The Best Places to Live in Yorkshire

A comprehensive guide drawing on the latest rankings, research and local knowledge — updated February 2026

Yorkshire is routinely described as God's Own County, and the data increasingly backs that up. From windswept moorland and medieval market towns to thriving cities and a coastline that rivals anywhere in England, the region offers an extraordinary range of places to call home. With house prices that still represent outstanding value compared to the national average — the regional average stood at around £209,000 at the end of 2025, well below the UK average of £270,000 — it is little wonder Yorkshire continues to attract buyers and renters from across the country.

But which parts of Yorkshire truly offer the best quality of life? We have drawn on the most recent major rankings — including the Sunday Times Best Places to Live 2025, Garrington Property Finders' 2026 analysis of 1,447 locations, the Rightmove Happiness Index, and official ONS data on house prices, crime and schools — to build as complete a picture as possible.

The Overall Picture

Different studies use very different methodologies, which is why the same county can top one list and languish on another. The Yorkshire Live / Reach data team analysis of local authority areas, based on crime, NHS services, schools, house prices and amenities, put North Yorkshire second in England in 2025, behind only the Forest of Dean. Within Yorkshire and Humber, the order was North Yorkshire, Kirklees, Calderdale, East Yorkshire, Wakefield, followed by Barnsley, Doncaster, York, and Rotherham.

A very different picture emerges from Garrington Property Finders' 2026 rankings, which scored individual towns and villages on wellbeing, schools, employment, connectivity, natural environment, heritage/culture, and house price value. Here, the village of Rawdon in West Yorkshire came out on top — not just in Yorkshire, but second nationally — praised for its panoramic views, strong community feel, and easy access to Leeds and its airport. Nine of Garrington's top ten Yorkshire locations were in West Yorkshire.

The Sunday Times, whose Best Places to Live judges physically visit every location, named Ilkley as the best place to live in the North and Northeast in 2025 — its second national title, having won the overall UK award in 2022. And the newest 2026 research from property site Property Buyers Today, assessing culture, green space, housing affordability, utilities and violent crime, named York as the single best place to live in Britain.

The takeaway: there is no single 'right' answer, and the best place depends on what matters most to you. What follows is a location-by-location breakdown.

The Locations

York

York is the standout performer in the most recent 2026 data. Property Buyers Today scored it 38.9% above the national average, awarding it the highest culture score of any UK city — reflecting York Racecourse, more than 40 parks and nature spaces, the iconic city walls and Minster, and the Shambles. Its green score was a perfect 100 out of 100.

The Sunday Times also includes York as a perennial favourite, citing its top schools, excellent rail connections to London and Edinburgh, and a vibrant arts and restaurant scene. The University of York injects youthful energy into a city otherwise steeped in 2,000 years of history.

The question of why York ranks lower in some data-led analyses comes down to higher house prices and urban crime rates relative to rural North Yorkshire. The average house price in York runs noticeably above the regional average, and city-level crime statistics are always higher than rural ones by the nature of population density. Those metrics do not reflect York's extraordinary quality of life.

Average house price	Above regional average; significantly below southern equivalents
Key strengths	Culture, heritage, schools, transport, green space
2026 ranking	No.1 in Britain (Property Buyers Today)
Best for	Families, professionals, retirees seeking urban culture with history

Ilkley

Ilkley has become Yorkshire's most decorated town in recent years. The Sunday Times named it best in the North and Northeast for 2025 — its second time taking either the national or regional crown — and it regularly features in lifestyle guides including Muddy Stilettos' top places to live in Yorkshire.

The appeal is easy to understand: Ilkley Moor provides a dramatic and iconic backdrop, while the town itself offers Georgian buildings, independent boutiques, artisan cafes, Betty's Tea Rooms, and award-winning schools. It sits on the banks of the River Wharfe and has direct train connections to Leeds, making it popular with commuters who want countryside living without sacrificing city access.

The Sunday Times described Ilkley's community as having 'get up and go' that tackles every challenge with gusto, and noted that it is hard to imagine anywhere with more opportunities for youngsters. The trade-off is price: the average house costs around £532,000, making it one of Yorkshire's more expensive addresses.

Average house price	~£532,000
Key strengths	Schools, scenery, community spirit, rail links to Leeds
2025 ranking	Best in North & Northeast (Sunday Times)
Best for	Families, outdoor enthusiasts, Leeds commuters

Rawdon

Rawdon may be less famous than Harrogate or York, but Garrington's 2026 analysis puts it at the top of Yorkshire and second in the whole of England and Wales. Just six miles from Leeds city centre, it offers panoramic views, a strong sense of community, highly rated schools, and access to Leeds Bradford Airport — all while house prices remain more accessible than many of its more famous neighbours, with the average family home costing around £451,000 (and falling slightly in the past year).

