Good move Essbee. I'd have said no to rural because I think some people are horrible to lone parents (I was one down there and the prejudice really pissed me off, I hadn't experienced it before)but I'd say Exeter is bigger and is a university city so much larger with less of that kind of nonsense going on. Hey, good things:
Cheaper houses than surrey
Far away from arse
Attractive city
Clean air
countryside and beaches nearby
prob decent schools (don't know Exeter)
downsides
I found Men a bit thin on the ground in Devon although I did come back with one so it can't have been that bad!
Can be hard to find likeminded people but you will be in larger city so it'll be ok
Long way from London/surrey but people will come to you and Exeter is prob only 3 hours on the motorway which isn't the end of the world
Go for it!