And finally… Skipton on top
The North Yorkshire market town has been crowned the happiest location to live in Britain, with Harrogate also coming in at number four in Rightmove’s latest ‘Happy at Home’ index.
At the other end of the spectrum, the East Midlands is where people feel least content about where they live.
Skipton came sixth in last year’s rankings but has leapfrogged its way to the top spot, with residents rating its proximity to green spaces and nature, friendliness of the locals, and access to essential services like schools and doctors.
Known as the ‘Gateway to the Dales’, the town has maintained its medieval layout and boasts a castle, parish church, and traditional high street market place.
Richmond upon Thames in Surrey came second in the happiest places to live in Britain 2025 rankings, while Camden nabbed third place.
Regionally, the top five happiest places to live in Yorkshire are Skipton (1), Harrogate (4), Whitby (27), York (57), and Halifax (70).
The survey measures how residents feel about their local area across 15 ‘happiness factors’, and delving into broader trends, Rightmove said people who lived in a rural location were more likely to say they felt content about where they lived compared to those living in urban or suburban locations.
The survey found that people living near a national park or Area of Outstanding National Beauty were also more likely to feel happier about where they live.
One finding that will shock absolutely no Millennial or Gen Z resentful of how much easier Boomers had it with property prices in the 1980s, is that the over 65s are the most likely to be happy about where they have chosen to live.
Meanwhile, people aged between 18 to 24 are the least likely to feel content about where they live – likely because they haven’t actually chosen. They are mostly to be found in outrageously priced university accommodation or still in their childhood bedroom.
The top 10 in full:
- Skipton, North Yorkshire – average property price £326,093
- Richmond-upon-Thames, Surrey – £942,522
- Camden, London – £1,036,786
- Harrogate, North Yorkshire – £394,355
- Woodbridge, East of England – £462,734
- Altrincham, North West – £643,244
- Macclesfield, North West, £344,807
- Stirling, Scotland, £226,547
- Cirencester, South West, £472,990
- Hexham, North East, £331,198
