Greater satisfaction across the county

According to new figures, the people of Kent are happier and more satisfied with their lives now than they were three years ago.

On average, our overall happiness rating is 7.46 out of 10, which is considered high, compared to 7.4 between 2011 and 2012.

But the people of Gravesham have come out on top, as the town is crowned the happy hotspot of the county, with a 7.77 rating.

The wellbeing study by the Office of National Statistics rates happiness in different parts of the country on a scale ranging from zero to 10, with the lowest meaning not at all and the highest meaning completely happy.

Those taking the survey were asked how happy they had felt the previous day, with the people of Dover scoring 7.03, making them the least happy in Kent and the fourth least happy in the UK.

The people of Canterbury have been named the 10th least happy in the UK.

The second most smiley place, closely following Gravesham, was Maidstone, with an average score of 7.75 out of 10.

Ashford’s rating was 7.68, mak- ing it the fourth happiest area of the county.

Alongside happiness, other aspects of wellbeing measured were anxiety and life satisfaction.

From April 2014 to March 2015, the people of Kent ranked their anxiety levels at 2.63 out of 10, which is considered low.

Those with the highest levels of anxiety live in Thanet, rating their levels 2.94 out of 10.

The results also show that the people of Kent are fairly satisfied with their lives, hitting a score of 7.72.

But the people of Dover are less satisfied, ranking their levels at 7.37 out of 10.

The average UK score for happiness is 7.46, which is the same number for Kent.

Fermanagh and Omagh, in Northern Ireland, is home to the happiest people with a score of 8.26, while Bolsover, in Derbyshire, is the most miserable place with a rating of 6.89.

What do you think? Write to Kentish Express, 34-36 North Street, Ashford, TN24 8JR or email kentishexpress@thekmgroup.co.uk