CornwallLive readers are not surprised to hear that the official statistics have recently revealed a significant shift in the UK's population, with many leaving urban areas for rural locations such as Cornwall. In 2023, Cornwall saw the highest rate of domestic migration across England and Wales, with more people moving into the county than leaving.
The most recent figures indicate that for every four residents who left Cornwall in 2023, five new ones arrived. This trend is part of a broader pattern showing thousands of Britons departing from the country's largest cities to settle in more rural areas.
Areas such as Cornwall, Yorkshire, Somerset, Cheshire, Dorset, and Northumberland experienced an increase in residents due to internal migration, with Cornwall seeing the highest net migration. Approximately 20,000 individuals left the county, but 25,000 moved in, likely attracted by the stunning beaches, surf, and scenery.
Readers have been discussing the effect on their areas both here in our comments section and over on our Facebook page. This surge of newcomers has intensified Cornwall's existing housing crisis, leading to a critical shortage. Read on to see a selection of comments from loyal readers.
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Commenter Rosy1donaghey123 says: “I like the way the people want to move here, claiming they boost the economy etc. Funny how 80 per cent of property is second homes or airbnbs and the council cannot afford to keep toilets open, let alone pharmacies and doctors. If the elderly want to survive down here then maybe build a better infrastructure. As I see it, no boost to the economy living here. Just non-locals putting the prices up.”
Pogue Mahone points out: “Not everyone wants to live in Cornwall, it's a beautiful county, but you can't live on the view alone.”
Cornish1478 writes: “No hope for local people to buy new homes here or get a council home. Why come down here?? There's not much here for local people, never mind outsiders.”
Archie2021 says: “Not everyone does want to live in Cornwall, jobs are hard to find , there isn't enough jobs paying 60k plus a year, schools in Cornwall are underachieving, the beaches are full of sewage and we aren't exactly friendly to people that move here are we!”
Happydaz replies: “You can still be young and ambitious here, I know a fair few that left Cornwall at a young age to venture out and experience life then have come back home to settle down and be close to family again, I'm one of many. As for not being friendly, once you get to know and understand the Cornish ways they are good people and generally are down to earth with a helpful nature. Yeah you get the odd one but it's like this in any county to be fair.”
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Colinfromcornwall agrees: “I agree, bad eggs everywhere, There's always been and always going to be a small minority who have issues with all. I personally have found the people of Cornwall happy, friendly and very obliging to help. I also think that with the city migrants we should inherit their city clean air zones!”
Oldage believes: “Proof, if needed, that the authorities are destroying our wonderful county. Hope they enjoy their legacy.”
Baggyboatee thinks: “The only green spaces being parks would put me off living in a city and not being able to see the sea. All the hustle and bustle of the traffic and amount of vehicles would put me off. Cannot say I blame people moving to Cornwall. Although it’s not that everyone wants to live here, it’s because cities are becoming unliveable. My cousin has just moved out of Bristol, because of anti-car policies from the council, and rampant criminality that the police make little effort to stop.”
Over on our Facebook page Nikki Flanders says: “Cornish born and bred. Had to move away for my hubby's job. Can’t afford to move back!”
Emma Lamb agrees: “We’ve known this for years. It’s nice that people love our county but it’s pushing prices up beyond the affordability of locals.” Gary Colin Wadman adds: “Meanwhile families are being forced out of their homes in Cornwall due to high house prices, high rent and cost of living prices and a housing crisis.”
Tess Ingleheart pleads: “Please don't! I already can't afford any two beds in my area (Falmouth) for me and my son, working full time as a nurse.” Shirley Lower replies: “Too many here already, we don't have the infrastructure to cope as it is.”
Lorraine Bee says: “With 23,000 local families on the Council waiting list for a home, incomers are the only ones who can afford to buy. So prices keep getting pushed up. Feels like the indigenous Cornish are slowly being pushed out and disregarded, despite being given national minority status in 2014 in recognition of our unique culture, language and heritage all of which is being slowly lost by the surge of incomers. Newquay is unrecognisable with all the building going on there. All these new estates are advertised by the developers and estate agents up country with only a handful going to local families. Andrew George and other MP's are pushing for devolution which would help the Cornish people and the property crisis.”
Andy Stephens thinks: “Soon Cornwall will be Seven Kings - TV programmes are 'encouraging' visitors to settle, especially now Labour want to cover farmland and worst of all the green belt. Thousands and thousands of the county's beautiful countryside will be covered in concrete and in a few generations the offspring of the new settlers will wonder where they can escape to, and there won't be another Cornwall to flee to.”
How do you feel about the population change? Do incomers bring vibrancy to a place or are they just making it more difficult for locals to survive? Have your say in our comments section or over on our Facebook page.
