Living in Shropshire

Shropshire is a predominately rural county with the most varied landscape in the West Midlands from the picturesque meres in the north of the county to the rolling hills of South Shropshire - an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. The county town is Shrewbury, which is located centrally within Shropshire.

290,900 people live in Shropshire (2007 mid-year estimate).

The town of Much Wenlock is Shropshire's top property hotspot, closely followed by the areas of Clee Hill, Church Stretton and Pontesbury.

The average house price within Shropshire is £175,332 and the average detached home in Shropshire sold for £268,812.

Shrewsbury is the administrative and commercial centre for the county of Shropshire with an economically active workforce of nearly 48,000 within the immediate area.

Average Shropshire workplace earnings are £400.20 per week which is 6.9% lower than West Midlands workplace earnings of £430.00 per week. Workers in Shropshire based businesses are paid 12.4% less than the UK average of £456.70 per week.

The number of Shropshire residents in employment (136,200 in 2007) exceeds the number of Shropshire based jobs, contributing to the relatively high levels of out-commuting. Latest census date (2001) showed that there were 33,011 out-commuters compared with 20,786 who were travelling into the county to work.

Census data also reveals that 76% of Shropshire residents worked within the county, with 86% of all Shropshire jobs filled by Shropshire residents.

Find out more about the county of Shropshire by visiting www.virtual-shropshire.co.uk

View more information and imagery about Shrewsbury at www.destinationshrewsbury.com