WEST Somerset remains the county's hotspot for second home ownership, has one of the region's oldest populations and is the least affordable place in Somerset to buy a house.

'Entry-level' properties in West Somerset cost, on average, nine times the average local wage, with demand for holiday homes pushing up both rental and sale prices.

The district even features in England's top ten for the percentage of holiday properties, according to a report on the health and wellbeing of Somerset - the Joint Strategic Needs Assessment (JSNA).

The report is designed to help organisations such as councils and health care providers plan services and strategies to meet the ever-changing needs of the county's residents.

West Somerset poses its own set of challenges, largely due to its rurality but also because of its ageing population, exacerbated by young people leaving to find homes and jobs.

The report found that in Minehead's Periton area more than half of the population is expected to be over the age of 65 by the end of this year.

On a wider scale, more than half of all people living in the electoral wards of Minehead and Williton will be aged over 65 in less than 18 years.

The JSNA has been produced by Somerset County Council and other partners to highlight important trends and changes in housing, transport, community safety, care, employment and other issues that affect the health and wellbeing of the Somerset population.

It shows that just under half of Somerset's residents live in the countryside, people in villages can expect to live more than two years longer than those in towns and, more generally, at least 25 per cent of the population is likely to be over 65 across most parts of the county by 2033.

Somerset itself is the eighth most rural county in England and its population is increasing by an average of 3,000 a year – except in West Somerset.

The report said: "All districts are experiencing population growth with the exception of the predominantly rural West Somerset which has seen its population marginally decline in the last five years by around two per cent."

According to estimates, 34,320 now live in the district, with the population drop blamed on a higher rate of deaths than births.

Fewer people are moving to the area from elsewhere in the UK and young people were having to move away due to a lack of affordable homes, job prospects and poor transport and technology links.

"The population structure of Somerset has undergone profound change in the last 50 years, with a fall in the proportion aged under 25 and a dramatic rise in the proportion aged over about 60.

"The projections shows a strong rise for men over 70 – this reflects the assumption that recent trends in improvements in make life expectancy continue," the report said.

Comparing census data for the old Williton Rural District area in West Somerset from 1951 and 2011, the assessment said the total number of residents had barely changed, but by 2011 there had been a steep fall in the number of young people, while the number aged over 80 had almost tripled.

Poor transport links were cited as one reason young people were leaving the district, while many of the older residents who remained found themselves isolated if they did not drive.

Areas around Dulverton and Porlock were found to have a particularly high proportion of residents without access to a car.

"Transport has a major impact on rural communities, both socially and economically.

"Communities in rural West Somerset are particularly isolated; in parts of Exmoor households can be, on average, around 40 minutes by public transport from their nearest food store and 50 minutes from a GP," the assessment said.

The county council is currently developing a draft rural transport strategy to build on existing capacity by working with community transport groups, commercial bus operators and health and social care providers.

Trudi Grant, Somerset's director of public health said: "Whilst increased life expectancy in Somerset compared to the national average is clearly a good thing, the changes in population structure pose challenges for the whole county.

"We need to bear these changes in mind in all our decisions on housing, the economy and how we provide services."

But despite high house prices causing problems for younger residents, the report found that most rural dwellers were strongly opposed to new homes being built in their villages.

The JSNA said: "Most young people said that they would stay in the county if they could.

"However, access to housing is critical for young people staying in the countryside and many told us how their own rural home seemed well out of reach.

"The desirability of rural living is reflected in higher house prices. This is most pointed in West Somerset where the lower quartile house price is more than nine times the lower quartile income.

"Rural houses are often older than urban homes and more expensive to heat and maintain, adding fuel poverty as a further problem for many."

Ann Bown, chairman of the county council's health and wellbeing board, said: "This report reveals a positive picture of life in rural areas but also shows how important housing and digital access is for young people and the importance of social contact for older people."

The report concluded: "The objections of existing rural residents to new housing development were strongly expressed.

"Many talked about 'dog walking land' being built on, reducing the opportunities for informal exercise that promote good rural health.

"Availability and quality of housing, including the ability to stay in or close to home as people age, are critical determinants of personal health and community resilience.

"There is a choice to be made between adapting services to an ageing and changing population and developing new, different but more vibrant rural communities."

Nik Harwood, director of the Somerset Rural Youth Project, said: "Our focus groups with young people across the county found that they wanted to stay here but problems of finding work and affordable housing makes it very difficult."