Rightmove’s annual Happy at Home Index has been released! The national survey asked nearly 50,000 people to rank the place they call home on 12 factors which add up to an overall happiness rating. While Harrogate took the top spot for the second year running, the results show that it’s definitely not so grim up north – especially not in Preston!
The Lancashire city came in at eighth place out of 111 in this year’s survey, beating many desirable southern towns such as Brighton (34th), Cambridge (59th) and Southampton (46th). But the success doesn’t end there. The survey revealed that when it comes to who takes the greatest pride in where they live, Preston were at the top, coming in at first place both regionally and nationally. They also came in first in the regional well-being category (6th overall) and second in décor and amenities (nationally 12th and 15th respectively).
Perhaps more interestingly for investors, Preston came in 7th for investment and 26th for value, meaning that voters do not worry about the value of their property, and regularly choose to spend money on their home, even if they don’t have to. These statistics mirror recent reports that northern cities are the new “must-have” in terms of investment, with many property moguls enjoying the benefits of lower house prices and large returns from student renters. Preston also came in 25th in the living space category, demonstrating how much house you get for your money compared to an area such as West Central London which came in last.
Four out of five of the happiest towns were up north this year – alongside Harrogate were Stockport which came in fourth, and Scottish towns Inverness and Falkirk which took second and fifth place. London bagged some of the lowest scores this year, with Croydon voted the most unsafe and East London coming in last for both neighbourliness and décor.
Mistoria Group have long acknowledged the qualities which make northern cities such as Preston so attractive to both investors and buyers. We have investment properties across the North West, including Preston. To view our current available deals and to learn more about the types of deals we offer, click here. Alternatively, send us an enquiry through our website or call us on 0800 500 3015 for more information.
