The best places to live and work in the UK

Situated at the mouth of the River Wear with a population of 275,500. People who live in Sunderland are happy with almost all aspects of the city but are particularly satisfied with commuting and cost of living. They are also the least concerned about their local property market.

Average salary £25,724
Commuting cost £1,570
Average property price £121,822
Rent/mortgage £6,828
Satisfaction 1/35
Happiness 4/35

With a diverse population of 761,500, Leeds is one of the fastest growing cities in the UK. Residents feel positive about work prospects and the local property market, and generally have a high satisfaction rating across the board.

Average salary £28,257
Commuting cost £1,622
Average property price £165,300
Rent/mortgage £12,420
Satisfaction 8/35
Happiness 11/35

A city in North East Scotland, Aberdeen is the Scotland’s third most populous city with 227,100 residents. It’s a happy city with low concern ratings, specifically regarding local safety and the property market, making it one of the top cities to live in the UK overall.

Average salary £30,362
Commuting cost £1,929
Average property price £175,000
Rent/mortgage £9,132
Satisfaction 21/35
Happiness 5/35

Known as the city with the highest concentration of roundabouts in the UK, Milton Keynes has a population of 229,900. It’s the most cost-efficient place to live, with living costs falling well below the average income.

Average salary £31,324
Commuting cost £2,163
Average property price £301,938
Rent/mortgage £12,540
Satisfaction 23/35
Happiness 6/35

The birthplace of The Beatles, Liverpool has a population of 552,300. Living costs fall below the average income, leaving a reasonable disposable income, and residents are generally satisfied with their jobs, incomes and day-to-day lives.

Average salary £27,596
Commuting cost £1,684
Average property price £121,900
Rent/mortgage £8,940
Satisfaction 10/35
Happiness 8/35

Derby lies on the banks of the River Derwent and has a population of 270,500. Despite many people being worried about their job prospects, the cost of living and working is relatively low and people are predominantly satisfied with their day-to-day lives.

Average salary £33,784
Commuting cost £1,861
Average property price £196,993
Rent/mortgage £7,944
Satisfaction 12/35
Happiness 9/35

With a population of 209,200, Swindon is in Wiltshire, between Bristol and Reading. Swindon has a high job satisfaction rating and is on the whole a happy place to live.

Average salary £30,248
Commuting cost £1,762
Average property price £248,154
Rent/mortgage £8,892
Satisfaction 11/35
Happiness 7/35

Leicester is a city located in the East Midlands with a population of 443,800. A combination of income and day-to-day living satisfaction play a part in making it one of the top cities to live in.

Average salary £25,890
Commuting cost £1,861
Average property price £173,400
Rent/mortgage £9,144
Satisfaction 7/35
Happiness 14/35

A walled city in North East England, York was founded by the Ancient Romans and today has a population of 200,000. It is the happiest city in the Index, which is one of the main reasons it’s made it onto the top 10 list.

Average salary £27,300
Commuting cost £1,622
Average property price £225,352
Rent/mortgage £10,128
Satisfaction 4/35
Happiness 1/35

Known for the legend of Robin Hood, Nottingham has a population of 315,900. Perhaps contradictory to popular belief, local residents are actually some of the least concerned about local safety and they are also satisfied with their commutes, incomes and cost of living.

Average salary £25,729
Commuting cost £1,861
Average property price £149,800
Rent/mortgage £10,668
Satisfaction 9/35
Happiness 21/35

Sheffield is a city in the English county of South Yorkshire with a population of 518,000. It is known for steel production and is often referred to as The Steel City.

Average salary £27,383
Commuting cost £1,622
Average property price £138,000
Rent/mortgage £9,288
Satisfaction 25/35
Happiness 19/35

A port city in Hampshire, Portsmouth is home to around 238,100 people. Its famous for its large Naval Base, making it known as the home of the Royal Navy in the UK.

Average salary £27,268
Commuting cost £2,464
Average property price £238,900
Rent/mortgage £12,612
Satisfaction 2/35
Happiness 2/35

Often abbreviated to Stoke, Stoke-on-Trent in Staffordshire is the home of the pottery industry in England and is commonly known as the Potteries, with the local residents known as Potters. It has a population of over 372,800.

