The UK’s happiest places to live in 2024 have been named – and Woodbridge has come out tops.
When you think of Suffolk, places like Ipswich and Southwold might first spring to mind, but it’s actually this coastal town where houses cost an average of £440,000 that’s winning hearts.
Woodbridge is located on the edge of an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, neighbouring both the National Trust Sutton Hoo and the Suffolk & Essex Coast & Heaths National Landscape. And with so much access to nature, it’s no wonder the local population are so content.
The Suffolk Coast previously described Woodbridge as ‘one of the gems in Suffolk’s crown,’ featuring an outstanding array of shops, puns and restaurants.
And it being the happiest place to live in the UK isn’t just a statistic: there are locals raving about how much they love living there, too.
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Sharing a sunset snap of the River Debden at Woodbridge, @nickfshort wrote on X, formerly Twitter: ‘I do love living in this beautiful county.’
Elsewhere, @muddysuffcambs described it as a ‘riverside town with indie shops, candy-coloured cottages and gorgeous countryside all around.’
‘It was a pleasure to hear Woodbridge has been ranked as the happiest place to live,’ councillor Robin Sanders, Mayor and Chair of Woodbridge Town Council, said of the news.
‘The happy mood of residents is a reflection of the vibrant town centre encompassing numerous listed buildings occupied by many independent shops, pubs and restaurants, a long established and film industry renown independent cinema and, not least, a thriving historic and unique riverside area to enjoy the vista onto the beautiful and internationally designated, and protected, environment of the tidal River Deben estuary.
‘The town residents with children have access to excellent state and public schools in the town, well-run sports facilities and all residents enjoy and participate in frequent cultural events organised and supported by the town council in the parks and public open spaces.’
The top 20 happiest places to live in 2024, according to Rightmove
Woodbridge, East of England (average asking price: £441,569, average rent per month: £1,478)
Richmond-upon-Thames, Greater London (£939,329, £3,131)
Hexham, North East (£313,147, £840)
Monmouth, Wales (£320,974, £1,335)
Harrogate, Yorkshire and the Humber (£394,312, £1,439)
Skipton, Yorkshire and the Humber (£263,479, £1,030)
Sevenoaks, South East (£881,061, £2,924)
Leigh-on-Sea, East of England (£465,542, £1,796)
Cirencester, South West (£384,013, £1,495)
Wokingham, South East (£590,949, £2,120)
Winchester, South East (£578,760, £2,069)
Stirling, Scotland (£214,441, £1,227)
Stratford-upon-Avon, West Midlands (£413,115, £1,604)
Horsham, South East (£458,641, £1,983)
Kendal, North West (£285,645, £966)
Kensington and Chelsea, Greater London (£1,667,573, £5,345)
Chorley, North West (£197,199, £883)
Hove, South East (£555,193, £1,993)
Wandsworth, Greater London (£865,205, £3,159)
Hitchin, East of England (£510,612, £1,730).
What is driving people’s happiness levels in places like Woodbridge?
So, why are the people of Woodbridge feeling so happy to live where they do? As per Rightmove’s analysis, feeling proud to live in an area was the number one driver of overall happiness levels.
But it’s not just that: feeling a sense of belonging, being able to be yourself, an earning enough to live comfortably in the area also contributed.
Surprisingly, living close to family and friends was actually the lowest driver of happiness.
‘There are some interesting trends revealed by the study, such as how those who live in a rural location are more likely to be happy than urban dwellers, who often live in busy cities,’ Tim Bannister, Rightmove’s property expert, explains.
‘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.’
House prices in Woodbridge
As per data from Rightmove, the average house price in Woodbridge comes in at £441,569.
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It’s certainly not cheap, given that the typical UK average is £366,592 (£74,977 cheaper) – but perhaps it disproves the age-old mantra that money can’t buy you happiness. Perhaps, if you’re from Woodbridge and have a few extra pennies to spare, it can.
However, it’s good news for renters, as Woodbridge ranked among one of the cheapest locations in the top 10 for monthly rent prices at £1,478. Comparatively, figures in Richmond-upon-Thames were a whopping £3,131, while Sevenoaks in Kent reached £2,924.
Transport links in Woodbridge
Don’t have a completely remote job and still based in London?
Fear not, for Woodbridge is relatively well-connected by train. It’s a 16-minute train to Ipswich, where you’ll then need to change for a direct train to London Liverpool Street, which takes around 1 hour and 6 minutes. There’s roughly one service every hour.
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