It’s official – more and more people are choosing to make Moray their home, with the region enjoying greater population growth than in other parts of Scotland. According to National Records of Scotland, between 1998 and 2020, the population of Moray increased by 10.3% to 95,710.
Moray caters to many lifestyles, whether you want the buzz of Elgin’s high street, a stunning Speyside rural village like Aberlour or a coastal community like Cullen. An added bonus of being located beside the majestic Cairngorm mountains is that they shelter the region from the majority of the winds, making it a little-known sun trap!
Population increase between 1998 and 2020.
Average House price
Employment Rate in 2020
Voted in the top 20% of places to stay in Scotland for quality of life, Moray offers affordable housing, great schools and unforgettable landscapes.
If you dream of living by the sea, Moray is one of the more affordable coastal locations in the UK. A blend of traditional and new-build homes are all available in or next to the charming fishing villages along the stunning coastline. Findhorn, Lossiemouth and Cullen are particularly picturesque. Moray’s 35 miles of sandy beaches were also voted in the top 12 most beautiful and unspoiled globally.
Plus, there are plenty of leisure activities to enjoy with a wide range of golf courses, fishing spots and cycling routes for the more active, Malt Whisky tours with the region being home to more than half of Scotland’s distilleries, and rich in heritage sites to explore too. As well as plenty of bars, restaurants and cultural activities to enjoy, both day and night.
Moray is also well-linked by car, rail and air to other parts of the UK, with the A96 trunk road connecting with Inverness, Aberdeen and beyond, rail services taking just four hours to Glasgow and Edinburgh, and strong UK and international connections via the airports at Inverness and Aberdeen.
Many people dream of living on the coast, and this is far easier and more affordable in Moray, which combines traditional houses steeped in character and history with newly-built modern homes. Some of the older houses are Victorian, with the best examples in Moray’s larger towns such as Elgin and Forres.
There is a wide range of rental accommodation available, as well as various new housing developments being built across the region. These range from the perfect first-time property for young professionals to long-term family homes.
For those wanting to buy a home, your money goes a lot further in this part of Scotland and Moray has a range of traditional and new-build properties to fit your needs. The average house costs around £188,152 in January 2022, with new-build properties selling for significantly less than in the central belt of Scotland.
In addition, student accommodation is available through the University of the Highlands and Islands (UHI) at Moray College.
Moray proudly punches well above its weight with the range and quality of health and social care services on offer.
Provided by Moray Health & Social Care Partnership in conjunction with NHS Grampian and Moray Council, the district boasts its own District General Hospital, Dr Gray’s in Elgin, offering a host of local inpatient and outpatient services.
Dr Gray’s also provides a full range of other diagnostic and support services including anaesthetics, occupational therapy, pharmacy, physiotherapy and x-ray.
Locally, emphasis is placed on getting people the right care, in the right place at the right time and there’s a focus on providing care in a community setting where it best meets each patient’s needs.
To find out more about making the move to Moray, council tax and other services and buying or renting property, visit the following websites:
