Home United Kingdom Top 10 Best places to live in Wales with the Best quality of life – 2023

Top 10 Best places to live in Wales with the Best quality of life – 2023

Last updated on: February 3, 2023

Wales is a great destination to live, work, and study. This nation boasts excellent colleges and institutions, several expanding businesses, stunning beaches, and hundreds of castles. This British country is also well-known for its rocky coastline, National Parks with mountains, and the Celtic Welsh language. Wales has a low cost of living compared to other UK countries. Wales is the place to be if you want to spend more time in the great outdoors, take in breathtaking scenery, feel the love of a close-knit community, and immerse yourself in a thriving local culture. If you want to move to this amazing place, read on as we rank the best places to live in Wales with the best quality of life!

Methodology

The cost of living in Wales is often lower than in other major UK cities, which is just one of the many reasons to consider making Wales your new home. Our methodology for choosing the top 10 best places to live in Wales is outlined below.

We based our ranking on 3 criteria: safety, affordability, and access to recreational amenities and parks.

According to Crime Rate UK, the overall crime rate in Wales in 2021 was 75 crimes per 1,000 people, while the most common crimes were acts of violence and sexual offences, which occurred approximately once per 35 out of every 1,000 people.

According to a study conducted by Gov.uk, the average cost of a property in Wales was around £213,091 in June 2022.

Finally, we used the data above to rank the 10 best places to live in Wales while also considering their quality of life. The criteria used to determine quality of life include health, pollution, green areas and leisure, climate, education, and employment.

MovingWaldo's list of the Best places to live in Wales

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1. Monmouthshire

Breathtaking landscapes

Monmouthshire is a county in Wales’s south-east. The name is derived from the same-named mediaeval county; the contemporary county encompasses the eastern three-fifths of the historic county. This breathtaking countryside and diverse landscapes of remarkable quality include the Brecon Beacons National Park, the Wye Valley Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, the Usk Valley, and the Gwent Levels. The Wye and Usk Rivers offer hiking, fishing, and canoeing activities. Residents appreciate this location because it includes eateries to meet all preferences as well as plenty of possibilities for a coffee in a café in a calm garden.

A property in Monmouthshire can be purchased for £248,362 or rented for £750 per month. In terms of security, there were only 5,702 incidents per 100,000 inhabitants, which is 25% lower than the Welsh average.

(*ONS, Crime Rate UK, Gov.uk & House for Sale to Rent)

Monmouthshire, Wales

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2. Vale of Glamorgan

Near Cardiff

Glamorgan, sometimes known as Glamorganshire, is one of Wales’ thirteen ancient counties and a former administrative county. It’s an excellent choice if you want the convenience of a metropolis without having to live in one. The Vale is one of the wealthiest districts in Wales, with a substantial proportion of its population made up of families with members who work in Cardiff.

A property in Glamorgan can be purchased for £288,367 or rented for £775 per month. In terms of security, there are only 5,739 incidents per 100,000 inhabitants, which is 24% lower than the Welsh average.

(*ONS, Crime Rate UK, Gov.uk & Right Move)

Vale of Glamorgan, Wales

3. Bridgend

Best for beach lovers

Bridgend is a town in South Wales’ Glamorgan area. It is home to some of the tallest sand dunes in northern Europe, magnificent surfing beaches, and world-class golf courses. Bridgend County Borough is a region full of fun, activities, festivals, and plenty of events to keep the whole family entertained. Bridgend County Borough offers seven beaches for residents to enjoy and explore. It is undoubtedly one of the reasons why it is named as one of the best places to live in Wales.

Properties in Bridgend can be purchased for around £230,082 and renting a two-bedroom flat typically costs £1,650 per month. For safety, you will be glad to know that there are only 6,056 incidents per 100,000 residents, 20.27% lower than the Wales average.

(*ONS, Crime Rate UK, Gov.uk & Right Move)

Bridgend, Wales

4. Powys

Best for hiking lovers

Powys, ranked fourth among the best places to live in Wales, is a preserved county in Wales named after the Kingdom of Powys, which was a Welsh successor state, a small kingdom that arose during the Middle Ages following the end of Roman occupation in Britain. Powys is the largest county in Wales and covers a mountainous environment of valleys and mountains, including the majority of Brecon Beacons National Park, the entire mediaeval counties of Montgomeryshire and Radnorshire, the majority of Brecknockshire, and the southern edge of Denbighshire. Powys is the ideal place for you and your family, whether you’re seeking adventure or an opportunity to unwind.

One of the reasons this is included as one of the best places to live in Wales is that it has a crime rate 17.44% lower than the average in Wales. You can also purchase a property for £225,199 or rent a two-bedroom flat for £650 per month in Powys.

(*ONS, Crime Rate UK, Gov.uk & Right Move)

Powys, Wales

5. Ceredigion

Best for tranquillity

Ceredigion’s low population density means there are never any traffic jams and there is always plenty of peace and quiet to enjoy, which is one of the reasons why it has been selected as one of the best places to live in Wales. It is also quite easy to get to and see many of the numerous towns and villages around it, as even the most isolated ones are less than half an hour’s drive away. There are 6,361 offences per 100,000 people, 16.25% lower than the average in Wales, providing residents with a calm and safe environment.

