Why desirable Royal town with gentler rhythm to life is always named Birmingham's happiest place to live
Sutton Coldfield is celebrated as the happiest place to live in the West Midlands, surpassing Birmingham in Rightmove's 2025 survey.
Rightmove’s latest Happy at Home index has revealed a new wave of West Midlands neighbourhoods where residents say daily life feels grounded, friendly, and easy to enjoy.
The 2025 survey drew thousands of responses from across Britain, asking people to rate their local area on everything from access to nature to the strength of community spirit.
This year’s results point to one clear standout in Birmingham. Sutton Coldfield has once again been named among the happiest places to live in the West Midlands, earning a regional rank of 14 and a national position of 184.
The Royal town also ranked highly in previous years of the Rightmove survey.
It even beat Birmingham itself, which placed lower at 18 in the region and 209 nationally.
Sutton Coldfield blends walkable town centres with reliable transport, well kept parks, and a sense of connection that residents say has a real impact on quality of life.
The area offers quick access to Sutton Park, one of Europe’s largest urban nature reserves, along with independent shops, strong schools, and a community scene that makes it easy for neighbours to know one another.
In 1528, a charter of King Henry VIII gave the town the right to be known for ever as "The Royal Town of Sutton Coldfield" and to be governed by a warden and society. The charter was secured by Bishop John Vesey. This unreformed corporation survived until 1885, when it was replaced by a municipal borough.
The town also strikes a balance that many respondents across the West Midlands say matters most: green space on the doorstep, services you can count on, and a pace of life that feels steady without losing energy.
Rightmove’s full 2025 Happy at Home index, including all regional rankings, is available here.