A town in the Scottish Borders has been crowned as the happiest place to live in Scotland.
Each year real estate firm Rightmove asks residents to share what makes them happy about where they live, and what they believe makes it special. Their Happy at Home Index, now in its 12th year, surveyed 26,000 people living across the UK to gauge their opinion of their area based on 13 happiness factors.
From residents’ sense of pride and belonging to the local services and amenities on offer, Rightmove then pulled together a list of the happiest places to live in the UK based on the scores people gave their local area.
For the second year in a row Galashiels has taken the top spot as the "happiest" place to live in Scotland, with Richmond upon Thames taking the crown from St Ives as the happiest place to live in whole of the UK.
According to the survey, it's often less tangible things such as community spirit as well as a sense of belonging which contribute toward people's opinions of their homes, though for 2023 living near green spaces and natural beauty is another highlight.
Without further ado, here are the 15 happiest places to live in Scotland.
From residents’ sense of pride and belonging to the local services and amenities on offer, Rightmove then pulled together a list of the happiest places to live in the UK based on the scores people gave their local area.
![The Fife town of Kirkcaldy is the 13th happiest place in Scotland to live, dropping three places from 2022.](https://www.thestar.co.uk/jpim-static/image/2023/12/07/13/24/AdobeStock_66017361.jpeg.jpg?trim=0,295,0,294&width=800)
13. Kirkcaldy
The Fife town of Kirkcaldy is the 13th happiest place in Scotland to live, dropping three places from 2022.
![Dropping from 7th place in 2022, Paisley is now the 14th happiest place to live in Scotland, coming in as the 147th happiest place to live in the UK.](https://www.thestar.co.uk/jpim-static/image/2023/12/07/13/34/AdobeStock_519646066.jpeg.jpg?trim=0,590,0,590&width=800)
14. Paisley
Dropping from 7th place in 2022, Paisley is now the 14th happiest place to live in Scotland, coming in as the 147th happiest place to live in the UK.
![Rounding out the list, Motherwell in North Lanarkshire is the 15th happiest place to live in Scotland and the 192nd across the UK.](https://www.thestar.co.uk/jpim-static/image/2023/12/07/13/45/AdobeStock_509537386.jpeg.jpg?crop=3:2&width=800)
15. Motherwell
Rounding out the list, Motherwell in North Lanarkshire is the 15th happiest place to live in Scotland and the 192nd across the UK.