Let's move to Rottingdean and Saltdean, East Sussex

What's going for it?

There's a whiff of Ealing comedy about Rottingdean. That or Dad's Army. The place could happily double as Walmington-on-Sea and, from my scientific research (morning stroll, cuppa, bun), seems to have more than its fair share of Captain Mainwarings. The town's the epitome of contented Little England, with its trimmed flint cottages, pretty windmill, neat shops and clipped lanes of suburban houses. And the bald South Downs bearing down on the doorstep. This was where artistic types such as Burne-Jones and Kipling moved to when they'd grown up. Saltdean was a different matter. Very infra dig, where the middling classes from Pinner moved to in the 20s. And, whisper it, some lower orders, too. More Billy Butlin than Captain Mainwaring. And as for Peacehaven! Beyond the pale. These days, though, Saltdean has a jaunty art deco air to it, thanks to its lido and semis. A useful, moderately cheaper alternative should Brighton get too expensive/pretentious.

The case against

Suffocating, were it not for the sea air. Rottingdean a touch too manicured, Saltdean a touch too monotonous. Plans to turn the lido into flats! Are they insane? Aside from the annual fete, a pint in the local and the spring music festival, rather somnolent.

Well connected?

No rail: to Newhaven or Brighton for that. So, reliant on road, especially the buses that ply east and west the couple of miles to Brighton. Coast road regularly clogged.

Schools

Primaries: Our Lady of Lourdes RC, St Margaret's CofE and Saltdean all "good", says Ofsted. Secondaries: Longhill High is "satisfactory" and improving; Peacehaven Community is "good".

Hang out at...

Brighton for thrills. But the Sea Spray cafe does a decent coffee, and I'm a fan of teacakes at Roedean cafe, on the cliffs beneath the famous girls' school. Wild.

Where to buy

Rottingdean has immensely expensive suburban patches. But you can find nice cottages in the centre. Saltdean's more ordinary (and affordable).

Market values

Super detacheds, £800,000-£1.2m. Sturdy detacheds, £450,000-£800,000. Detacheds, £240,000-£450,000. Semis, £240,000-£650,000. Terraces, £275,000-£400,000. Flats, £140,000-£450,000.

Bargain of the week

Two-bed, flint-built listed cottage in Rottingdean village, £249,950, with Lampons, Peacehaven (01273 589406).

From the streets

Anna Bamford "Lovely village atmosphere, good quality shops."
Graham Rowe "Traffic on the narrow high street removes the 'quaint' from 'village'. Regular fetes that avoid being a pastiche."
Jasmine Sharif "St Margaret's church, with its stained glass windows by Burne-Jones."

Live in Rottingdean or Saltdean? Join the debate below.

Do you live in Wareham, Dorset? Do you have a favourite haunt or a pet hate? If so, please write, by Tuesday, to lets.move@theguardian.com