• Official government data shows Newcastle has the highest life satisfaction rate in the North East
• Every local authority area enjoys a life satisfaction rate above 70%
• Northumberland narrowly missed out on regaining top spot by 0.1%
RESIDENTS of Newcastle now enjoy higher life satisfaction levels than anywhere else in the North East, according to official government data.
Analysis of Office for National Statistics (ONS) data by leading property agency, Bradley Hall, has revealed that Newcastle now offers the highest level of life satisfaction in the entire region.
The data, which ranks each local authority out of 10 on a range of factors, reported an average life satisfaction rate of 7.69 for those living in ‘the toon’, with Northumberland marginally missing out on regaining top spot by a single decimal point (7.68).
Since 2011, the ONS has asked personal well-being questions to adults aged 16 years and over in the UK to better understand how they feel about their lives. This includes how satisfied people are with life, how anxious they feel, how happy they are, and to what extent they feel the things they do in their lives are worthwhile.
The most recent data covered the period between April 2021 to March 2022, with Newcastle also making the biggest improvement from April 2020 to March 2021, leaping from 7.29 to 7.69, and while life satisfaction rates also increased in Northumberland, the county witnessed a more modest rise from 7.53 to 7.68.
Matt Hoy, managing director of residential at Bradley Hall, said: “The people of Newcastle haven’t been short of reasons to cheer over the past year, and this certainly hasn’t gone unnoticed.
“We’ve seen a real resurgence in housing markets outside of London since the pandemic, especially Newcastle and its surrounding areas, with people across the UK increasingly realising the fantastic life benefits that can be enjoyed beyond the capital.
“As a city, it has a cultural and leisure offer which can rival almost any city in the UK and it’s unique position means residents are only ever less than an hour away from the city, coast and countryside, so it’s no surprise that it enjoys such high life satisfaction rates.”
The other 11 local authority areas in the North East also scored highly in the rankings, with every area scoring above 7 out of 10.
“While Newcastle finished top for life satisfaction, it was only slightly higher than Northumberland and each of the other areas weren’t too far behind either, which just goes to show the amazing offer we have as a region,” Matt added.
“Whether it’s rural or urban living, outstanding schools or culture that appeals most to a house buyer, the North East really has something for everyone and I’m confident that despite the challenges facing the housing market over the coming years, the region’s resurgence will continue as more and more people realise that it’s far from ‘grim up north’.”
