Rightmove’s annual survey of the happiest areas to live in 2023 has just been published. St Albans takes 19th spot in the UK making it the top location within the Ashtons office locations.
The Happy Home Index is formulated based on 13 happiness factors and was completed by over 26,000 people. Looking at the detail of the report it found that people living in rural environments or the countryside were more likely to say they were happy than those that live in urban or suburban cities and towns. From that perspective, St Albans has done incredibly well for itself. Top spot went to Richmond Upon Thames with Winchester following up narrowly behind. The East of England featured 3 other locations in addition to St Albans, 2 of which were on the Kent coastline.
Tim Bannister, Rightmove’s property expert said: “Searching for new areas outside of the city that are still commutable on office days and looking for cheaper properties that are in need of renovation are just some of the actions we’ve seen determined movers take this year. The results of this year’s study highlights that residents continue to value living near green spaces and natural beauty, features that became all the more important during the pandemic. With moving to an area that makes them happy a key motivator for people looking for their next home, highlighting these types of features nearby could really help sellers looking to appeal to potential buyers”.