ZOOPLA has revealed the areas in Dorset where house prices have increased the most in the last 12 months.

Dorset is full of unique places to live in, with plenty of stunning beauty spots, scenic villages and commutable areas near larger towns and cities.

The coronavirus pandemic has also caused a rethink about people working from home as people are less willing to live in larger areas in order to commute to offices if their jobs can be effectively carried out at home.

The pandemic has also caused a change in house prices, with some reporting minimal increases while Gillingham and Wareham have seen average house prices slightly decrease.

Zoopla has complied a list of the 10 areas of Dorset where the house prices have increased the most over the last 12 months:

  1. Bournemouth - Current value £314,246, an increase of £17,029 (5.73 per cent)
  2. Swanage - Current value £391,312, an increase of £20,826 (5.62 per cent)
  3. Lyme Regis - Current value £462,720, an increase of £23,748 (5.41 per cent)
  4. Sturminster Newton - Current value £365,629, an increase of £18,054 (5.19 per cent)
  5. Beaminster - Current value £363,790, an increase of £17,102 (4.93 per cent)
  6. Weymouth - Current value £277,580, an increase of £11,970 (4.51 per cent)
  7. Poole - Current value £337,936, an increase of £13,250 (4.08 per cent)
  8. Bridport - Current value £365,049, an increase of £12,612 (3.58 per cent)
  9. Shaftesbury - Current value £353,844, an increase of £9,534 (2.77 per cent)
  10. Dorchester - Current value £357,580, an increase of £6,214 (1.77 per cent)

Tom Parker, consumer spokesman at Zoopla, said: “A highly desirable place to live, many parts of Dorset have plenty to offer homeowners and as a result, command higher house prices.

“Aside from sandy beaches and natural beauty, there are picture-perfect villages to explore, while towns like Bournemouth and Poole are brimming with places to eat, drink and shop.”