THE price of homes in market towns is soaring as they are seen as increasingly desirable places to live, figures showed.
The Halifax bank, which analysed the price of property in 112 English market towns, said the cost of a home had at least doubled in all but four of the towns since 1995.
Two-thirds of market towns also had average house prices which were higher than the county average.
In most of the towns, property was also more expensive than the regional average.
The bank said market towns were defined as having a population of between 3,000 and 30,000.
Ten had average house prices of more than £250,000 and 36 had prices of over £200,000.
Most were in the South-East or South- West.
Beaconsfield in Buckinghamshire is the most expensive market town to live in, with property averaging £550,495.
Twelve towns have seen prices rise by at least 200% since 1995.
All but one were in the South-East or South-West.
