Leeds town ranked one of UK’s best for life satisfaction and community connection
Around three-quarters of residents in the area reported high life satisfaction
A Leeds town has been named among the UK’s best for life satisfaction and community connection, according to a new report.
Research by the Belonging Forum, which sampled more than 10,000 adults across the UK, has found where you live in Yorkshire can shape how connected and safe you feel, with the organisation finding a “clear postcode lottery” across the region.
The analysis from the Belonging Forum’s 2026 Belonging Barometer shows Yorkshire and the Humber sits close to the national average overall – but found wide gaps between areas where people feel a strong sense of belonging and those where they do not.
Wetherby and Easingwold ranked in the national top 10 across multiple measures of the Belonging Index.
Around three-quarters (74%) reported high life satisfaction, while nearly two-thirds (64%) said they know their neighbours well.
Safety was also significantly higher than average, with 92% feeling safe during the day (vs 82% nationally) and 82% feeling safe after dark (vs 67% nationally).
In contrast, in Leeds Central and Headingley, half of residents say they do not know their neighbours well, placing the area in the national bottom 10.
Overall, the findings show that while Yorkshire performs broadly in line with the national average, people’s day-to-day experience of belonging varies significantly depending on where they live.
Sheffield Hallam emerged as one of the region’s strongest areas for belonging, while Kingston upon Hull East ranked mong the weakest areas on the Belonging Index, appearing in the bottom 10 nationally across multiple measures including life satisfaction, friendship and attachment to the local area.
Kim Samuel, founder of the Belonging Forum, said: “This research reveals a postcode lottery across Yorkshire, and that where people live has a powerful impact on whether they feel they belong. In some areas people feel safe, connected and part of their community - while in others many feel unsafe after dark and cut off from those around them.
“There is a clear link between loneliness and everyday contact with others, such as knowing your neighbours or spending time in local places. When those foundations are missing, it becomes much harder for people to feel part of their community.
“This is not about individuals, but the environments around them. Safe streets, local services and places to come together are just as important as physical infrastructure. Investing in them is essential if we want to build communities where everyone feels they belong.”