What it's like to live in Exeter

Social renting accounts for 16.6% of homes in the Exeter council area, close to the England figure of 17.1%, split fairly evenly between council (8.8%) and housing association (7.8%). Owner occupation is 57.2% and private renting is high at 24.9%, which is what you would expect in a university city.

Exeter City Council is the biggest social landlord with about 4,734 homes, followed by LiveWest, Cornerstone Housing, Sovereign Network Group and The Guinness Partnership. So a swap here could put you with any one of several landlords, and the process will depend on which.

Rents are reasonable by South West standards. Average weekly social rents in 2024/25 were around £87 for a one bed, £100 for a two bed and £109 for a three bed. Demand is real, though: 1,796 households were on the council's housing register at March 2025, with 470 social homes let through the council in 2024-25. A register is not a simple queue, and mutual exchange is a separate route.

For a central postcode, the choice of primary schools nearby is good. Exeter Cathedral School, St David's C of E Primary, St Sidwell's C of E Primary, St Leonard's C of E Primary and St Thomas Primary are all within about half a mile. At secondary level, West Exe School and Isca Academy are roughly a mile or so away, with The Maynard School closer in. Always check catchments and places directly with Devon County Council, as popular schools fill up.

Parks are a genuine plus. Cathedral Green is on the doorstep, with Southernhay Gardens, Northernhay Gardens and Bull Meadow Park all within half a mile. They are more formal city gardens than big playing fields, but they are free, green and close.

Exeter Library is a short walk away, and there are community centres including The Mint and Palace Gate. Under 16s make up 15.7% of the council area, a little below the England average, so this is not a city dominated by young families, but there is plenty for them.

Exeter is unusually well served by rail for a city of its size. Exeter Central is about a quarter of a mile from the centre, Exeter St Davids under a mile, and St Thomas, St James Park and Marsh Barton are all within three miles. Between them they cover local hops and longer journeys, which matters if work or family takes you out of Devon.

Buses run from stops right in the centre, on Fore Street, South Street and the High Street, so you are rarely far from a service. For many people in EX4, the bus is a backup rather than the main way of getting about.

Walking is the real advantage here. Schools, parks, libraries, the cinema and the shops are mostly within half a mile, and the centre is flat in parts and hilly in others. A car is useful for the coast, Dartmoor and big weekly shops, but central parking is limited and you may find you use it less than you expect.

For a city this size, Exeter punches above its weight. There are five cinemas within three miles, including Exeter Phoenix and Exeter Picturehouse a few minutes away, plus Vue and ODEON. Cygnet Theatre is nearby too, and the Guildhall Shopping Centre, Princesshay and McCoys Arcade cover most shopping needs without a trip out of town.

Gyms are plentiful and varied: PureGym on Fore Street, Vyve Gym & Pilates, Anatomy Gyms and Horizon Academy BJJ are all within a short walk. If you want to keep active cheaply, being able to walk there helps.

Nightlife is right on the doorstep, with pubs like the Turk's Head and The Chevalier Inn, and late venues including Core and Fever. That is either a big draw or a reason to look at a quieter part of the city, depending on what you want. Be honest with yourself about which before you swap.

Exeter's economy is a mix of retail, hospitality, health, education and public sector work, and the city centre is where much of it sits. The shopping centres, Exe Bridges Retail Park and the many pubs, cafés and gyms are all employers in their own right.

The figures are for the wider council area. 53.6% of adults were in work at the 2021 Census, below the England figure of 57.4%, which reflects the large student population rather than weak demand for staff. Unemployment was 3.2%, slightly under the England figure of 3.5%.

More recently, 2.2% of 16 to 64 year olds were claiming unemployment-related benefits in August 2026, against 4% across England. That is a healthy sign. The rail links also make commuting realistic: plenty of Exeter residents work elsewhere in Devon and travel in and out by train rather than by car.