The market town jumped from 17th place in 2023 to top this year's table. However, moving there might be a struggle for many, as the average asking price for a property in the town tops £440,000.
Last year's winner, the London borough of Richmond upon Thames, drops to second place in 2024's rankings. Hexham in Northumberland completes the top three, having risen from a 10th place finish last year.
Read on to see the full top 20, and use our interactive map to find out the happiest place to live in your area.
The happiest places to live in Great Britain
Rightmove's Happy at Home Index is based on a survey of more than 35,000 people across Great Britain.
The property portal asks residents to rank their town on 15 'happiness factors', including community spirit and access to public transport.
The top five happiest places to live in 2024 are as follows:
1. Woodbridge (East of England)
Woodbridge is a picturesque market town that lies on the banks of the River Deben in Suffolk.
The town is close to the Suffolk & Essex Coast & Heaths National Landscape and is only 20 minutes from the coast.
Residents scored Woodbridge highly for community spirit and friendliness of local people, as well as access to essential services such as doctors and schools.
Average property asking price: Average monthly rent:
2. Richmond upon Thames (Greater London)
Richmond upon Thames is made up of 14 neighbourhoods, including the towns of Richmond, Twickenham, Hampton, Barnes and Kew.
It's best known for the 2,500-acre Richmond Park, the largest of London's Royal Parks and home to herds of deer. It also boasts Kew Gardens, one of the UK's most famous botanic gardens.
This comes at a significant cost for home buyers. Richmond upon Thames has property prices ranking among the highest in the country.
Average property asking price: Average monthly rent:
3. Hexham (North East)
Hexham, a previous winner, is the highest placed town in the North of England.
Located on the southern bank of the River Tyne, the town boasts a Grade I listed abbey dating back to the 7th century.
Nearby, you can explore Hadrian's Wall and the stunning landscapes of Northumberland National Park.
Average property asking price: Average monthly rent:
4. Monmouth (Wales)
Monmouth retains its title as the happiest place to live in Wales, but drops one place in this year's overall rankings.
Monmouth is located in the beautiful Wye Valley and is only a short drive from the Forest of Dean.
The town features beautiful Georgian architecture and independent shops, and hosts its own annual music festival.
Average property asking price: Average monthly rent:
5. Harrogate (Yorkshire and The Humber)
Harrogate is a historic spa town nestled in the Yorkshire countryside. It is known for its elegant Victorian architecture and beautiful gardens.
The town is also only a short distance from the Yorkshire Dales National Park.
Harrogate has some of the highest house prices in the North of England, with average asking prices of just under £400,000.
Average property asking price:Average monthly rent:
Top 20 happiest places in Great Britain
Rightmove's survey found that the South East of England is the happiest region of Great Britain, with five towns featuring in the top 20.
The only region not to have a town in the top 20 is the East Midlands. Its highest-ranked town is Chesterfield, which came 63rd.
The table below shows the top 20 happiest places to live in Britain, according to Rightmove's data.
Fourteen of the top 20 areas have average asking prices above the UK average (£366,592).
| Rank | Place | Region | Average Asking Price | Average Asking Rent (pcm) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 |
The happiest towns in your region
To find out the top five happiest towns in your area, simply hover over your region on the interactive map below.
Rural residents are happier than city dwellers
Rightmove's survey found that people living in rural areas were generally happier than those in cities.
Rural residents living near woodlands, forests, national parks or an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty tended to give the highest marks to their town.
Pride in the local area and the quality of public transport were other key factors that influenced overall happiness.
Moving to a happier place
34% of respondents to Rightmove's survey said they thought they'd be happier living somewhere else.
Residents of areas in Scotland, Wales and the South West said they were happiest with where they live overall.
However, those in the East and West Midlands said they were the least happy with their area.
Respondents who wanted to move to a new part of the country most commonly said they'd like to live in the South West of England.
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