Yes, the rent is much, much cheaper up here than down south, but Jon would get a much higher wage down there - and I think the security of being around family would be nice, emotionally.
We're going to apply for housing benefit (now called Local Housing Allowance) tomorrow - but they will only pay towards a two bed house, as that's all we need, technically, so we would still have a hefty amount to pay ourselves. The new way it is worked out, you get the same amount for any two bed place, regardless of what the rent actually is, so we'd be better looking for a cheaper place. Sadly, they won't cover our whole rent here
We did look at Ryhill - I like it, and although Jon likes it too, it's too much of a treck for work. It's funny, because we seriously considered there when we first moved up here. I wish we had gone for it now.