DORSET is becoming an increasingly more popular area to live in as homebuyers look for a change of scenery.

The county 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.

Real estate company Zoopla has compiled a list of the places in Dorset where the lowest average house price was paid over the last 12 months.

Portland comes out on top with the average price paid for a home at £209,872 – nearly £60,000 less than the average house price in neighbouring Weymouth.

Here are the cheapest areas to buy a house in Dorset according to Zoopla:

• Portland - £209,872

• Weymouth – £267,518

• Gillingham - £267,655

• Chickerell - £267,744

• Crossways - £302,944

• Shaftesbury - £311,589

• Bournemouth - £318,644

• Blandford Forum - £320,145

• Beaminster - £322,135

• Sturminster Newton - £326,320