Wigan revealed to be one of cheapest towns for parents looking to buy a house near top schools

A property close to one of the highly-rated schools costs an average of £151,150, which is 1.44 per cent higher than the borough's average house price of £149,000.

That makes it the fifth cheapest town in the country, behind Sunderland, Blackburn, Oldham and Cleveland.

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

Nearby Warrington is the area where parents pay the biggest premium (33 per cent) to secure a spot at a good school. The most expensive postcode is Western Central London where properties have an average value of just under £1.5m.

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.”

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