City is a top place to live
Sunderland is one of the best places in the country to make a living, according to new research.
Consumer credit comparison website TotallyMoney.com examined factors such as employment rates, average wages and cost of living to find the best places to live in the UK from a financial perspective.
The data puts Sunderland in ninth place, while the North West is the top choice, with Burnley in first place and Wigan second.
Barnsley, Mansfield, Blackburn, Telford, Aberdeen, Derby and Peterborough make up the rest of the top 10.
London may offer better wages than the rest of the country, but steep property prices and the highest cost of day-to-day expenses in the country make it one of the worst places in the county to earn a living.
The coastal town of Hastings was found to be the worst place in the UK to make a living.
TotallyMoney.com head of brand and communications Joe Gardiner said: “While scenery, shopping and a nice local pub are all important, people will always want to live in areas where they can be financially secure.
“This research shows us the true financial health of an area, and that a town which offers high-paying jobs and expensive restaurants won’t necessarily be the best place to make a living.”
Although Sunderland has relatively-high unemployment, at 8.2%, it is showing strong job growth and finishes higher than Middlesbrough (21st) and Newcastle (48th).
SAFC commercial director Gary Hutchinson is chairman of the North East of England Chamber of Commerce’s Sunderland committee: “It’s great to see that our city is one of the best places to make a living,” he said.
“We have a very adaptable and capable workforce in Sunderland as many of our leading businesses will testify.”