Now, the study has been repeated using 2015 data, which not only allows us to get an updated picture of where each statistical region compares to the others and establish the best places to live in the UK, but also lets us see how things have changed in different places since the 2013 analysis.
Warrington in the North West of England is one of the statistical regions that has slipped down in the rankings since 2013, however only by four places. It was our 28th best place to live in 2013, but based on the 2015 index is now the 32nd best – still in the top third of the table.
Here are some of the statistics relating to quality of life in Warrington in 2015:
Employment
The employment situation in this statistical region in 2015 is actually fairly good. 78% of the people in Warrington are employed, and 47% have full time jobs. 25% of the people in this region work over 45 hours a week, however, which is a sign of a poor work life balance.
Income
Incomes are reasonable, but not exceptional, with the gross weekly income of Warrington individuals averaging £492.70 in 2015. This is considerably more than 31st place Worcestershire and 31st place Calderdale and Kirklees.
House Prices
House prices are low by overall UK standards, with the average house in Warrington selling for £157k in 2015. Rent is quite high at £72 per person, per week, however this is not any different from in other North West statistical regions and the same as Worcestershire which sits one spot above Warrington on the table.
Life Expectancy
In Warrington, life expectancy is in line with average ages for England, though lower than some of the places higher up on the table, at 78 for men and 82 for women. This is not always a strong indicator of quality of life, however, as a lot of people move in their lifetimes.
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
Food shopping for an average household costs £53 a week in Warrington, which is low by UK standards and in line with the rest of the North West. Premiums for car insurance are high, however, at £561.60.
Even though, the insurance premiums are high, there are certain steps you can take to find the best car insurance deals for you.
Other Important Factors
Warrington is good for people who value technology as part of their quality of life, with 99% mobile phone signal availability and good broadband speeds of, on average, 26.1Mbps.
Use our broadband postcode checker to see which deals and what speeds are on offer in your area.
Warrington sits in the top third of the table, but has some negatives like high car insurance prices that are worth considering for some people.
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 .