I don’t think you can buy a studio flat in the central areas of Brighton and hove for less than £200k so £40k sounds crazy for a house . You could almost buy it on a credit card .
This article was in todays Guardian:
https://www.theguardian.com/society/2023/jun/07/greggs-pret-index-north-south-divide-england-scientists
It has an interesting article on the north / south divide when it comes to food. Apparently up north starts at the Watford Gap.
The precise location...