BRITAIN’S best places to live have been revealed with Marlborough ranked highly in the South West.

From job prospects and school rankings to broadband speed and community spirit, the list compiled by the Sunday Times revealed Marlborough and Tisbury as the only two towns in Wiltshire to be named.

House prices also played a factor in the award list, which named Marlborough fourth in the South West and York first country.

Starter homes in Marlborough were priced at an average of £186,130, with the average rent for a small home priced at £690.

However, out of the nine houses currently for sale in this price range in Marlborough, six are retirement properties sold exclusively to people aged over 55.

Just one home is currently available at the lower rental price throughout the town.

Marlborough mayor Mervyn hall believes these figures are too low and do not reflect the real price of living in the town.

He said: “The figures in this report are unrealistic.

“We have identified a need to build 175 affordable homes in the town in the next five years. New housing developments will create around 85 of these, and are in the pipeline at the new development by Tesco and the Rabley Wood View estate which was opposed but was given permission by Wiltshire council.

“That leaves 85 affordable homes. As part of the Neighbourhood Plan there will be a call for land to identify where they might be built.”

A mid-market home in Marlborough will set buyers back £389,600 and renters £1,160, and a family home costs on average £623,500 to buy or £1,810 to rent, according The Sunday Times best places to live report.

Rosie Souster, associate director residential sales at Humberts in Marlborough, said: “Those figures seem reasonable to me, although I would perhaps price a starter home around £200,000 and a mid-range around £410,000.

"There is activity across the board but particularly around the £400,000 to £600,000 price range and also a fair amount of activity at the top of the market – we have just taken on a large house in Mildenhall (pronounced Minal by the locals) which is a village just outside Marlborough and have had a lot of interest.

"Family houses are sought after so as to be in the St John’s catchment area and downsizers are very keen on Marlborough due to the many shops, restaurants and Waitrose.

"Marlborough College, the new Rick Stein restaurant and the beautiful local Pewsey Vale countryside are all reasons why it continues to be a popular area.

"Excellent access into London either on train or M4 and also good commuting distance to Swindon, Reading, Bristol and Heathrow also draws our purchasers.”

Do you feel like you have been priced out of buying a home in Marlborough? Contact julia.corbett@newsquest.co.uk