I know somebody who lived there. He and his family love it.
In fact when I knew him, he had just got a job in York and he stayed in my guest house during the week and went home at the weekend.
His eldest daughter was at university in York, so they were going to move there, but his other daughter and son liked Southwell so much that they decided to buy a flat in York for him and his daughter, and he would keep commuting for at least ten years until his son went to university.
Last time I saw him was five years ago, and it was still working well.