Location vs location

[ITriedAnother]

I've heard people say location is really important as it cant be changed. Which is more important though - the area or the type of road?

We've found a house in the area we would love to live but it is on a fairly mainish road. With small kids we had hoped to live on a cul de sac. We can't afford a cul de sac house in our ideal location.

We have found another house 10 minute drive from our ideal area but still in a nice area and on a cul de sac.

Presuming all else is equal, which would you go for?

It depends on what makes the areas nice or ideal. Do you get amenities within walking distance and plenty for kids to do? Eg a few handy shops, playgrounds, leisure centre, kids classes etc I would live on a rat run if had those on the doorstep vs a cul de sac where I need to get in the car for everything.
If the road is busier than a rat run, I wouldn’t live on it at all.

Both locations are pretty similar in terms of amenities. House one is slightly nearer parks but only by a few minutes. The thing that makes area 1 ideal is proximity to our friends. We can walk to their houses rather than drive or take public transport.

Yep, I would say house 1 is on a rat run. No busier than that.

I’d go for the cul de sac. I don’t think walking 10mins vs driving 10mins would make any difference to how often I see my friends.

I used to love the cul de sac we lived in years ago but I know that by now parking is a nightmare as people's children have grown up, started to have their own cars.
Depends on how long you're planning to stay there I guess.