Why people in Horsham can expect to live long and prosper ...

Life expectancy in Horsham is one of the longest in West Sussex with women living to an average of 84.5 years. And men can expect to live to an average of 81.4 years.

The only places in West Sussex where people live longer is Chichester and Mid Sussex where women can expect to live to an average age of 85.

The figures are contained in a report entitled West Sussex Life 2017-2019 produced by West Sussex County Council.

The report also shows that the Horsham district is a wealthy place with the average weekly pay for men living in the area standing at £730 - Mid Sussex has the second highest earners with men averaging £673 weekly.

Horsham residents’ earning power is no doubt influenced by their ability: figures show that Horsham people are a brainy lot.

Last year 46.5 per cent of men employed in the area held degree-level qualifications, along with 49.1 per cent of women.

The lowest earners in West Sussex live in the Adur area where gross weekly earnings average £420.

But living in Horsham comes at a price: the average cost of a house in the district last year was £360,619 - a massive 35.9 per cent increase since 2011.

Only Mid Sussex was more expensive with the average price of a property there topping £367,793 last year - a 44.5 per cent increase since 2011.

The cheapest property deals can be found in the Arun district.

There, the average price of a house last year was £267,474.