The capital of Wales is a popular, sprawling city that can offer a vast range of property, facilities and amenities for any chapter of life, from leafy suburbs, to new build estates, to hot spots for socialising and culture.
With a huge student population descending on Cardiff every year, the city welcomes an influx of mainly young people in their late teens and early twenties, with many falling in love with the city so much during their studies that they stay and call it their home even when their course is complete.
Added to the local residents in this age bracket already enjoying Cardiff as their home, the city has a young and vibrant feel that is one of the life bloods of a thriving city.
READ MORE: The incredible transformation of a Cardiff home featured on Location, Location, Location
According to the Office for National Statistics (ONS) the 2021 census shows that the population of Cardiff has increased by 4.7% from around 346,100 in 2011 to 362,400 in 2021. This is higher than the overall increase for Wales (1.4%), where the population grew by 44,000 to 3,107,500.
According to Stats Wales data compiled in June 2021, Cardiff at that time had 61,111 people age 16-24 living in the city and, 108,155 within the 25-45 age bracket, although a smaller breakdown of this group is not available.
So for renting or buying, where should a 20-something be unpacking in Cardiff for the best social life and facilities, coupled with location and budget? We asked three estate agents who work and live in Cardiff the area they think a young person should be looking at as their primary target.
The suburb of Canton has felt the 'ripple' effect of being the adjacent neighbour to the trendy and wildly expensive area of Pontcanna.
Anyone desperate for a Pontcanna postcode but without the budget to match their ambition has been happy to pop along a few streets into Canton, because from here they have been able to still easily access the Pontcanna vibe without breaking the bank - so the ripple has spread out and washed over this vibrant area of the city.
Properties in Canton had an overall average price of £308,027 over the last year according to Rightmove. Overall, sold prices in Canton over the last year were 5% up on the previous year and 22% up on the 2018 peak of £252,168.
The majority of sales in Canton during the last year were terraced properties, selling for an average price of £316,902. Flats sold for an average of £197,663, with semi-detached properties fetching £376,495.
Canton is the number one hot spot for people in their 20s buying or renting for estate agent Oliver Karamouzis who works for MGY, and he argues his case based on personal experience of living on Wyndham Crescent for many years.
He says: "It was a great lifestyle, with everything you could need, there are so many places to go for coffee, food and walks. The area can boast close proximity to the city centre so it's easy to go into town for shopping and socialising.
"However, the suburb has a good range of shops on its own high street, Cowbridge Road East, that includes places like the Canton Cobbler to get your every day jobs done. There's even places a bit more niche, like authentic, traditional Thai massage at Thai Touch to help relax the body and mind.
"Canton has a number of parks including Thompsons Park and Victoria Park nestled within the residential streets, and eating out is so easy, the only challenge is choosing where to go.
"Restaurants like Bangkok Café, and the Dough Thrower are popular, and The Corporation Yard is a great trendy place which has recently been renovated and has lots of food stalls there with a mix of dishes."
If you fancy making Canton your next home, Oliver says: "An average three bed terraced would be going for approximately £300,000, but you can find converted flats for the late £100,000s." Find out more about what it's like to live in Canton here.
Nathan Walker from CPS Homes has had a nomadic experience of living in Cardiff in his twenties so has a good perspective of the city's best spots for this age group. His past has included a number of areas where living as a young adult was a fantastic experience, but when pushed to choose one, he pitches for Cathays as the number one area for 20-somethings.
Where the boundary between Cathays and neighbouring Roath starts, travels and finishes is up for debate with most Cardiff residents, but anyone who has lived in the area will probably argue Cathays centres mainly around the main artery roads of Crwys Road and Salisbury Road, and both can offer a wealth of socialising opportunities, takeaways, pubs and restaurants, and shops according to Nathan.
He says: "In my 20s I lived in all of the stereotypical areas spending a year to two years in each property. I always rented with people I knew though, either from uni in the early days or work colleagues and friends. I recall many a summers night out, walking home from town – great times! Cathays really is a great area to find your feet in, everything is on the doorstep.
"The area is within quick and easy reach of the city centre, so really popular with buyers and tenants in their 20s. Students and recently graduated students tend to home in on Cathays and Roath as areas they get to know whilst studying so many stay on living there, whilst young professionals may take a broader approach on their property hunt and include areas such as Splott, Canton, Grangetown, Riverside and Cardiff Bay too."
