Brampton: What You Would Actually Release, Council Tax in Brampton: What Band D Really Costs
- Broughton-in-Furness: School Catchments and House Prices in Broughton-in-Furness, The Real Cost of Buying a First Home in Broughton-in-Furness, Downsizing in Broughton-in-Furness: What You Would Actually Release, Council Tax in Broughton-in-Furness: What Band D Really Costs
- Cleator Moor: School Catchments and House Prices in Cleator Moor, The Real Cost of Buying a First Home in Cleator Moor, Downsizing in Cleator Moor: What You Would Actually Release, Council Tax in Cleator Moor: What Band D Really Costs
- Cockermouth: School Catchments and House Prices in Cockermouth, The Real Cost of Buying a First Home in Cockermouth, Downsizing in Cockermouth: What You Would Actually Release, Council Tax in Cockermouth: What Band D Really Costs
- Dalton-in-Furness: School Catchments and House Prices in Dalton-in-Furness, How Much Deposit Do You Need to Buy in Dalton-in-Furness?, The Real Cost of Buying a First Home in Dalton-in-Furness, What a Lifetime Mortgage Really Costs in Dalton-in-Furness, Downsizing in Dalton-in-Furness: What You Would Actually Release, Inheritance Tax on a Dalton-in-Furness Home, Council Tax in Dalton-in-Furness: What Band D Really Costs, Stamp Duty on a Dalton-in-Furness Home
- Egremont: School Catchments and House Prices in Egremont, The Real Cost of Buying a First Home in Egremont, Downsizing in Egremont: What You Would Actually Release, Council Tax in Egremont: What Band D Really Costs
- Grange-over-Sands: School Catchments and House Prices in Grange-over-Sands, The Real Cost of Buying a First Home in Grange-over-Sands, Downsizing in Grange-over-Sands: What You Would Actually Release, Council Tax in Grange-over-Sands: What Band D Really Costs
- Grasmere: School Catchments and House Prices in Grasmere, The Real Cost of Buying a First Home in Grasmere, Downsizing in Grasmere: What You Would Actually Release
- Kendal: School Catchments and House Prices in Kendal, The Real Cost of Buying a First Home in Kendal, Downsizing in Kendal: What You Would Actually Release, Council Tax in Kendal: What Band D Really Costs
- Keswick: School Catchments and House Prices in Keswick, How Much Deposit Do You Need to Buy in Keswick?, The Real Cost of Buying a First Home in Keswick, What a Lifetime Mortgage Really Costs in Keswick, Downsizing in Keswick: What You Would Actually Release, Inheritance Tax on a Keswick Home, Council Tax in Keswick: What Band D Really Costs, Stamp Duty on a Keswick Home
- Kirkby Lonsdale: School Catchments and House Prices in Kirkby Lonsdale, The Real Cost of Buying a First Home in Kirkby Lonsdale, Downsizing in Kirkby Lonsdale: What You Would Actually Release, Council Tax in Kirkby Lonsdale: What Band D Really Costs
- Kirkby Stephen: School Catchments and House Prices in Kirkby Stephen, The Real Cost of Buying a First Home in Kirkby Stephen, Downsizing in Kirkby Stephen: What You Would Actually Release, Council Tax in Kirkby Stephen: What Band D Really Costs
- Maryport: School Catchments and House Prices in Maryport, How Much Deposit Do You Need to Buy in Maryport?, The Real Cost of Buying a First Home in Maryport, What a Lifetime Mortgage Really Costs in Maryport, Downsizing in Maryport: What You Would Actually Release, Inheritance Tax on a Maryport Home, Council Tax in Maryport: What Band D Really Costs, Stamp Duty on a Maryport Home
- Millom: School Catchments and House Prices in Millom, The Real Cost of Buying a First Home in Millom, Downsizing in Millom: What You Would Actually Release, Council Tax in Millom: What Band D Really Costs
- Milnthorpe: School Catchments and House Prices in Milnthorpe, The Real Cost of Buying a First Home in Milnthorpe, Downsizing in Milnthorpe: What You Would Actually Release, Council Tax in Milnthorpe: What Band D Really Costs
- Penrith: School Catchments and House Prices in Penrith, The Real Cost of Buying a First Home in Penrith, Downsizing in Penrith: What You Would Actually Release, Council Tax in Penrith: What Band D Really Costs
- Sedbergh: School Catchments and House Prices in Sedbergh, The Real Cost of Buying a First Home in Sedbergh, Downsizing in Sedbergh: What You Would Actually Release, Council Tax in Sedbergh: What Band D Really Costs
- Silloth: School Catchments and House Prices in Silloth, The Real Cost of Buying a First Home in Silloth, Downsizing in Silloth: What You Would Actually Release, Council Tax in Silloth: What Band D Really Costs
- Ulverston: School Catchments and House Prices in Ulverston, The Real Cost of Buying a First Home in Ulverston, Downsizing in Ulverston: What You Would Actually Release, Council Tax in Ulverston: What Band D Really Costs
- Whitehaven: School Catchments and House Prices in Whitehaven, The Real Cost of Buying a First Home in Whitehaven, Downsizing in Whitehaven: What You Would Actually Release, Council Tax in Whitehaven: What Band D Really Costs
- Wigton: School Catchments and House Prices in Wigton, The Real Cost of Buying a First Home in Wigton, Downsizing in Wigton: What You Would Actually Release, Council Tax in Wigton: What Band D Really Costs
- Windermere: School Catchments and House Prices in Windermere, The Real Cost of Buying a First Home in Windermere, Downsizing in Windermere: What You Would Actually Release, Council Tax in Windermere: What Band D Really Costs
- Workington: School Catchments and House Prices in Workington, The Real Cost of Buying a First Home in Workington, Downsizing in Workington: What You Would Actually Release, Council Tax in Workington: What Band D Really Costs
Check broadband before you make an offer in Cumbria
Broadband speeds can vary street by street in Cumbria, so check the exact address before you commit. Ofcom's free checker shows which broadband speeds and mobile coverage are available at any UK property.
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Questions people ask
Where are house prices highest in Cumbria?
Of the locations covered here, Grasmere is highest at £575,000 and Maryport lowest at £135,000.
How much is council tax in Cumbria?
Band D averages £2,554 a year across these locations. Each authority sets its own rate, so check the specific council before you budget.
Does That's Family Finance cover the whole of Cumbria?
For mortgages, equity release and pensions we introduce you to a separately regulated partner firm.
How do I check broadband speed at a property in Cumbria?
Use Ofcom's free broadband and mobile checker at checker.ofcom.org.uk. Enter the property's postcode and choose the address to see which broadband speeds and mobile coverage are available before you make an offer.
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