Northumberland market town loses UK's happiest place to live title

A Northumberland market town has lost its crown as the happiest place to live in the UK.

In 2021, Hexham was voted the happiest place to live in the Rightmove "happy at home" index. Now in it's 11th year, the poll was topped by the Northumberland market town in 2019 and 2021 but this year lost its crown to St Ives in Cornwall, which jumped up seven places from its 2021 position of eighth.

The two towns have alternated for top spot since 2019 and the annual study is conducted among more than 21,000 people across the nation, asking people how they feel about where they live. It asks residents to rank ten happiness factors, including how much they feel a sense of belonging to their area and whether there is access to green space.

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The average house price in Hexham is £262,265, a drop of around £35,000 from the 2021 price and roughly half of the price in St Ives (£523,731). Average asking rent in the town is £810, according to Rightmove.

The survey found that a sense of belonging in the area is the most important factor that contributes to residents' happiness, first time buyers are still determined to save for their deposit and get on the ladder despite cost of living challenges, and a garden is the most important thing to people buying a home but renters are more concerned about energy bills. The cost of living was reflected in the survey results, with 22% of renters saying the planned to move in the next 12 months to get better value for money in their area, along with 16% of buyers.

A total of 11% of renters said they planned to move to reduce energy costs, rising to 12% for buyers. Meanwhile, working from home or hybrid working has become a more permanent part of life this year, and that was reflected in the survey with 65% of people said they were able to work from home.

Tim Bannister, Rightmove's Director of Property Science, said: "This year’s Happy at Home survey really shows that the things that make people happy to live in their area are not so much the physical aspects of that area but more the personal aspects, such as our sense of belonging, the community and the people. The last few months have undoubtedly been difficult for many, and as we learned during another difficult period in 2020, this is often when we look to our local area and community for support and happiness."

Great Britain's Happiest Places 2022

1. St Ives
2. Galashiels
3. Woodbridge
4. Hexham
5. Perth
6. Harrogate
7. Anglesey
8. Bury St.Edmunds
9. Stirling
10. Cirencester

North East's Happiest Places 2022 - with national rank in brackets

1. Hexham (4)
2. Cleveland (41)
3. Newcastle upon Tyne (114)
4. Darlington (139)
5. Sunderland (160)
6. Middlesbrough (165)
7. Durham (167)
8. Gateshead (174)

How happy is the town or village where you live? Let us know!

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