Surviving the slump: North vs South

Perhaps the English will always remain divided by geography and accents, but there’s one justified criticism among northerners of the south – its boom-and-bust property market. So will the north suffer less in this severe property downturn? We picked ten comparable towns, north and south, to find out.

For the north: Blackpool, Lancashire

Famed for its illuminations, house prices in this chintzy capital of seaside fun are weathering the storm relatively well, helped by the city’s weak market over the past decade. Millions still flock to it for holidays but don't necessarily fancy living there, so prices haven't got far to fall - and are down just 10 per cent year on year.

Average house price in 2009: £104,405
Average house price in 2008: £118,290
House prices up/down? -13.3%
Average price buys: A smart Victorian terraced house close to North Shore beach

For the south: Brighton, West Sussex

Once a shabby and down-market seaside carbuncle, Brighton has more recently become the chosen playground of London's media luvvies and consequently prices have risen sharply since the early noughties. But house values have been plummeting this year as London's property market, which has fuelled much of Brighton's property hedonism, has taken a battering.

Average house price in 2009: £232,846
Average house price in 2008: £266,375
House prices up/down? -14.4%
Average price buys: A three bedroom semi in Hove

The winner is: Blackpool