Sunderland named as best place to live in Britain for under-30s as southern cities shunned in top 10
Milton Keynes and Swindon are the only cities in the South of England to make the top ten
SUNDERLAND was named the best place to live and work for under-30s in Britain - with other northern cities making up most of the UK's top ten "liveable" places for millennials.
The Tyne and Wear city took the top spot because of its low living costs, high job satisfaction and general happiness and wellbeing.
Sunderland was closely followed by Leeds, Aberdeen and Liverpool as southern cities missed out on the top spots.
The results are from the latest Liveability Index compiled by financial services provider OneFamily, which ranks every town and city in Britain with over 200,000 residents.
The Index is based on things like the average income and costs of living in a certain area, as well as how residents feel about living there.
So while Sunderland was ranked highest in terms of general satisfaction, ninth-placed York residents are the happiest.
TOP TEN CITIES TO LIVE FOR UNDER-30S
1. Sunderland
2. Leeds
3. Aberdeen
4. Milton Keynes
5. Liverpool
6. Derby
7. Swindon
8. Leicester
9. York
10. Nottingham
And people living in Leeds are the least likely to move away - with only one in ten saying they'd relocate for a higher salary.
Young workers across the country were generally most concerned with closeness to friends, family and transport when choosing somewhere to live.
Other factors in the Liveability Index include work-life balance, the property market, commute times and levels of crime.
Some southern cities like London and Brighton lost out on the highest ranked places in part due to the high cost of living.
The average cost of living in London and Brighton including commuting, housing and bills is higher than the average salary.
So while London's costs are 110 per cent times the average income, Milton Keynes' cost of living is only 60 per cent of the average salary.
This particular ratio could have a huge effect on a resident's overall quality of life.
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Nici Audhlam-Gardiner, Managing Director of Lifetime ISAs at OneFamily, said: "If you are thinking of buying your first home, it is important to think carefully about where you want to live.
"For most people, green spaces and living near friends and family are important, but it is also worth thinking about the cost of living, as high costs could restrict your overall satisfaction.
"If you have an area in mind, the next step is to investigate job prospects for your sector, and start saving towards a deposit – the more you can save, the lower your mortgage will be so you’ll have more disposable income left for day-to-day expenses and making the most of the benefits your area has to offer."
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