This is a league table of the UK's 138 statistical regions ordered by an index of general quality of life derived from a data analysis of a wide range of official statistics.
We've also compared the positions on our new 2015 league table to those from 2013, so as well as showing where the best places currently are, we can see how places have improved or declined for overall quality of life.
Lochaber, Skye & Lochalsh, Arran & Cumbrae and Argyll & Bute in the Highlands and Islands region of Scotland is one of the NUTS 3 statistical regions of the UK that has gained places since our 2013 study.
It has risen 29 places to go from 136 to 107 on our list. While this is still a poor placement out of 138, it shows some improvement in quality of life in this area
Here are some of the statistics for Lochaber, Skye & Lochalsh, Arran & Cumbrae and Argyll & Bute:
Employment
The employment rates in Lochaber, Skye & Lochalsh, Arran & Cumbrae and Argyll & Bute are extremely good, with 80% of the population in employment and 39% working normal full time hours of 35 to 45 hours per week.
Income
Incomes in the Lochaber, Skye & Lochalsh, Arran & Cumbrae and Argyll & Bute region are fairly high by overall UK standards, with the average resident gaining a gross weekly income of £493.23. Disposable income is fairly average, however, with the average household in 2015 having access to £16,177 per year in Lochaber, Skye & Lochalsh, Arran & Cumbrae and Argyll & Bute.
House Prices
House prices in Lochaber, Skye & Lochalsh, Arran & Cumbrae and Argyll & Bute are very low by UK standards overall at an average of £111,202.67. Rent in Lochaber, Skye & Lochalsh, Arran & Cumbrae and Argyll & Bute is also low, at £65 per person, per week.
Life Expectancy
In Lochaber, Skye & Lochalsh, Arran & Cumbrae and Argyll & Bute, life expectancy from birth is slightly below UK averages though average for Scotland which has slightly lower life expectancy in general, at 78 for men and 82 for women.
Life expectancy is an influential factor that insurance companies use to determine life insurance premiums. You can check our advice guide on how to get a cheaper life insurance policy
Living Costs
The cost of food is in line with overall averages for the whole of the UK at £55 for a weekly household grocery shop. Petrol is also averagely priced in Lochaber, Skye & Lochalsh, Arran & Cumbrae and Argyll & Bute at 117p.
Other Important Factors
Lochaber, Skye & Lochalsh, Arran & Cumbrae and Argyll & Bute endures just 32% mobile phone signal, and average broadband speeds are a very poor 7.1Mbps, which is among the lowest, though this may be to be expected in a fairly rural region.
How do your broadband speeds compare to the national average? Test them with our broadband speed checker.
Lochaber, Skye & Lochalsh, Arran & Cumbrae and Argyll & Bute has a few positives like relatively cheap houses and high employment, but due to things like its very poor technology infrastructure and low life expectancy it still lands in the bottom half of our table of uSwitch's best places to live in the UK for 2015.
More to life than rankings
At uSwitch, we know that there is more to life than rankings, stats and figures, and our Qualify of Life Index merely highlights the vast differences in the experiences of people across the UK.
Whether you're living in the best city or the worst, millions of households in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland face financial struggles including rising energy bills and credit card debt. That's why it's more important than ever for households to assess their budgets, and uSwitch.com offers a great way to start.
Below you can find ways to save on everything from car insurance to mobile bills.
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Place to Live 2015 — Where did your region rank?
About the research
The uSwitch.com study assessed 138 local areas (NUTS3 regions) for 26 factors such as salaries, disposable household income, and the cost of essential goods including food bills, fuel costs and energy bills. The study also factored in lifestyle issues like hours of sunshine, working hours and life expectancy to ensure a full picture of the quality of life in each NUTS3 region.
For more about the study's methodology, read the full press release .