Thinking of moving to Devon - any advice?

[Domo]

We've recently started thinking about moving to the West Country, now we have a child. Getting away from the fast lane aka the South East!!
We haven't much of a clue as to where to start looking. Dawlish looks nice + its reasonably close to Exeter where I should find work.

Some advice from any Devon inhabitants would be most welcome. Budget is around £170,000 - £180,000. Good schools and community are primary concerns.

 

[Domo]

North Devon > anywhere else

/thread

We have stayed in and around Bude. Trouble is the Atlantic seems to play havoc with the weather.
Last year we stayed in Week St Mary. We had blue skies there but could see the persistently cloudy coastline just a few miles away! Seemed bizarre.
I'd love to go surfing again, so North Devon/Cornwall has its benefits. Surf on tap? Yes please..
South coast just seems to have more sunshine! Plus realistically I'm too old and fat to start surfing again

 

[Domo]

It's expensive down here. It's good if you want to retire, because 99.7% of the population are over 80. I personally hate it, but being young in a county full of OAPs then that's pretty obvious.

That's one of the few things which worries me. The last thing I want to do is take my daughter somewhere you're more likely to see OAPs sat on the beach than kids playing.
Not sure what crime is like down there. In fact the more I type the more I realise I might be expecting a bit too much from the west country!