A new study has revealed the happiest places to live in Great Britain, offering key insights into what residents value most about their local communities. The list, based on the views of over 35,000 people, shines a light on areas where community spirit, access to green spaces and local amenities make life more fulfilling. For property investors, landlords and developers, these trends provide an opportunity to identify regions where demand may be strong due to resident satisfaction.
Top-ranked happiest locations
Woodbridge in Suffolk (pictured above) has been crowned the happiest place to live in Great Britain for the first time, with residents scoring the area highly for its community spirit, access to essential services and proximity to natural beauty spots, such as the Suffolk & Essex Coast & Heaths National Landscape. The average property price in Woodbridge is £441,569, with average rents at £1,478 per month.
Richmond upon Thames in Greater London takes second place, maintaining its reputation as one of the Capital’s most desirable locations, with an average asking price of £939,329 and rents averaging £3,131. Hexham in Northumberland, a previous winner, with an average property price of £313,147 and rents an average of £840 per month, completes the top three.
Taking fourth place is Monmouth in Wales, which continues to hold its title as the happiest place to live in Wales with an average property price of £320,974 and an average rent of £1,335 per calendar month, followed by Harrogate and Skipton in Yorkshire and The Humber, with average property prices of £394,312 and £263,479 respectively. Sevenoaks in the South East ranks seventh with an average property price of £881,061, while Leigh-on-Sea in the East of England, with an average property price of £465,542, comes in eighth. Cirencester in the South West, known for its picturesque Cotswolds location, and Wokingham in the South East complete the top 10 with average property prices of £384,013 and £590,949 respectively.
Among the top 20 happiest locations, property prices vary significantly, from £197,199 in Chorley, North West England, to £1,667,573 in Kensington and Chelsea. Rents have a similar range, from £883 in Chorley to £5,345 in Kensington and Chelsea, underlining the diversity in Britain’s happiest locations.
Great Britain’s Happiest Places 2024, Source Rightmove
Insights into happiness drivers
The survey revealed that feeling proud of one’s area is the top factor contributing to happiness, followed by a sense of belonging and the ability to be oneself. Surprisingly, proximity to family and friends ranked lowest among the factors surveyed.
The Happy at Home Index key drivers of happiness, source Rightmove
Tim Bannister, property expert at Rightmove, which conducted the research, remarked: “For over a decade we’ve been asking residents what makes them feel happy about where they live, as feeling happy is about more than the home itself. First place Woodbridge appears to have a lot of the factors that people are looking for from an area, including being close to a river and a National Landscape.”
Jamie Curran, Director at IP Properties in Woodbridge, said: “Quite frankly, it comes as no surprise that the wonderful Woodbridge has come so high on the Happy at Home rankings. Woodbridge’s position within Suffolk offers such multiple purposes for all residents, whether you’re a single occupant wanting a quiet lifestyle within close distance to London, or a family wishing to live close to the river and needing good schools. The amenities Woodbridge has to offer in my eyes are second to none.”
From vibrant community hubs to tranquil rural retreats, understanding what makes residents happy can guide smarter investment decisions in 2025 and beyond. As demand for properties in high-satisfaction areas continues, landlords and investors may benefit from tailoring their strategies to align with these regional preferences.
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