The bank ranked local authority districts based on factors including residents' health and life expectancy, employment, earnings, crime rate, weather, traffic flow and broadband internet access.
Here are the top ten places in the UK:
- Hart, Hampshire
- Elmbridge, Surrey
- Wokingham, Berkshire
- East Cambridgeshire
- Brentwood, Essex
- Wychavon, Worcestershire
- St Albans, Hertfordshire
- Maidstone, Kent
- South Cambridgeshire
- Epsom and Ewell, Surrey
Elmbridge had held the top spot for the past three years. Hart residents enjoy weekly average earnings of £841, 40% above the UK average of £606. But average house prices are 6.3 times average annual local earnings, compared to the UK average of 5.25.
The top 50 places list is dominated by areas in southern England, with 27 in the south east and 15 in the east.
But there’s a north-south divide in several categories. The south scores highly for weekly earnings, health, life expectancy and weather. Whereas the north is strong on low house price to earnings ratios, low population densities and low traffic flow.
Top places in each region
|
Region |
Local authority district |
Quality of Life ranking |
|
South East England |
Hart |
1 |
|
South West England |
Tewkesbury |
72 |
|
London |
Richmond-upon-Thames |
11 |
|
East of England |
East Cambridgeshire |
4 |
|
East Midlands |
Rushcliffe |
16 |
|
West Midlands |
Wychavon |
6 |
|
Yorkshire and the Humber |
Selby |
68 |
|
North West England |
Warrington |
122 |
|
North East England |
Northumberland |
162 |
|
Scotland |
Shetland Islands |
98 |
|
Wales |
Monmouthshire |
234 |
|
Northern Ireland |
North Down |
275 |
Halifax says there are now only 26 areas across the UK where the average house price to earnings ratio is lower than the UK long-term average of four times salary.
Pendle in Lancashire has the lowest ratio at 3.5 times, with North Ayrshire and Blaenau Gwent at 3.6.
Number of people renting set to increase
