Watford is crowned top place to live and work in the UK

Locals can feel proud after the town was lavished with praise and took the top spot in a ranked list of the UK’s 100 largest towns and cities outside of London based on a range of measures including economy, health, and environment.

Property consultancy Lambert Smith Hampton (LSH), which carried out the Vitality Index 2024 assessment, had given Watford the bronze medal in 2023, but this time, it overthrew Bath to take gold.

The report’s authors said: “Having only debuted in the top 10 in 2022, Watford’s steady climb reflects a transformation in its relative standing among the UK’s largest centres.

“Watford’s winning overall position is driven by its top ranked performance in the economy & business pillar, which includes top scores in four of the pillar’s seven metrics.

“Watford also performs well in other areas, securing a tenth and eleventh position in the health & environment and living pillars, respectively.”

Reacting to the win, Watford mayor Peter Taylor said: “For many years, Watford Council has worked with others to make sure we have a thriving local economy, a pleasant environment, and a good quality of life for local residents.

“It is really encouraging to see the impact this is making and the success of our town.”

As in previous years, the list was dominated by towns and cities across south England. No locations in the East Midlands, North-West, North-East, Wales, or Northern Ireland cracked the top ten.

LSH head of research Oliver du Sautoy said: “The lack of surprises – or outliers – in this year’s index remains a stark reminder of the ongoing disconnect in health, affluence, and growth across the UK.

“The Vitality Index was initially conceived over a decade ago to highlight the UK towns and cities with the best growth prospects.

“While it is pleasing to see new entrants rise into the upper echelons of the rankings each year, the persistent lack of representation from many of the UK’s regions highlights the ongoing regional disparities evident in across the UK”.

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