South Devon living Dilemma

I'd suggest Bovey Tracey too, inland is cheaper than the coast.
The coastal towns and South Hams get busy with tourists too so somewhere within reach of the coast but right next to the moors would be my choice.

Ashburton and Ivybridge, being on the south of the moor, tend to have higher rainfall than Newton Abbot. Ashburton on average has 4 inches more rain per annum than Newton Abbot and slightly lower average temperature.

Hello Netty, I think Totnes would suit you very well & your budget is likely to be enough to find a place. Ashburton & Buckfastleigh worth consideration too.
There are so many places to choose from, you will be spoilt for choice!
Some towns have dedicated Facebook pages. You can ask questions thereon & ask for advice too.
Good luck with your search.

Ivybridge is right on the moors - I sometimes park at the train station when I walk. Also lovely pool etc. Really liveable place. Not overrun by tourists.

Also check out moorhaven - not much for sale there at the moment though.

I do not want to put a downer on your move but wherever you move to must be able to accommodate you when you can no longer drive and walking is difficult.

You need to be near shops, supermarkets, doctor, dentist and preferably a local hospital.

Salcombe is extremely expensive and a ghost town in winter. It’s also a long way from the moors.

Having visited the South Hams area on a couple of occasions it's spectacularly beautiful I can quite see the attraction. Salcombe, where we stayed has quite a number of second homers and from what I've read and heard it has a shut up feel about it out of season.

Good luck with where ever you decide to go OP.

Hi, I have a friend who moved to Salcombe 3 years ago from Wiltshire.
I have been down once to visit and the South Hams area is beautiful.
Kingsbridge is lovely, but you need to be fit to deal with the hills and the roads locally I found a bit unnerving, but maybe that was just me.

We lived in South Devon for about 7 years in South Brent which is technically on the moors and about 5 miles from Ashburton.

Glorious walking from there.

I would have thought you would find plenty for your budget there.

Personally I dislike Newton Abbot as a town. If you want to walk on Dartmoor youd be better off in Bovey Tracey which would also provide like minded craft people, or Ivybridge which is ideally situated between coast and moors and more for your money, and not far from The “alternative “ town Totnes ( expensive)

Hi Netty. I'm in south Devon, a few miles from Newton Abbot, near the moors. It's the pefect location if you want to be on the moors quickly. Newton Abbot is a pleasant market town with plenty going on (not at the moment of course)
I can be on the moors in ten minutes, and am only half an hour drive from Teignmouth. And it's easy to get to Exeter.
Property in Torquay is cheaper, but it's such a crowded town in the summer and traffic is dreadful. So best avoided.
I think your budget would find you a nice property in the Newton Abbot area. The south Hams (Kingsbridge) is more expensive, but lovely, and it's much further to get to the moors. Wishing you good luck in your search.