Average salary £25,412
Commuting cost £1,768
Average property price £143,328
Rent/mortgage £6,624
Satisfaction 3/35
Happiness 15/35

Glasgow is the third most populated city in the UK. With over 801,200 residents, Glaswegians speak the most Gaelic outside of the Highlands and Islands.

Average salary £29,161
Commuting cost £1,929
Average property price £126,200
Rent/mortgage £9,048
Satisfaction 18/35
Happiness 24/35

A city and metropolitan borough in the West Midlands, Coventry is the twelfth largest in the United Kingdom with a population of 325,900, and is home to the famous Wasps Rugby Football Club.

Average salary £29,203
Commuting cost £1,768
Average property price £197,170
Rent/mortgage £13,476
Satisfaction 24/35
Happiness 22/35

A large town in the county of West Midlands, Dudley has a population of nearly 200,600. Dudley is the birthplace of British stand-up comedian and television presenter, Lenny Henry.

Average salary £25,677
Commuting cost £1,768
Average property price £192,621
Rent/mortgage £6,372
Satisfaction 17/35
Happiness 10/35

The home of one of the UK’s biggest music festivals, Reading is the largest town in the UK without city status. It has a population of 218,700.

Average salary £33,347
Commuting cost £2,464
Average property price £422,120
Rent/mortgage £13,836
Satisfaction 6/35
Happiness 18/35

The capital city of Scotland, Edinburgh is home to over 482,000 residents. Famous for the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, the world’s largest arts festival.

Average salary £31,122
Commuting cost £1,929
Average property price £218,700
Rent/mortgage £18,912
Satisfaction 20/35
Happiness 12/35

A major port city, Southampton, is known for being the starting place of the maiden and final voyage of the Titanic. Southampton has a population of 253,700.

Average salary £29,993
Commuting cost £2,464
Average property price £224,700
Rent/mortgage £13,008
Satisfaction 16/35
Happiness 16/35

With a population of 254,700, Wolverhampton is a city in the West Midlands. It was the first place in the UK to have automatic traffic lights and has been home to a number of industries including wool mills, steel works and engineering.

Average salary £25,136
Commuting cost £1,7681
Average property price £176,193
Rent/mortgage £6,852
Satisfaction 22/35
Happiness 34/35

The second most populated city in the UK, with 1,224,100 residents, Birmingham is known for being the birthplace of Cadbury's Chocolate. It has the youngest population of any city with 40% of its residents under 25.

Average salary £28,568
Commuting cost £2,438
Average property price £161,100
Rent/mortgage £11,424
Satisfaction 15/35
Happiness 13/35

A large town in Bedfordshire, Luton is the home to one of London’s five airports being around 30 miles north west of London. Luton has 211,200 residents.

Average salary £30,815
Commuting cost £2,163
Average property price £260,288
Rent/mortgage £10,464
Satisfaction 30/35
Happiness 3/35

Standing on the river Thames, London is the UK’s largest city and home to over 8.6 million residents, including HM Queen. The city is one of the world’s top tourist destinations and one of Europe’s biggest business hubs.

Average salary £36,010
Commuting cost £2,438
Average property price £494,800
Rent/mortgage £19,308
Satisfaction 13/35
Happiness 17/35

A seaside resort on the south coast, Brighton is famous for its quirky shopping areas and large cultural, music and arts scene. It has a population of 273,400.

Average salary £27,372
Commuting cost £2,464
Average property price £347,919
Rent/mortgage £20,160
Satisfaction 14/35
Happiness 23/35

Bradford was at the heart of the industrial revolution in the 19th century, in particular as an international centre of wool manufacture. It has 349,600 residents.

Average salary £25,443
Commuting cost £1,768
Average property price £133,248
Rent/mortgage £12,912
Satisfaction 33/35
Happiness 25/35

Bristol has a population of 617,300 and is known for its vibrant music and culture scene. The property market and crime are areas of concern for its residents and a high cost of living to income ratio also impact the city’s overall ranking.

