The 'happiest places to live' in Yorkshire named - where Leeds ranks
Rightmove has released its annual ‘Happy at Home’ survey for 2026
Leeds has ranked ninth amongst other towns and villages in Yorkshire in Rightmove’s ‘happiest places to live’ survey.
Each year thousands of people across the country are asked how they feel about where they live: access to nature and green spaces, local services, amenities and employment are all factors that are considered.
Nationally, Leeds ranked 124th out of 221 locations.
A YouGov poll ranks the city as the 15th most popular in the UK, which is reflective of the centre’s broad cultural, historical and social offerings.
Harrogate sits atop of the Yorkshire list, and also came second nationally in Rightmove’s ‘Happy at Home Index’.
Overall, Richmond-upon-Thames in Greater London took the podium, with Harrogate second and Cirencester in Gloucestershire third.
Leeds has slightly stooped from its ranking in the 2025 survey, where it finished sixth in the region.
These were the top ten spots in the county:
1. Harrogate
2. Skipton
3. York
4. Hull
5. Halifax
6. Sheffield
7. Huddersfield
8. Whitby
9. Leeds
10. Barnsley
Want to see how your local area fared? Take a look at the full Happy at Home 2026 rankings here.