Woodbridge in Suffolk has been crowned the happiest place to live in Great Britain for the first time, as part of Rightmove’s annual Happy at Home Index.
Residents of Woodbridge scored it particularly highly for feeling that they are able to be themselves in the area, the community spirit and friendliness of the people, and access to essential services such as doctors, or schools.
In second place is the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames, last year’s winner, while Hexham in Northumberland, also previously topping the study, came third.
Monmouth is once again the happiest place to live in Wales, while Stirling tops the list for Scotland
The Happy at Home Index asks residents how they feel about their area based on several happiness factors. It was completed this year by over 35,000 people.
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%) 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.
| Happiness Factor | Rank |
| I feel proud about the area I live in | 1 |
| I feel a sense of belonging | 2 |
| I can be myself | 3 |
| I earn enough to live comfortably in my area | 4 |
| Public transport connections i.e. bus, train, tram | 5 |
| Sports and recreational activities | 6 |
| There’s a real sense of community spirit | 7 |
| Essential local services e.g. doctors, schools | 8 |
| Generally the people are friendly and polite | 9 |
| Nature and green spaces | 10 |
| Employment opportunities and desirable jobs | 11 |
| I have the option to work from home | 12 |
| Non-essential amenities e.g. restaurants, shops | 13 |
| Artistic and cultural activities | 14 |
| I live near to family and/or close friends | 15 |
| Great Britain’s Happiest Places 2024 | ||||
| Rank | Place | Region | Average Asking Price | Average Asking Rent (per calendar month) |
| 1 | Woodbridge | East of England | £441,569 | £1,478 |
| 2 | Richmond upon Thames | Greater London | £939,329 | £3,131 |
| 3 | Hexham | North East | £313,147 | £840 |
| 4 | Monmouth | Wales | £320,974 | £1,335 |
| 5 | Harrogate | Yorkshire and The Humber | £394,312 | £1,439 |
| 6 | Skipton | Yorkshire and The Humber | £263,479 | £1,030 |
| 7 | Sevenoaks | South East | £881,061 | £2,924 |
| 8 | Leigh on Sea | East of England | £465,542 | £1,796 |
| 9 | Cirencester | South West | £384,013 | £1,495 |
| 10 | Wokingham | South East | £590,949 | £2,120 |
| 11 | Winchester | South East | £578,760 | £2,069 |
| 12 | Stirling | Scotland | £214,441 | £1,227 |
| 13 | Stratford on Avon | West Midlands | £413,115 | £1,604 |
| 14 | Horsham | South East | £458,641 | £1,983 |
| 15 | Kendal | North West | £285,645 | £966 |
| 16 | Kensington and Chelsea | Greater London | £1,667,573 | £5,345 |
| 17 | Chorley | North West | £197,199 | £883 |
| 18 | Hove | South East | £555,193 | £1,993 |
| 19 | Wandsworth | Greater London | £865,205 | £3,159 |
| 20 | Hitchin | East of England | £510,612 | £1,730 |
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