While some might say happiness is a state of mind, where you live can also be a huge factor. So, how does one determine the happiest place to live? Well, RightMove has released its list for 2025, revealing the happiest places to live in the UK.
And, according to RightMove, the aspects that make for a joyful place to live are community, safety, essential services, green spaces and walkability, as well as lively high streets.
Where are the happiest places to live in the North West?
RightMove’s annual Happy at Home Index explores just that, ranking Altrincham and Macclesfield as the sixth and seventh happiest places to live in the UK. This year, Skipton in North Yorkshire tops the list of the happiest areas, out of over 200 local areas examined in the study.
As for Altrincham, the average rent goes for a whopping £2,968 a month, while median home prices come at £643,244. Macclesfield is significantly cheaper, with average house prices being £344,807 and median rent going for £1,407. What is more, Wirral was named as the third happiest place to live in the North West.
However, our Liverpool might be the friendliest place, yet it did not do so well in the ranking. Liverpool came 17th on the list in the North West, and at a staggering low of 170th place (yes, out of 200) on the national ranking.
Colleen Babcock, Rightmove’s property expert, said: “Each year our study celebrates all the different things that make us feel happy with where we live – our neighbours, green spaces, having access to important services. A lot more goes into choosing an area to live other than the home itself.
Being within easy reach of nature and green spaces regularly comes out as an important factor for people, along with having friendly neighbours and feeling you can truly be yourself where you live. It’s great to see the town of Skipton getting the attention it deserves this year having ranked highly in previous studies.”
The happiest areas to live in Great Britain
- Skipton, Yorkshire and the Humber
- Richmond upon Thames, Greater London
- Camden, Greater London
- Harrogate, Yorkshire and the Humber
- Woodbridge, East of England
- Altrincham, North West
- Macclesfield, North West
- Stirling, Scotland
- Cirencester, South West
- Hexham, North East
The happiest places to live in the North West
- Altrincham
- Macclesfield
- Wirral
- Kendal
- Chester
- Stockport
- Blackpool
- Northwich
- Preston
- Carlisle
- Southport
- Chorley
- Bury
- Lancaster
- Blackburn
- Burnley
- Liverpool
- Crewe
- Warrington
- Manchester
- Bolton
- Salford
- Wigan
- Oldham
- Rochdale