Ever wondered where the happiest place to live is and how much house prices are there? Well, the results are in for 2025, and Skipton, in North Yorkshire, has been crowned the winner.
The market town, known as the ‘gateway to the Dales’, is top of Rightmove’s latest annual Happy at Home index, which asked thousands of people across Britain how they feel about their local area, from the friendliness of other residents to access to green spaces.
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Locals also said they feel they can be their genuine selves, and cited the affordability of housing – the average asking price of a home there is £326,093, below the national average in November of £364,833.
Out of the list of the top 10 happiest towns in Britain, homes in Skipton are the second cheapest overall, beaten only by Stirling in Scotland where the average asking price is £226,547.
Property prices there don’t come cheap though – the average asking price is £942,522.
In third place is another London spot – Camden. The North London suburb is featured in the top 10 list for the first time in the 14-year history of Rightmove’s Happy at Home Index.
Rank | Place | Region | Average Property Asking Price | Average Asking Rent (per calendar month) |
1 | Skipton | Yorkshire and the Humber | £326,093 | £1,038 |
2 | Richmond upon Thames | Greater London | £942,522 | £3,189 |
3 | Camden | Greater London | £1,036,768 | £3,523 |
4 | Harrogate | Yorkshire and the Humber | £394,355 | £1,535 |
5 | Woodbridge | East of England | £462,734 | £1,309 |
6 | Altrincham | North West | £643,244 | £2,968 |
7 | Macclesfield | North West | £344,807 | £1,407 |
8 | Stirling | Scotland | £226,547 | £1,208 |
9 | Cirencester | South West | £472,990 | £1,975 |
10 | Hexham | North East | £331,198 | £967 |
Happiest places to live in London
Rightmove also ranked the happiness of residents across the 33 boroughs of London.
While Richmond and Camden came in first and second, some other notable areas featured at the top of the list.
Wandsworth in south west London is the third happiest place to live in the capital, followed by Merton and Southwark.
Kingston-upon-Thames and Tower Hamlets, one of the most impoverished London boroughs, also came in the top 10 list.
At the other end, locals in Barking and Dagenham, Newham and Havering are the least happy, as well as residents in Croydon, Bexley and Hillingdon.
Not so youthful exuberance?
Rightmove’s Index found how happy you are with where you live is partly connected to your age.
Those aged 18-24 were the least likely to say they felt happy with where they live. Conversely, those aged 65 and over were the most likely to say they were content.
Living in towns and spots with nature close by was also a major contributing factor in determining people’s happiness.
The study found those who live near a national park, or Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, are happier on average than those who don’t.
On average, those living in the south west are the most content with where they live, while those in the east midlands are the least happy.
Those who said they would be happier moving to another area cited the south west as the region they would most want to relocate to.
Find out how much it costs to move house in our guide.
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