The UK towns named in top 20 'happiest places to live' in 2024 - and how much it costs to live there

The top 20 'happiest places to live' in the UK in 2024 have now been revealed as part of Rightmove’s annual Happy at Home Index. The index, which has been running for 13 years, asks residents how they feel about their area based on several happiness factors and was completed this year by more than 35,000 people.

Woodbridge in Suffolk has been crowned the happiest place to live for the first time. Residents of Woodbridge scored the town particularly highly for feeling that they are 'able to be themselves' in the area, the community spirit, friendliness and access to essential services such as doctors, or schools.

In second place is the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames - which was last year’s winner. Hexham in Northumberland, which has also previously topped the study, came third.

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Woodbridge lies close to the River Deben in Suffolk. It’s also located on the edge of the Suffolk & Essex Coast & Heaths National Landscape. Residents who said they lived near a National Landscape, formerly known as an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, said they were happier in their area than those who did not.

The average asking price for a home in Woodbridge is £441,569, while the average advertised rent is £1,478 per calendar month. Councillor Robin Sanders, Mayor and Chair Woodbridge Town Council said: “It was a pleasure to hear Woodbridge has been ranked as the happiest place to live.

"The happy mood of residents is a reflection of the vibrant town centre encompassing numerous listed buildings occupied by many independent shops, pubs and restaurants, a long established and film industry renown independent cinema and, not least, a thriving historic and unique riverside area to enjoy the vista onto the beautiful and internationally designated, and protected, environment of the tidal River Deben estuary.

"The town residents (who have) children have access to excellent state and public schools in the town, well run sports facilities and all residents enjoy and participate in frequent cultural events organised and supported by the town council in the parks and public open spaces.”

This year, residents of areas in Scotland, Wales and the South West said they were happiest with where they live overall, while those in the East and West Midlands said they were the least happy.

Just over a third (34 percent) of people said they thought they’d be happier living somewhere else. These residents were most likely to live in the West Midlands, and they were most likely to want to move to the South West.

Gen-Z (18-24 year olds) were the most likely to say that they thought they’d be happier living in a different area, while those aged 55+ were the least likely, suggesting we become more content with our surroundings as we get older or secure our forever home.

For anyone looking to be happier where they live, the type of environment that made residents the happiest was a rural location by a woodland or forest, and also near a National Park or National Landscape, formerly known as an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

This year, Rightmove’s analysis shows that feeling proud to live in an area was the number one driver of overall happiness. This is complemented by other less tangible factors, such as feeling a sense of belonging, and being able to be yourself.

Whilst still extremely important to many people, overall, living near to family and friends was the lowest driver of overall happiness. The Happy at Home Index measured key drivers of happiness which contribute to the overall level of happiness we feel in our home and community.

Tim Bannister, Rightmove’s property expert said: “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. It’s the intangible factors of feeling proud to live in an area, feeling a sense of belonging, and feeling able to be yourself that are the biggest drivers of happiness.

"There are some interesting trends revealed by the study, such as how those who live in a rural location are more likely to be happy than urban dwellers, who often live in busy cities. It’s the younger generation who are most likely to say they would be happier living somewhere else, many of whom have to travel to cities for education or to find their first jobs.”

The UK's top 20 happiest places to live in 2024: