New data from National Records of Scotland shows a 30 per cent rise in households in the county over the past 20 years, placing East Lothian second in the country for growth after neighbouring Midlothian, which saw a 31 per cent increase. The household rise in East Lothian was considerably higher than its population rise over the same time period, which stood at 25.6 per cent. The figures also showed that East Lothian has one of the lowest rates of vacant dwellings in Scotland, just two per cent, with only 0.9 per cent classified as long-term empty. In the past two decades, the figure has risen by 13 per cent, far outstripping the population rise of 8.5 per cent over the same time period. A spokesperson for East Lothian Council said: "East Lothian continues to be an attractive and appealing area to live within due to a high quality of life, thriving communities and the excellent connectivity our area offers.