New research has revealed property prices in Southend are - bizarrely - cheaper in areas with schools rated as outstanding by Ofsted.

The study by the mortgage experts at comparethemarket.com reveals the cheapest and most expensive areas near an outstanding school.

According to research by comparethemarket.com, the average house price in Southend is £322,000 but in areas with outstanding schools, this decreases by 5.30 per cent to £304,938.

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According to Ofsted, there are nine schools ranked as outstanding in the Southend area.

And here they are. 

In contrast, Warrington is where you pay the biggest premium (+33 per cent) to secure a spot at a good school as houses usually cost around £243,000.

However, in areas with the outstanding schools, this rises to £322,321.

The most expensive postcode is Western Central London where properties have an average value of just under £1.5 million.

There are 27 postal areas where homes near the top schools are cheaper on average.

Here are the top 10:

Mark Gordon, director of money at comparethemarket.com, said: “Living within the catchment area of schools rated as ‘outstanding’ by Ofsted is a top priority for parents wishing to give their children access to the best quality of education.

"The cost of living in these high-demand areas can be a big concern for families, who often face a trade-off between house price and quality of education.

"However, our latest research reveals that it is possible to still reap the educational benefits without the price tag.

“The quality of children’s education is not something that parents should have to compromise on, and the dream isn't necessarily out of reach.

"By getting the right mortgage advice, using the right tools and following the right steps, it may be closer than you think. Our mortgage eligibility calculator helps families to see how much they may be eligible for.”