The 14 happiest places to live in Scotland have been name by Rightmove as part of its 11th annual Happy at Home Index.
Galashiels in the Scottish Borders topped the Scottish list and came second in this year’s British list, which is the first time an area from Scotland has been ranked in the top three since 2016.
Residents of Galashiels scored it particularly highly on the friendliness and politeness of the people, and it came top in this area across Great Britain.
Other Scottish entries that made the top 10 list in Britain include Perth, which ranked fifth and Stirling which came in at ninth.
Scotland's top five also included Dundee in the fourth spot and Inverness in fifth.
Alice Brown, Valuer at Rettie & Co. Borders said: "It is no surprise that Galashiels is so loved by its residents. It is the largest of the Border towns, with a population of circa 15,000.
"Its central placement in the Borders makes it a popular location for families, giving a relaxed way of life while being in a commutable distance of Edinburgh via either the Borders Railway, bus or car.
"Steeped in history, Galashiels has a wide variety of housing from classic period properties to new builds, offering something for every type of buyer. The countryside surrounding Galashiels also has much to offer, especially for those with an interest in rural pursuits such as walking, trail running, biking, wild swimming, etc.
"In terms of entertainment, a variety of amenities are on the doorstep, including a cinema, gyms, a swimming pool, supermarkets, independent shops, cafes, a retail park, restaurants and well-regarded schools. The recently established Heartland Market brings together the town and local businesses."
Tim Bannister, Rightmove’s Director of Property Science comments: "This year’s Happy at Home survey really shows that the things that make people happy to live in their area are not so much the physical aspects of that area but more the personal aspects, such as our sense of belonging, the community and the people.
"The last few months have undoubtedly been difficult for many, and as we learned during another difficult period in 2020, this is often when we look to our local area and community for support and happiness."
The happiest places to live in Scotland
| Place | Regional Rank | National Rank |
| Galashiels | 1 | 2 |
| Perth | 2 | 5 |
| Stirling | 3 | 9 |
| Dundee | 4 | 37 |
| Inverness | 5 | 42 |
| Falkirk | 6 | 77 |
| Paisley | 7 | 83 |
| Glasgow | 8 | 105 |
| Edinburgh | 9 | 131 |
| Kirkcaldy | 10 | 135 |
| Ayr | 11 | 139 |
| Motherwell | 12 | 151 |
| Kilmarnock | 13 | 156 |
| Aberdeen | 14 | 172 |
This year’s study was carried out as the cost-of-living squeeze rises, which was reflected in the survey results.
One in five (22 percent) renters said they planned to move in the next 12 months to get better value for money in their area, along with 16% of buyers. One in ten renters (11 percent) said they were moving to reduce energy costs, rising to 12 percent for buyers.
When considering what was most important about the property they might move to, a garden is most important to buyers (29 percent), however renters are more concerned about the energy costs of the property (20 percent).
Outside of Scotland, the list was topped by St Ives in Cornwall, with Woodbridge in the East of England and Hexham in the North East also making the top five.
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