What Richmond’s top ranking says about everyday life close to home
Rightmove’s survey puts Richmond upon Thames first, with green space and local services among its strengths and an average asking price above £1m.
Richmond upon Thames ranked first in Rightmove’s 2026 Happy at Home Index, published on 11 November. The property portal collected responses from more than 24,000 residents across 221 places in Great Britain. Richmond’s respondents rated access to green space, essential services, shops and restaurants particularly highly. Harrogate came second and Cirencester third.
Rightmove also published October asking prices alongside the survey. Richmond’s average was £1,021,256, compared with £371,015 across Great Britain. Its listed average asking rent was £3,298 a month. The Guardian’s coverage drew attention to the cost of moving to the borough, a factor a ranking based on existing residents’ views can leave in the background.
The amenities behind the score
The survey’s interest lies partly in the questions behind the final ranking. Rightmove asked about the things residents encounter repeatedly, including local services, employment opportunities and places to spend time outdoors. Eight of the ten places with the highest overall scores also ranked well for access to nature and green space, according to the company.
The geography of the results is uneven. Rightmove says that Greater London had the lowest average happiness score among its regions, even though Richmond led the list of individual places. Monmouth was the highest-ranked place in Wales and Kirkcaldy led in Scotland. The national table and the regional averages describe different groupings of respondents.
Analysis — test the ordinary week
For someone considering a move, the survey works best as a list of questions to investigate. A park may be nearby on a map, but the route to it can be difficult with a pushchair or for somebody with limited mobility. A high street can offer plenty of choice on a Saturday and still be awkward to reach during a working week.
Housing costs change the experience too. The price in an advertisement is the amount a seller or landlord is asking, and can differ from what someone ultimately pays. A household comparing locations has to consider how the cost of a home interacts with travel, childcare and the time required to reach regular appointments. Those relationships are personal and will vary even within the same borough.
A useful way to read the results is to look at what people value close to home, then compare it with the routines that make up your own week. Richmond’s ranking is a snapshot of how its respondents rated their area. Its combination of amenities and high prices makes clear why a survey of current residents is only one part of the decision to live somewhere.