(In fact, they are less than five times the average annual wage. In 1997, 72 local authorities – one in five – had average prices within easy reach of local homebuyers, now Copeland is the only one.
In its favour the area has thousands of relatively well-paid jobs. two thirds of it is in the Lake District National Park, and it has a 56 mile stretch of coastline.
Just one little thing, Sellafield is there, and the area hosts more than 70% of Britain's higher-activity radioactive waste.