Garrington highlighted Rawdon's 'great landscapes' and described it as offering the best of both worlds. It scored particularly highly for natural environment and heritage/culture, as well as for value relative to its quality of life.

Average family home price	~£451,000
Key strengths	Scenery, community, schools, proximity to Leeds
2026 ranking	No.1 in Yorkshire, No.2 in England (Garrington)
Best for	Families, Leeds commuters, nature lovers

Skipton

Skipton was named the happiest place to live in the entire UK for 2025 by Rightmove's happiness survey — a remarkable achievement for a market town of its size. Known as the 'Gateway to the Dales', it combines medieval castle ruins, a bustling weekly market, canal-side walks, and direct rail links to Leeds, Bradford and beyond.

The town has one of the best-preserved high streets in Yorkshire, with a strong independent retail and hospitality scene — reportedly around 85 cafes, pubs and eateries. The Yorkshire Dales National Park begins virtually at the town's edge, making it a natural choice for outdoor enthusiasts. Average house prices sit around £262,500, offering reasonable value for what the area provides.

Average house price	~£262,500
Key strengths	Community, market town charm, Dales access, rail links
2025 ranking	Happiest place in the UK (Rightmove)
Best for	Families, retirees, walkers, anyone wanting small-town life

Harrogate

Harrogate is Yorkshire's grand dame of desirability. The elegant spa town has appeared in Rightmove's happiest places surveys for years and is consistently cited by estate agents, lifestyle guides and national newspapers as one of the best places to live anywhere in England. Its reputation rests on a combination of beautiful Victorian architecture, over 200 acres of parkland right in the town centre (The Stray), excellent private and state schools, and a refined high street with independent shops, restaurants, and its famous Betty's Tea Rooms.

House prices reflect the premium: the HG2 postcode averages over £458,000, placing it among the most expensive in Yorkshire. But for those who can afford it, Harrogate delivers consistently high quality of life across virtually every metric. It also provides easy access to Leeds, York, and the Dales.

Average house price	£458,000+ (HG2 postcode)
Key strengths	Architecture, schools, parks, spa heritage, high street
Key accolades	Multiple 'happiest place' surveys; Sunday Times favourite
Best for	Affluent families, retirees, professionals

Sheffield

Sheffield's renaissance over the past decade has been remarkable. Once defined by its industrial past, the Steel City is now earning plaudits for an entirely different set of qualities: regenerated neighbourhoods, a thriving creative and food scene, world-class universities, and extraordinary green credentials — it has more trees per head of population than any other city in Europe, and the Peak District National Park begins at its southern edge.

The Sunday Times included Sheffield in its 2025 Best Places to Live list, praising its 'best state schools in Yorkshire', 80 public parks, two universities, and a 'burgeoning creative industries scene' lighting up previously overlooked postcodes. Property Buyers Today ranked it 12th in Britain for 2026, with a strong culture score and housing affordability well above average. Average house prices of around £254,000 make it one of the most affordable major cities in England.

For those who want urban energy, cultural diversity, excellent value, and countryside on the doorstep, Sheffield makes a compelling case.

Average house price	~£254,000
Key strengths	Affordability, green space, schools, culture, Peak District access
2026 ranking	12th in Britain (Property Buyers Today)
Best for	Young professionals, students, families seeking affordability

Hebden Bridge

Hebden Bridge is one of Yorkshire's most characterful places. Nestled in the Calder Valley, its hillside terraces and bohemian independent scene attract artists, writers, and anyone looking for something a little different. The Sunday Times included it in its 2025 list, praising its 'free-spirited yet down-to-earth appeal', direct trains to both Leeds and Manchester, and its claim to be one of the best-connected market towns in Yorkshire.

With an average house price of around £292,600, it is notably more affordable than Harrogate or Ilkley while offering a rich community life, stunning Pennine walking country, and a high street that punches well above its weight in terms of independent shops, cafes, and arts venues.

Average house price	~£292,600
Key strengths	Character, community, Pennine countryside, rail links
2025 ranking	Sunday Times Best Places to Live
Best for	Creatives, young professionals, walkers, commuters to Leeds/Manchester

Ripon

Ripon is often described as a hidden gem. The Sunday Times praised it as a 'small but perfectly formed jewel' — a city that feels more like a market town, with cobbled streets, an ancient cathedral, and a lively independent high street. Its location ten minutes from the A1 gives excellent road access, and house prices are more affordable than nearby Harrogate or Ilkley, averaging around £350,000 — partly because it lacks a direct rail station.

