Scotland’s “happiest places to live” have been named in a new study.
All over Scotland, there are countless villages, towns, and cities that are beloved by locals and tourists alike. While everyone will have their own favourite parts of the country, some are more popular than others.
New research conducted by property experts at Rightmove involved asking residents across Britain how they feel about their area. Now in its 13th year, the annual survey was completed by more than 35,000 people.
Coming in at number one for Scotland is Stirling. Also placing at number 12 for the whole of the UK, the city beat out top destinations such as Westminster, Kensington and Chelsea.
According to Rightmove, the average asking price for a home in Stirling is £214,441. Meanwhile, the average asking rent per month in the city was found to be £1,227.
In terms of things to do around Stirling, top attractions include the historic Stirling Castle, the iconic The National Wallace Monument, and the fascinating Stirling Smith Art Gallery. Other popular destinations include the Blair Drummond Safari Park just outside of the city and the Stirling Distillery.
The second happiest place to live in Scotland according to Rightmove is Dumfries, placing at number 35 on the UK-wide list. The historic Dumfries and Galloway market town is known for its many connections to Robert Burns and wide variety of independent shops and restaurants.
In third place for Scotland is Perth, which also placed 39 for the whole of the UK. The city, which is situated along the banks of the River Tay, is renowned for its scenery and unique attractions such Scone palace and the River Tay Public Art Trail.
Finally, rounding out the top five happiest places to live in Scotland according to Rightmove are Galashiels and Dundee. The former is a Borders market town known for its historic textile industry, while Dundee features a wealth of culture thanks to attractions such as the V&A Dundee.
Elsewhere, topping the list as the happiest place to live in the UK is Woodbridge in Suffolk. The attractive market town scored particularly high on factors such as community spirit, friendliness, and access to essential services.
Meanwhile, the Rightmove study found that residents in Scotland, Wales, and the South West of England are most happy with where they live. On the other hand, those in the East and West Midlands were found to be the least happy.
According to the research, people between 18 and 24 years old were the most likely to say that they thought they would be happier living in a different area. Contrastingly, those aged 55-plus were the least likely to be dissatisfied with where they live.
Rightmove property expert Tim Bannister commented: “It’s the younger generation who are most likely to say they would be happier living somewhere else, many of whom have to travel to cities for education or to find their first jobs.”
The research also found that the type of surroundings that made residents most happy was woodland and forests. Rightmove’s analysis also found that feeling proud to live in an area was the biggest driver of overall satisfaction with a home and community out of the factors it looked at.
Scotland’s happiest places to live
- Stirling
- Dumfries
- Perth
- Galashiels
- Dundee
Don’t miss the latest news from around Scotland and beyond – sign up to the Scotland Now newsletter here.