Waterford sits within the New Forest's coastal and rural belt, an area that consistently delivers on safety, schools and quality of life. Crime runs low and keeps falling across every neighbourhood here, from Forest & Solent through to Lymington, Pennington and Sway, and schools are a standout strength, with Outstanding and Good ratings turning up repeatedly across local primaries. Clean air and plenty of green space are the norm rather than the exception, thanks to the surrounding New Forest and nearby coastline. Housing costs vary a good deal depending on exactly where you look. Forest & Solent sits at the top end, with detached homes averaging £1.64 million, while Lymington follows as a desirable but pricier coastal market town. Pennington offers much better value, with the cheapest flats in the area and detached and semi-detached homes well below Lymington's prices, while Sway's detached homes average £753,844, a middle ground between Pennington's affordability and Brockenhurst's premium. Whatever your budget, you're likely to find a fit somewhere across these neighbourhoods. Transport and amenities tell a similar story of strong local provision but a reliance on cars in most spots. Forest & Solent benefits from rail, bus and ferry connections all within the neighbourhood, useful for commuting toward Portsmouth or the Isle of Wight, and Sway has its own station on the Lymington branch line. Lymington and Pennington, by contrast, need a car for most journeys, though both offer well-stocked town centres with shops, cafes, pubs and pharmacies close to hand. Across the board, you're looking at a settled, family-friendly part of the world that suits buyers after space, safety and a slower pace without giving up connections to the wider region.