Interactive map lets you check how happy YOUR town is

September 27, 2016

ONS has released ‘heat map’ for wellbeing ratings across the country
Allows people to check how their town scores for happiness, anxiety, life satisfaction and it being ‘worthwhile’
Outer Hebrides was deemed the happiest place scoring 8.24 out of 10
While East Northamptonshire came bottom for happiness scoring just 7.01
Interactive tools also show how residents’ feeling have changed over time

James Tapsfield, Political Editor For Mailonline

and
Stephen Matthews For Mailonline

Published:
06:08 EST, 27 September 2016

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Updated:
10:02 EST, 27 September 2016

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If you live in the Outer Hebrides you have every reason to be happy – but you might want to look away now if you’re from East Northamptonshire.

New figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) have laid bare the happiest, most miserable and most stressed parts of the country.

It found the remote islands off the Scottish mainland – otherwise known as Na h-Eileanan Siar – is the happiest place to live, with residents scoring 8.24 out of 10 in the past year.

While the part of the Midlands – home to towns like Rushden and Thrapston – was deemed the least happiest place to live, scoring just 7.01 last year.

Click on the interactive map below to see how your area scores on the four categories below.

New figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) have deemed the Outer Hebrides the happiest (Pictured: Stornoway harbour, Isle of Lewis)

While the Outer Hebrides – otherwise known as Na h-Eileanan Siar – was deemed the happiest place to live, scoring 8.24 out of 10 in the past year

According to the ONS, wellbeing levels have been stagnating over the past year despite the country getting wealthier.

The drop in national happiness has been blamed on world events such as the refugee crisis and numerous terror attacks around the world.

It is the first time since the surveys began in 2011 that wellbeing rates have plateaued.

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Known for its breathtaking scenery, remote beaches and diverse wildlife, it is perhaps easy to understand why the chain of remote islands scored so well.

With a population of less than 30,000, the likes of Lewis and St Kilda, also boast some of the lowest stress levels, according to the latest figures.

Meanwhile, East Northamptonshire has roughly 87,000 residents, is landlocked and is made up of a mixture of small towns and countryside.

Corby scored just 6.86 points out of 10 last year for life satisfaction, figures revealed

The town in Northamptonshire was the lowest scoring place for life satisfaction last year

Those living in London are the most miserable with their lives in the UK while Northern Ireland has the highest rates, the statistics revealed.

But there are fascinating differences between individual towns and boroughs.

Since 2011 the ONS has been asking people aged 16 and over four questions about their assessment of their lives.

The questions are:

Overall, how satisfied are you with your life nowadays?
Overall, to what extent do you feel the things you do in your life are worthwhile?
Overall, how happy did you feel yesterday?
Overall, how anxious did you feel yesterday?

People respond on a scale of 0 to 10, where 0 is ‘not at all’ and 10 is ‘completely’.

The researchers produce breakdowns of the answers by local authority.

Previous research has shown health, relationships and employment are all factors that matter to personal well-being.

However the ONS stresses is important to consider each area’s local circumstances when considering the ratings.

Hammersmith Fulham was reported to be the most anxious place in the UK, according to the latest statistics (pictured: Hammersmith Bridge)

The borough of London scored 3.68 out of 10 for anxiety, the highest in the country

Hammersmith and Fulham is home to 180,000 people – but it’s proximity to central London could be why it is the most anxious place to live.

While the Orkney Islands, home to an array of wildlife and just 20,000 people, scored at the other end of the scale.

And with just 52 people per square mile, it may explain why. Especially considering Hammersmith Fulham has nearly 540 times the amount in the same space.

Mid East Antrim, which has 135,000 residents, is located on the picturesque coast of Northern Ireland and includes the major town Ballymena.

It’s stunning scenery could be responsible for people feeling it is the most ‘worthwhile’ place in the UK.

While Gravesham – which has no real landmarks – sits just outside the hustle and bustle of London and is home to 105,000 people.

Mid East Antrim – home to towns such as Ballymena – was deemed to be the most ‘worthwhile’ place to live (pictured: Galgorm Castle in Ballymena)

The area of Northern Ireland scored 8.62 out of 10 for being ‘worthwhile’ – the highest in the UK, figures show

HOW WELLBEING VARIES BETWEEN MEN AND WOMEN

This table shows how anxiety levels of men (blue) and women (orange) differed in the last financial year in terms of severity levels, starting with very low levels (left) and going through to high (right). It shows approximately 41 per cent of men had very low levels of anxiety compared to 39 per cent of women. Meanwhile, 21 per cent of women had high levels of anxiety compared to just 17 per cent of men

Men are now catching up women when it comes to the wellbeing rankings, according to the same ONS statistics.

Women reported higher life satisfaction and worthwhile levels when compared with men in the last financial year.

However, they also reported higher levels of anxiety, which might be the consequence of a number of factors, such as women being more socially connected and involved than men, the report said.

In 2012 there was a statistically significant difference in happiness ratings between the sexes, with women reporting higher ‘happy yesterday’ levels.

But by the same time this year, there was no longer a difference between the happiness ratings of men and women.

There was also no increase in average ratings of happiness for men or women between financial years ending 2015 and 2016.