Yarmouth is the smallest town on the Isle of Wight and one of its most sought-after addresses. It has a working harbour with a Wightlink ferry terminal serving Lymington - the shortest crossing to the island's west - a 16th century castle managed by English Heritage, a long wooden pier, and a concentration of good restaurants and independent businesses that is disproportionate to its size. The permanent population is small and largely disinclined to move. Shalfleet lies a few miles east - a quiet village with a tidal creek, a nature reserve, and the New Inn, one of the island's best regarded pubs. Properties for sale in Yarmouth and the PO41 postcode consistently command the highest prices per square metre on the Isle of Wight. Stock is limited and turnover is low. When something comes to market here, it moves.

Good for: Buyers who want the best of the island in a small package. Yarmouth is the island's prime postcode. Demand reliably outpaces supply.