You can buy a home in Ceredigion for £256,777 or rent a two-bedroom flat for £730 per month.

(*ONS, Crime Rate UK, Gov.uk & Houses for Sale & to Rent)

Ceredigion, Wales

6. Gwynedd

Best for families

In terms of total area, Gwynedd is the second largest county in Wales. It’s also one of the least populous and you can enjoy this place calmly. Welsh is the primary language of the population. The picturesque Llyn Peninsula and the majority of Snowdonia National Park are well known in this area, which makes it one of the best places to live in Wales.

Plus, Gwynedd is a safe place to live in since there are only 6,807 offences per 100,000 people, which is 10.38% less than the average for Wales. As for housing, a two-bedroom flat can be rented for £670 per month and a property may be purchased for £240,927 in Gwynedd.

(*ONS, Crime Rate UK, Gov.uk & Houses for Sale & to Rent)

Gwynedd, Wales

7. Carmarthenshire

Garden of Wales

The National Botanic Garden of Wales is located in Carmarthenshire, which is ranked seventh among the best places to live in Wales. Carmarthenshire is also known as the “Garden of Wales.” Since the Stone Age, people have lived in Carmarthenshire. The Romans established the county town, and during the High Middle Ages, the area was a part of the Kingdom of Deheubarth. Residents can also go kayaking in Carmarthen Bay or visit the pendine sands. If you want to have a calm place to live, this is the best place for you and your family.

Carmarthenshire is one of the best places to live in Wales due to the fact that there are only 7,110 offences per 100,000 persons, which is 6.39% lower than Wales’ average. A two-bedroom flat can be rented for £550 per month, or you can buy a house for £200,765 in Carmarthenshire.

(*ONS, Crime Rate UK, Gov.uk, Right Move & Houses for Sale & to Rent)

Carmarthenshire, Wales

8. Swansea

Home of the Clyne Gardens

Swansea is a coastal city and the second largest city in Wales, situated on the south coast of Wales. It is best known as the birthplace of the poet Dylan Thomas. It is an urban riverside community offering a fantastic lifestyle alongside a stunning coastline with beautiful beaches. It is a thriving modern metropolis, boasting Swansea Market with over 100 stalls, it is also the perfect place to enjoy culture and art with its Glynn Vivian Art Gallery and the National Waterfront Museum which celebrates the industrial and maritime history of Wales. Swansea has numerous parks and gardens such as Clyne Gardens.

You can buy a home in Swansea for £194,526 or rent a two-bedroom flat for £800 per month. In terms of safety, it was reported that there were only 7,276 incidents per 100,000 people, which is 4.21% lower than the average in Wales.

(*ONS, Crime Rate UK, Gov.uk & Right Move)

Swansea, Wales

9. Flintshire

Many hills

Flintshire is a county in Wales’ north-east. It takes its name from the old county of the same name, which has significantly different limits. Flintshire is also recognized for its internet companies, the largest and most well-known of which is Moneysupermarket.com. Flintshire is one of the best places to live in Wales because of its heritage, hills, and old towns. If you want to live among the rocky peaks of North Wales, this could be the ideal home for your family.

A property can be purchased for £257,752 or you may rent a two-bedroom flat for £785 per month. It has been reported that there are only 7,394 incidents per 100,000 people, which is 2.65% lower than the Wales average.

(*ONS, Crime Rate UK, Gov.uk, Right Move & Houses for Sale & to Rent)

Flintshire, Wales

10. Pembrokeshire

World’s second-best coastline

Pembrokeshire has been recognized by National Geographic magazine experts as having the world’s second-best coastline. With 186 miles of spectacular and varied coastline and over 50 beaches, there is plenty of leisure for residents of the county of Pembrokeshire. The Pembrokeshire coast offers outdoor adventure for everyone, from watersports to relaxing walks and wildlife watching.

If you are thinking about retiring or looking for a more relaxing place to live, you could buy a house in Pembrokeshire for £246,821 or rent a two-bedroom flat for £519 a month. Moreover, only 7,427 incidents per 100,000 people were reported, which is 2.22% fewer than Wales’ average.

(*ONS, Crime Rate UK, Gov.uk & Varbes)

Pembrokeshire, Wales

Conclusion

There are a lot of people who are interested in the best places to live in Wales and want to find out more information about them. After reading our ranking of the top 10 best places to live in Wales, you should be able to decide about where you want to call home and spend the rest of your life. If you are moving soon, you should probably familiarise yourself with the best removal companies so that you can find one that can assist you.

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Top 10 Best places to live in Wales with the Best quality of life – 2023

Methodology

MovingWaldo's list of the Best places to live in Wales

1. Monmouthshire

2. Vale of Glamorgan

3. Bridgend

4. Powys

5. Ceredigion

6. Gwynedd

7. Carmarthenshire

8. Swansea

9. Flintshire

10. Pembrokeshire

Conclusion

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