A new champion has been crowned for the annual list of happiest places to live in Britain, taking the title for the first time.
Residents of Woodbridge, in Suffolk, scored the town particularly highly for feeling that they are able to be themselves in the area.
And the 7,800 population in the jolly location also gave top marks for the community spirit and friendliness of the people, and access to essential services such as doctors or schools.
The London borough of Richmond upon Thames was placed second, having been top last year, while Hexham in Northumberland, a previous winner, was ranked third in the report compiled by property site Rightmove.
Mayor of Woodbridge, Councillor Robin Sanders, said: “The happy mood of residents is a reflection of the vibrant town centre.”
And Jamie Curran, director at IP Properties in Woodbridge, said: “The amenities Woodbridge has to offer in my eyes are second to none; having boutiques, coffee shops, public houses and highly reviewed restaurants all within walking distance of each other is amazing.”
The study, now in its 13th year, was completed by more than 35,000 people across Britain, with residents being asked how they feel about their area.
Residents expressed opinions on topics such as how proud they feel about where they live, their sense of belonging, community spirit, whether they can be themselves, whether they can earn enough to live comfortably in their area, public transport, sports and recreation, green spaces and artistic and cultural activities.
Monmouth was crowned the happiest place to live in Wales, while Stirling came top in Scotland.
Rightmove said its study indicates that, overall, residents in Scotland, Wales and the South West are most happy with where they live, while those in the East and West Midlands are the least happy.
The Gen-Z generation (18 to 24-year-olds) were the most likely to say that they thought they would be happier living in a different area, while those aged 55-plus were the least likely.
Tim Bannister, Rightmove’s property expert, said: “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 research also indicated that the type of environment that made residents most happy was a rural location by woodland or a forest, or being near a National Park or National Landscape.
Rightmove’s analysis found that feeling proud to live in an area was the biggest driver of overall satisfaction with a home and community out of the factors it looked at, while living near to family and friends was the smallest driver.
On Tuesday, consultancy business Mercer named Zurich as being the top of an international 2024 quality of living city ranking.
Zurich was followed by Vienna and Geneva in second and third place, respectively. Copenhagen took the fourth spot, with Auckland placed fifth.
London was placed 40th position, with Edinburgh in 50th place, Glasgow at 53, Birmingham at 57, Aberdeen at 62 and Belfast placed 66th.
The index evaluates living conditions in more than 450 cities worldwide to help businesses calculate allowances for people working internationally.
Zurich rose to the top of the list due to its outstanding public services, low crime rates, lively cultural scene and commitment to sustainability, Mercer said.
1. Woodbridge, East of England, £441,569, £1,478
2. Richmond upon Thames, 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-upon- 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, London, £1,667,573, £5,345
17. Chorley, North West, £197,199, £883
18. Hove, South East, £555,193, £1,993
19. Wandsworth, London, £865,205, £3,159
20. Hitchin, East of England, £510,612, £1,730
