The happiest homebuyers in Britain are those living in the countryside or by the coast. However, this lifestyle satisfaction comes at a cost as both carry a significant house price premium compared to living in a city.
Regency Living analysed average house prices and happiness scores across 20 locations spanning cities, coastal towns, and countryside locations, to see which areas provide the biggest boost to wellbeing and just how much a home will cost.
The research shows that country homeowners top the happiness chart with an average happiness score of 7.51 out of 10, closely followed by those living in seaside locations with a score of 7.33. In contrast, city living ranked lowest for happiness, with an average score of 7.24.
But while the countryside and coast offer greater satisfaction, they also demand higher budgets.
Across the 20 locations analysed, the average cost of a home in the countryside comes in at £270,408, while coastal locations command an even higher average house price £273,092 - with both sitting above the UK average of £268,652.
By comparison, the average city house price across the 20 locations came in at £223,543, making city living more affordable but, according to the data, less likely to deliver the same level of happiness.
There are, however, exceptions for those seeking a happier lifestyle without paying top-tier prices.
Coastal favourites such as Porthmadog (£196,584) and Tynemouth (£197,521) offer some of the most affordable seaside living well below the national average, while in the countryside, locations like Dumfries (£161,234) and Keswick (£164,580) combine lower property prices with some of the highest happiness scores in the study.
Tim Simmons, sales and marketing director at Regency Living, commented: “For many homebuyers, especially those approaching retirement, quality of life becomes a far bigger consideration than proximity to the office or the hustle of urban life. Our research shows that both the countryside and coast deliver a clear happiness premium, but it’s one that often comes with a higher house price tag."
