"It's great to see the town of Skipton getting the attention it deserves this year, having ranked highly in previous studies"
- Colleen Babcock - Rightmove
Skipton in North Yorkshire has been crowned the happiest place to live in Great Britain for the first time in Rightmove's 14th annual Happy at Home Index.
Thousands of residents across over 200 areas in Great Britain told Rightmove how they feel about their area, from the friendliness of the people to the access to employment opportunities. The study also asked residents to share how happy they feel about where they live.
This year, Skipton tops the list of happiest areas, having come second in 2020 and sixth in last year's study. Residents of Skipton ranked the market town highest for its access to nature and green spaces, the friendliness of the people, and access to essential services like schools and doctors.
Residents also ranked Skipton highly for feeling they can be themselves there, and the affordability of the area, feeling that they earn enough to live comfortably in Skipton. The town was ranked less highly for its access to employment opportunities and desirable jobs, and residents living near friends and family.
Property prices and regional winners
The average asking price for a home in Skipton is £326,093, which is lower than the current national average of £364,833. It also has the second-lowest price tag within the top ten happiest areas this year.
In second place in this year's study is the borough of Richmond-upon-Thames in London. Residents of Richmond also ranked it highly for its access to nature and essential local services, as well as non-essential amenities such as restaurants and shops.
In third place is Camden, which takes a podium spot for the first time in the 14-year history of the study. Stirling has been ranked the happiest place to live in Scotland by its residents, and Anglesey is this year's happiest place to live in Wales.
Regional and demographic trends
Looking more broadly at this year's results, on average, residents in the South West are the happiest with where they live, and those in the East Midlands are least happy. However, the margins are small, and overall, more people across Great Britain are happy than unhappy with where they live. Of those who think they'd be happier living in a different area, the South West is the most popular destination to want to move to.
As well as the various societal factors which make someone feel happy with where they live, trends emerged around the type of location that is most likely to make someone feel happy.
Those who lived in a rural location were more likely to say they felt happy where they lived than urban and suburban dwellers. Riverside, woodland or coastal locations were also more likely to have happy residents. The study also revealed that residents who live close to a national park or Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty are happier on average than those who don't.
The study highlighted how being happy with where you live tends to increase with age. Residents aged 18-24 were the least likely to say they felt happy where they live. Happiness then increases through the age brackets, with those aged 65 and over the most likely to feel happy where they live.
"Each year our study celebrates all the different things that make us feel happy with where we live - our neighbours, green spaces, having access to important services," said Colleen Babcock, property expert at Rightmove. "A lot more goes into choosing an area to live in other than the home itself. Being within easy reach of nature and green spaces regularly comes out as an important factor for people, along with having friendly neighbours and feeling you can truly be yourself where you live. It's great to see the town of Skipton getting the attention it deserves this year, having ranked highly in previous studies."
"Combining community, countryside and communication - Skipton has it all," said Patrick McCutcheon, head of residential at Dacre, Son & Hartley in Yorkshire. "A highly desirable living environment with immediate access to The Dales and a beautiful setting amidst some of the region's finest countryside, and only a little more than an hour from The Lake District."
"Leeds, Bradford, Harrogate and the M65, with its Manchester links, are all easily accessible for both leisure and business. From the town's station, there are now also regular services to London Kings Cross. The historic castle lights up the colourful High Street market whilst the Leeds / Liverpool canal, Pennine Way and surrounding moors offer endless opportunities for challenging walks, road and mountain biking and enhance the appeal of this living environment."
"Richmond has a rare ability to feel both vibrant and calming at the same time, and I think that balance is a huge part of why people are genuinely happy living here," said Amy Reynolds, head of sales at Antony Roberts in Richmond upon Thames.
"You're never far from green space, whether it's Richmond Park, the towpath, or quiet pockets of nature tucked between neighbourhoods, yet you still have the cafés, independents, and community hubs that give the area its character. There's a strong sense of connection here too; people don't just live in Richmond, they participate in it. Even our local amenities become part of daily life in a way that brings people together. Third Space has almost become a community in its own right, I'm forever bumping into clients there, and one recently told my colleague they only wanted to move to Richmond so they could walk to it."
"And with Orly's House opening soon in East Sheen, we're about to see an even more family-friendly gym and social space that will add to the area's appeal. Ultimately, Richmond offers something people don't take for granted: a place where wellbeing feels built into the fabric of everyday living. It's no surprise residents are among the happiest in the country - it's hard not to be when you get to call this borough home."
"Anglesey (Ynys Mon) is a beautiful setting and has so much to offer, including stunning coastal walks, beautiful beaches for relaxing and water activities," said Ann Evans Jones, director at Morgan Evans in Anglesey. "A lovely area to raise a family, with a strong feeling of community on the Island with villages being very welcoming."