Average salary £28,355
Commuting cost £1,762
Average property price £283,500
Rent/mortgage £12,720
Satisfaction 5/35
Happiness 20/35

Known as the birthplace of the industrial revolution, Manchester has a population of 520,700 and a proud history in science, politics, music, arts and sport. Its placing in the lower rankings is as a result of crime being a considerable concern for inhabitants along with the high cost of living..

Average salary £29,682
Commuting cost £1,684
Average property price £166,100
Rent/mortgage £11,712
Satisfaction 27/35
Happiness 30/35

A city on the north bank of the River Tyne with a population of 282,400. Despite being an affordable city, concern about work-life balance and the local property market are are among the reasons that the city appears in the bottom end of the rankings.

Average salary £28,818
Commuting cost £1,570
Average property price £129,400
Rent/mortgage £10,068
Satisfaction 29/35
Happiness 28/35

Sited in the heart of England’s North West, Salford is a city with a population of 239,000. Although residents are generally have fewer worries about crime, work-life balance and job prospects compared to those in other areas, the cost of commuting and cost of living see it placed lower than its local counterparts.

Average salary £27,133
Commuting cost £1,684
Average property price £189,426
Rent/mortgage £11,400
Satisfaction 35/35
Happiness 35/35

The second largest city in Wales, Swansea lies on the country’s coast and has a population of 240,300. Specific factors that contribute to the city being featured as one of lowest ranked include poor income and cost of living satisfaction combined with a low happiness rating.

Average salary £24,668
Commuting cost 1,664
Average property price £159,268
Rent/mortgage £9,012
Satisfaction 31/35
Happiness 27/35

The county town of Northamptonshire with a population of 215,400. While it ranks in the middle for most areas, its ratings for general happiness and income satisfaction are fairly low.

Average salary £25,984
Commuting cost £1,861
Average property price £239,179
Rent/mortgage £8,928
Satisfaction 19/35
Happiness 31/35

Plymouth is a waterfront city with a population of 261,400. Residents report a low satisfaction with their day-to-day lives, and lower than average levels of happiness, seeing it appear in the bottom end of the ranking table.

Average salary £27,502
Commuting cost £1,762
Average property price £223,965
Rent/mortgage £10,512
Satisfaction 26/35
Happiness 33/35

With a population of 447,300, Cardiff is the largest city in Wales and its capital. Commuting is a cause for concern for those living in the city, and there is also relatively low job satisfaction.

Average salary £27,497
Commuting cost £1,664
Average property price £205,100
Rent/mortgage £12,588
Satisfaction 28/35
Happiness 26/35

Hull was named the 2017 UK City of Culture and it has a population of 314,000. Responses from residents show that there is a lack of satisfaction when it comes to jobs, income, cost of living and general day-to-day life, but there is also significant concern around crime.

Average salary £24,900
Commuting cost £1,622
Average property price £134,430
Rent/mortgage £12,912
Satisfaction 33/35
Happiness 25/35

Warrington is found on the banks of the River Mersey, 20 miles east of Liverpool, and 20 miles west of Manchester. It has a population of 202,200. The city ranks at the bottom for both income and cost of living satisfaction and inhabitants report a high level of concern about their work-life balance.

Average salary £27,996
Commuting cost £1,684
Average property price £226,883
Rent/mortgage £6,924
Satisfaction 34/35
Happiness 29/35

What are the best places to live and work in the UK?

Find the best cities to live, work and raise a family in the UK

Location Rank

Sunderland 1

Leeds 2

Aberdeen 3

Milton Keynes 4

Liverpool 5

Derby 6

Swindon 7

Leicester 8

York 9

Nottingham 10

Sheffield 11

Portsmouth 12

Stoke-on-Trent 13

Glasgow 14

Coventry 15

Dudley 16

Reading 17

Edinburgh 18

Southampton 19

Wolverhampton 20

Birmingham 21

Luton 22

London 23

Brighton 24

Bradford 25

Bristol 26

Manchester 27

Newcastle 28

Salford 29

Swansea 30

Northampton 31

Plymouth 32

Cardiff 33

Hull 34

Warrington 35

What are the best cities in the UK?

What are the cheapest places to live in the UK?

What are the safest places to live in the UK?

Find out more about saving for your first home with a Lifetime ISA

Related articles