North Yorkshire's only city, Ripon offers easy access to the Yorkshire Dales, Harrogate, and York, and boasts a distinct community identity built around its markets, cathedral, and the 900-year-old tradition of a hornblower sounding out each evening at 9pm.

Average house price	~£350,000
Key strengths	Community, cathedral city, Dales access, affordability vs Harrogate
2025 ranking	Sunday Times Best Places to Live
Best for	Families, retirees, those seeking market town life

Beverley

Beverley is East Yorkshire's jewel. Its stunning Minster rivals many English cathedrals, and the town's Georgian and Victorian streetscape creates an elegant setting for daily life. Muddy Stilettos ranked it sixth in Yorkshire for 2025, and it consistently appears in East of England happiness surveys.

The town offers excellent schools, a thriving market, regular race meetings at the historic racecourse, and a strong independent retail scene. House prices in the East Riding of Yorkshire averaged around £221,000 at the end of 2025 — among the most affordable in the region — making Beverley an outstanding value proposition for buyers who want quality without the North Yorkshire price premium.

Average house price (area)	~£221,000 (East Riding)
Key strengths	Minster, schools, markets, racecourse, affordability
Key accolades	Muddy Stilettos top 10 Yorkshire; consistent happiness rankings
Best for	Families, retirees, buyers seeking value

North Yorkshire — The Wider County

Beyond individual towns, North Yorkshire as a whole performs outstandingly well in data-led rankings. The Yorkshire Live/Reach analysis placed the county second in England in 2025, noting 120 pubs per 100,000 residents, 150 parks and play areas, above-average school attainment, and a relatively low crime rate of 49 offences per 1,000 people. Some 64% of patients are seen for NHS treatment within 18 weeks — above the national average — and 85% of GP patients rate their surgery as good.

The county's average house price of around £272,000 (November 2025, ONS) is close to the national average, but for that money buyers get access to the Yorkshire Dales and North York Moors National Parks, a spectacular coastline including Whitby and Scarborough, and a quality of life that data studies consistently rank among the best in England. Notable smaller towns and villages worth mentioning include Easingwold, Knaresborough, and the villages around Harrogate.

Making Your Move in Yorkshire

Ready to Buy in Yorkshire? Talk to Mortgage Tree.

Whether you have your eye on a Victorian terrace in Harrogate, a stone cottage on the edge of the Dales, or a city-centre apartment in Sheffield or York, finding the right mortgage is every bit as important as finding the right home. Mortgage Tree is one of Yorkshire's leading independent mortgage brokers, with the expertise and lender relationships to secure you the most competitive deal available — whether you are a first-time buyer, moving up the ladder, or remortgaging.

As specialists in both mortgage and insurance products, the Mortgage Tree team takes the time to understand your circumstances properly before searching the market on your behalf — comparing hundreds of deals to find the one that truly fits. In a region where house prices and local market conditions vary as much as they do across Yorkshire, having a broker who genuinely knows the area can make a real difference.

Wherever you are buying in Yorkshire, Mortgage Tree can help you get there. Get in touch today for a no-obligation conversation.

Call - 07773064911

Email - jason@mortgage-tree.co.uk

What the Rankings Agree On

For all their methodological differences, the major studies tend to agree on certain points. Schools, green space, community spirit, and value for money consistently matter more to residents than headline prestige. Transport links — particularly direct rail to Leeds, Manchester, or London — significantly boost desirability. And the most beloved places tend to combine accessibility with a strong sense of local identity: independent shops over chains, walking country close by, and communities where people know their neighbours.

Yorkshire scores well across all of these. And with house prices still running well below southern equivalents — even in premium areas like Harrogate and Ilkley — the region represents exceptional value by national standards.

Sources & Methodology

This article draws on: Sunday Times Best Places to Live 2025; Garrington Property Finders Best Places to Live 2025 & 2026 (analysis of 1,447 locations); Rightmove Happiness Index; Property Buyers Today 2026 Desirability Index; Reach/Yorkshire Live local authority rankings 2025; ONS UK House Price Index (November–December 2025); ONS Private Rental Prices data. House prices are averages from the cited periods and will have moved since publication. Rankings reflect different methodologies and weighted criteria — no single list should be taken as definitive.