South Northamptonshire in the top 50 of the best places to live in the UK

The Quality of Life Survey, released today by Halifax, ranks South Northants as number 14 in the top 50 places to live in the UK.

Last year it was ranked as the seventh best place to live.

Hampshire district topped the list for the fifth year in a row in the survey after scoring highly on a range of issues including health and life expectancy, personal wellbeing, crime rates and weather.

According to Halifax the annual Quality of Life index aims to quantify where living standards are the highest in the UK.

The index has been produced at a local authority level for all 390 districts in the UK.

Other nearby districts featuring in the top 50 include South Oxfordshire (2), Harborough (39) and Warwick (40).

South Oxfordshire climbed 19 places to take second place behind Hart in Hampshire.

Residents in the South East tend to enjoy the best quality of life with over half (27) of the top rated 50 local authorities being here.

The East of England rates well with close to a fifth (9) of the local authorities placed in the top 50.

The remainder is split between three in West Midlands, three in the South West, six in East Midlands and one each in London and Yorkshire and the Humber.

Northern areas tend to receive high ratings on school exam results and environmental measures such as low population densities and low traffic flows.

Areas in the south of England typically perform better than elsewhere on average earnings, employment, health and weather.

Northerners believe themselves to be less anxious and happier than in those living in the south; southerners, on the other hand, are more satisfied and content in life.

Martin Ellis, housing economist at Halifax, said: “A mixture of good health, high wealth and a generally happy life continues to cement Hart’s place as the best place to live in the UK.

“Low crime rates, good weather, and a long life expectancy all play an important part in keeping this Hampshire district at the top of the pile.

“Many areas in south eastern England also perform well in terms of average earnings, employment rates, health and the weather. But the South doesn’t have it all its own way, and there are areas in the North which score highly on school exam results, and physical environment characteristics such as low population densities and low traffic flows.”