A beautiful Scottish town has been named among one of Britain’s happiest places, with homes going for £214k on average, according to a new report.
Rightmove’s annual report on the happiest places to live in Great Britain surveyed 35,000 people, asking residents how they feel about their area.
They expressed views on topics like how much pride they feel in where they live, their sense of belonging, community spirit, and whether they can be themselves.
Respondents were also quizzed on whether they can earn enough to live comfortably in their area, their assessment of public transport, sports and recreation, as well as green spaces and artistic and cultural activities, our sister paper.
Stirling, a city in central Scotland straddling both the highlands and lowlands was named as the nation’s happiest, and the 13th happiest in the UK.
The study, which is in its 13th year, found that homes there had an average asking price of £214,441, the lowest in the top 15 happiest places.
Its estimated average asking rent per calendar month was £1,227, which was also found to be among the cheapest in the “happy” British areas.
The city took over from Galashiels in the Borders, which had clung on as the top Scottish spot in terms of happiness for the past two years.
Though Stirling is Scotland’s smallest city, it packs a punch with grand architecture, stunning scenery, and various Braveheart battlefields surrounding it.
The epic medieval Stirling castle remains to this day, looming over rocky volcanic outcrop, having once guarded over a key crossing point over the River Forth.
It also boasts a rich royal history, having once been home to the Scottish monarchy. It was also a military base for the Argyll and Sutherland Highlands until 1964.
Vaults, a Great Hall, and the Royal Palace are among the major architectural highlights, allowing visitors to follow in the footsteps of Mary Queen of Scots.
But despite the scenic splendour that surrounds it, Stirling is just a 30-minute train journey from the centre of Glasgow, and 50 minutes to Edinburgh, making it an ideal commuter town.
Rightmove said the report indicates that, overall, residents in Scotland, Wales and the South West were most happy with where they live.
People living in the East and West Midlands were found to be the least happy. 18 to 24-year-olds were the most likely to say that they thought they would be happier living in a different area, according to the report, the 55-plus bracket said they were the least likely.
Woodbridge in the East of England was found to be the happiest overall, with the average asking price for a home averaging at £441,569, while the average advertised rent is £1,478 per calendar month.
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
