Finding your best place to live in Yorkshire

Yorkshire and The Humber step into 2025 with growing confidence, with house prices surging 5.9 per cent during 2024.

But for those seeking more than market averages, Garrington Property Finders’ Best Places to Live research offers unique insights. Based on extensive analysis of nearly 1,450 cities, towns and villages across England and Wales, the rankings consider 12 criteria including natural beauty, wellbeing, employment, connectivity, value for money, and price trends.

The best in the West

West Yorkshire has nine of the top 10 Yorkshire locations in Garrington’s 2025 rankings, underlining the area’s enduring appeal. Rawdon, north of Leeds, leads the way. With its traditional stone homes, proximity to good schools, balance of green space and connectivity, it offers a semi-rural lifestyle within easy reach of the city and airport. Close behind are Meltham, with its strong community and moorland setting, and Menston, prized for its rail links and family-friendly feel.

Yorkshire’s greenest

Harrogate ranks highest for natural environment, and it’s easy to see why. From the open grassland of The Stray to manicured gardens and tree-lined avenues, the town is built around its green spaces. Located on the edge of Nidderdale Natural Landscape, an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, Harrogate also offers easy access to walks, cycle routes and country pubs. Its spa heritage and elegant architecture add to the sense of refinement, making it one of the region’s most consistently desirable addresses.

Health and happiness

Top for wellbeing is Saltburn-by-the-Sea, a coastal town that combines clean air, natural beauty and a slower pace of life. With its sweeping beach, Victorian pier and cliff lift, Saltburn has all the charm of a traditional seaside resort, yet also a thriving modern character. Independent cafés, galleries and wellness businesses are quietly transforming the town into a hub for those seeking a balanced lifestyle by the sea.

Stories and streetscapes

Yorkshire’s top-ranking places for heritage and culture are rich in both history and visual character. Thornton, birthplace of the Brontë sisters with its cobbled streets and hilltop views holds its own as a cultural destination with a local heart. York remains a perennial favourite for its historic centre, medieval streets, Roman walls and Gothic cathedral, providing not just a backdrop, but a part of daily life. The city offers top schools, excellent transport and a vibrant arts scene, making it an enduringly popular place to live.

Yorkshire’s hidden gems

Yorkshire’s most rewarding addresses are not always its largest. While Garrington’s rankings focus on locations with more than 5,000 residents, smaller places across the region continue to attract discerning buyers. Goathland, known to many as Aidensfield from Heartbeat, combines moorland views with heritage railway charm.

Grassington, backdrop to All Creatures Great and Small, offers honey-coloured cottages, a lively square and easy access to the Dales. Other sought-after villages include Kirkby Overblow, admired for its peace, privacy and proximity to Harrogate; Helmsley, which blends market town appeal with boutique shops and history; and Runswick Bay, with its winding lanes and breathtaking coastal setting.

Explore more

Of course, this is just the tip of the iceberg. There are many wonderful places in Yorkshire, and what makes somewhere the ‘best place to live’ is entirely subjective, deeply personal and shaped by your lifestyle needs. To find out about our other rankings, visit the Garrington website and use the interactive tool.

You can search by place, region or ranking and even pin locations side by side to compare. Available at garrington.co.uk/best-places-to-live-2025, it’s free to use and an invaluable tool, both for those planning a move in 2025 or the merely curious.

Alternatively, you can contact Garrington to arrange a private, no obligation consultation. For expert help to find your best place to live call Julian on 01423 206055.