Town named one of region’s happiest places

MACCLESFIELD has been named as one of the happiest places in the North West in 2019, according to new research.

Rightmove’s 2019 Happy at Home Index listed the town as the fourth most content place to live in the region.

It also put Macclesfield at 17th in the national list - out of a total of almost 200 locations.

More than 22,000 people from 194 places across Great Britain participated in the survey, with residents revealing how happy they are where they live.

The annual poll asks residents how happy they are where they live, based on 12 happiness factors, across 194 areas in Great Britain.

These indicators range from how safe residents feel and how friendly the neighbours are, to how good the local services and facilities are, the level of community spirit and the quality of cultural activities in the area.

Respondents were also asked about their local amenities, including medical services, shops and restaurants, schools and recreational facilities.

The North dominated the top ten spots in the new index, with the Northumberland market town of Hexham took the crown for the happiest place to live, followed by Harrogate in Yorkshire.

Rightmove’s Lydia Yao said: “People place enormous value on living somewhere that they’re proud to call home.

“Our results also show that having friendly neighbours and being able to be yourself remain hugely important factors when measuring the happiest places to live in Great Britain.”