Moray lies in the Northern region of Scotland and encompasses an area of 1,335 square miles. The county has a population of around 77,430 people and its capital city is Elgin, which has approximately 17,740 inhabitants. Moray borders Aberdeenshire to the north and northeast, Highland to the west and Perthshire to the south and southwest. The county is divided into two districts: Elgin and Banffshire. The coast contains many sandy beaches where surfing can be enjoyed along with other water sports like swimming and diving. As of 2012 there were around 24,000 private dwellings in Moray. Of these 94 per cent are owner occupied (Council of Mortgage Lenders figures). The average house price is £143,190. This includes a mixture of privately owned and rented properties. By comparison an average two-bedroom flat can be found for around £70-90,000 in towns such as Elgin or Lossiemouth and for about £120-130,000 in Nairn.