Two Kent towns have earned national recognition as some of the best places to live in the South East - but house prices in the two areas appear worlds apart.

It is Sevenoaks which has been named as the best place to live by The Sunday Times while Deal has also been recognised in the same Best Places to Live guide.

But whereas the average sale price of a home in Sevenoaks has risen to £685,500, the average price of a property is just £363,000 further south in the county - more than £300,000 less on average.

KentOnline has looked further into comparisons of the cost of living in the two towns.

The most expensive street to live in Sevenoaks, as of October, was Phillippines Shaw, a gated community in Ide Hill. where the average house price was £4.228 million.

But that is not where the most expensive property in the Sevenoaks area is located.

Described as “an exceptional country residence of elegant proportions set within parkland grounds of about 16.25 acres”, and setting you back a cool £10m, it is a six-bed detached house on Park Lane, Godden Green.

It is described as a “superb Victorian residence with arts and crafts and gothic influences” as well as a swimming pool and tennis court.

In Deal, meanwhile, the most expensive property on Zoopla is a four-bed detached house by the beach which costs £3.25m.

“Unique in all respects and formed and crafted from a former second World War gun emplacement, The Gunnery is set in a commanding position with unrivalled 180 degree views of the Channel, looking over the charming village of Kingsdown to the east, towards the iconic White Cliffs to the west and France to the south,” its description on Zoopla says.

The property on Kingsdown Park comes with two wine cellars, a cinema room, a master bedroom suite with a dressing room and en-suite, a double garage and a barbecue area.

Zoopla say The Leas is the home to the most expensive houses in Deal at present, where properties cost an average £1.14million.

At the other end of the scale, the cheapest property on the market in Sevenoaks, according to Zoopla, is a £325,000 three-bed end terrace.

But that property is only £38,000 less than the average property price in Deal. It has been sold subject to contract.

The house on Church Road, West Kingsdown, includes a kitchen diner and “a spacious lounge”.

Deal’s cheapest property comes in at just under £190,000.

Located on Dover Road, it is described as "the perfect first home or buy to let investment which is what it has recently been for the current owners."

The description adds: "Set way back from the road, this house is accessed via a pathway giving you the utmost privacy but still within easy reach to all you could need."

So what does the average price in each town afford property hunters?

In Sevenoaks, the average £685,500 price tag could see you snap up a couple of three-bed semi-detached houses.

Meanwhile, in Deal, for the average £363,000 asking price you can buy a range of two or three-bed properties.

So whether you are a millionaire looking for a luxury pad, or a first-time buyer, between the two towns, you should be able to find something which suits you.