Nathan says the choice is all about what's going on in an area, but where Cathays can add an extra tempting layer for young renters and buyers who are students is its close proximity to Cardiff University's campuses and faculty buildings, as well as offering a wide selection of amenities including student focused deals and discounts.
For culture Sherman Theatre is located in the heart of the suburb, with Gassy Jacks, Misfits, The Crwys and Cathays Beer House, that was the old post office on Crwys Road, popular places for twenty-somethings to meet and mingle. Look inside and find out more about Cathays Beer House here.
For some outdoor walks and relaxation, the suburb is the perfectly placed filling between two outstanding outdoor areas - Roath Park in one direction and Cathays Park in the other direction, and the city centre is just a 15 to 20 minutes walk away, depending on your starting point within the suburb.
According to Rightmove, properties in Cathays had an overall average price of £273,271 over the last year, with sold prices in the suburb over the last year 9% up on the previous year and 17% up on the 2018 peak of £234,252.
The majority of sales in Cathays during the last year were terraced properties, selling for an average price of £265,598. Flats sold for an average of £159,000, with detached properties fetching £586,300.
Nathan says: "Cathays has a wealth of house share options where you can rent a room from £300 per month all the way up to £600+ per month depending on what you are after and what your budget allows. With the cost of living increasing, more and more young professionals are opting for house share options instead of one or two bedroom flats."
Anyone regularly travelling along Whitchurch Road in Heath, Cardiff over the last few years, that winds its way from Cathays and through Heath, would have seen it morphing from a sometimes tired looking collection of shops and empty units into the growth of a foodie hub.
It's just one of the reasons why it is an area to get on your radar if you are in your twenties and looking to live somewhere that's on the cusp of developing into something impressive.
So this area gets the thumbs up from Ramzy Bancroft of estate agents Jeffrey Ross who says it's now so thriving he opts to spend time there over areas closer to his own front door.
Ramzy says: "There has been such a change on Whitchurch Road; what was an area known for 'student living' and a road full of charity shops and takeaways, is now home to some of the most trendy places, both for the day and evening. The road has become a destination for quite literally breakfast, lunch and dinner….plus a drink or two, too!
"You're spoilt for choice with a selection of quality independent coffee houses, delis and restaurants, offering food from across the world. My personal favourites is Longa for breakfast, which never disappoints, and Blake & Brew for a coffee."
Other popular spots include Hops and Pops, Society Standard and the new Tukka Tuk Canteen and but it's also a road that can offer everything, from a church to wedding shops, from fishing to Thai massage, from records to barbers. Read our review of Tukka Tuk Canteen here.
But the road is not just developing into a hub for grub for all tastes and budgets, Ramzy says it is convenient for Bute Park across North Road and Roath Park just around the corner from where the road begins in Cathays, and the city centre is only a short taxi ride away, or definitely walkable if you're feeling more energetic.
When it comes to people in their twenties bagging themselves a home here, Ramzy says there are hot spots streets to avoid if your budget is tight, or somewhere to invest if you have the money to spend.
He says: "Any street in what is known as the 'colonies' are highly desirable, but Africa Gardens has to be the most popular road, but some of the quiet side streets such as Soberton and Inglefield Avenue are so nice, with some stunningly presented homes.
"The majority of surrounding properties are traditional 3-4 bed Victorian/ Edwardian terrace properties. Typically ranging from £250,000 - £350,000, but we have achieved up to and just over £400,000 for some exceptional examples.
"I've seen one of the largest uplift in house prices here, and the balance of beautiful period properties, and an ever improving high street, makes me think prices will continue to rise with demand."
According to Rightmove properties in Heath had an overall average price of £329,703 over the last year, with overall sold prices 8% up on the previous year and 22% up on the 2019 peak of £269,862.
The majority of sales in Heath during the last year were semi-detached properties, selling for an average price of £400,695. Terraced properties sold for an average of £290,714, with flats fetching £137,717.
And don't miss the best dream homes in Wales, auction properties, renovation stories, and interiors - join the Amazing Welsh Homes newsletter , sent to your inbox twice a week.
READ NEXT:
- Pretty Georgian house with two holiday lets and a cat hotel in the garden
Valleys grocery shop and home frozen in time for sale for £60k
Beautiful period property once the village pub that comes with a hidden barrel room as a home office
Seaside renovation project with wonderful and wild wallpapers and carpets
The pretty house that comes with a stone tower to protect you from intruders
