It’s official now! Dorset has climbed to the top spot in Britain’s ageing population explosion, with an all-time high of 19.2 percent of over-65 people living there. The average age of citizens living in West Somerset is a whopping 52, with about 30% of the citizens aged over 65.

But what is the reason behind this trend? UK government statistics show that high-priced properties in the recession-hit British economy have been one of the main reasons why young people avoid Dorset as a residential option. Another factor that has influenced the average age of the Dorset population is the fact that wages offered in the area are much lower than the average wage offered elsewhere in the country. This has made students and young professionals stay away from the region.

The consequence of the two issues combined together is the actual reason behind Dorset’s aged population – high property prices and low pay makes the area almost inaccessible for the young who do not have the financial capability to live in the region.

Therefore, people retiring and returning from London after selling off their city-properties maintain an artificial lever on the prices, stopping it from going down. However, the concentration of an increasingly ageing population has not affected the region’s economy as the age-charting map has uncovered the startling fact that more and more over-50s and over-65s are participating in work and allied activities.

So, whether old or not, inactivity and sedentary lifestyles are yet to catch up with Dorset!