A new Rightmove study has identified Leamington Spa as the happiest place to live in the Midlands, ranking 12th across the entire UK. The Warwickshire commuter town topped the regional list, with Lichfield and Stratford-upon-Avon following closely behind in second and third place respectively.
Regional Rankings and National Standing
According to the study, residents of Lichfield and Stratford-upon-Avon were "glowing with praise about where they lived." These affluent locations in the Midlands outperformed many other areas nationally, contributing to a positive regional showing at the top of the rankings.
At the opposite end of the scale, more urban and industrial towns in the Black Country, along with Birmingham, received harsher assessments from locals. Walsall was ranked the fifth unhappiest place in the entire country, sitting at 216th out of 220 locations, while Birmingham was not far ahead in 209th place.
Financial Factors Behind Happiness
The study highlights that people tend to be happier when they have fewer worries, and this often comes down to financial security. Money-related concerns appear to play a significant role in how residents perceive their hometowns, according to the Rightmove findings.
Shrewsbury also received national praise for its quality of life, though specific details of its ranking were not disclosed in the summary. The full list of the 10 happiest towns and cities in the Midlands has been published separately for those seeking more comprehensive data.
