A older lady sat at home in a leather riser recliner chair with a blanket on her legs and holding a tv remote

Solo Living Index: Where Is The Best Place to Live Independently?

Author

Opera Beds

14 Min

There are many reasons someone may live alone, from needing to be more independent to changes in life circumstances. However, solo living can come with its own challenges that differ from person to person depending on their situation, with some requiring support from specialist equipment like riser recliner chairs and others seeking financial aid.

Everyone wants to find the perfect home, whether you live with others or alone. To make this process easier for solo residents, our team has collected various data, including healthcare access, utility costs, safety levels, and more, to reveal the best areas for solo living.

Carlisle is the most suitable area in England for living alone

To kick off this index, we have taken several solo-related factors and normalised each one out of 10 to reveal which cities in England offer the best living conditions for people residing independently. Here’s what we found:


  1. Carlisle - Overall score of 7.79 /10

Carlisle is revealed as the best place in England to live on your own. Carlisle offers low rental prices, averaging £685 for a one-bedroom property. Additionally, the closest NHS trust to the area has abundant occupational therapy staff to help residents struggling to carry out everyday tasks by themselves.

Based on these factors, it is unsurprising that Carlisle is a popular place for solo living, occupying one of England's highest proportions of one-person households (35.1%).

  1. Worcester - Overall score of 6.95 /10

Worcester’s residents appear to be living long and happy lives, with an average life expectancy of over 80 years and the highest average well-being score among all the cities on this list, totalling 6.5 /10.

Additionally, Worcester is a good fit for solo living due to its abundance of community groups to get involved in — 86.5 gardening groups per 100,000 residents. All these factors have contributed to Worcester’s overall solo living score of 6.95 /10.

  1. York - Overall score of 6.76 /10

York completes this ranking in third place. While rental prices in the city are higher than in others, averaging around £1,300 a month for a one-bedroom property, the average cost of utilities (£191.66 per month) and crime rate (96.9 crimes per 1,000 reports) are lower here than in all the other cities in the top three. These are just some factors that make this city attractive to people living independently.


Rank

City

Area

% of one-person households

Average health life expectancy

Hospital beds per 100,000 residents

Occupational therapy staff per 100,000 residents

Average wellbeing score /10

Crime rate per 1,000

Community gardening groups per 100,000 residents

Median rent of one-bedroom property

Average monthly cost of utilities

Average annual council tax with 25% single-person discount

Overall score /10

1

Carlisle

North West, England

35.1%

N/A

596

306.0

6.4

125.9

66.4

£685

£266.08

£1,646.48

7.79

2

Worcester

West Midlands

31.7%

80.7

1,024

37.1

6.5

106.4

86.5

£754

£272.66

£1,927.34

6.95

3

York

Yorkshire and the Humber

31.2%

81.7

611

58.0

6.2

96.9

26.6

£1,300

£191.66

£1,736.59

6.76

4

Chichester

South East England

31.1%

82.3

1,523

208.6

6.2

94.5

51.6

£1,550

£382.73

£1,479.75

6.47

4

Derby

East Midlands

31.3%

79.6

683

68.3

6.2

119.3

92.3

£800

£279.83

£1,406.25

6.47

6

Southend-on-Sea

East of England

33.3%

80.4

1,003

36.2

6.1

111.7

64.2

£1,334

£166.52

£1,850.81

6.46

7

Exeter

South West England

32.4%

81.4

852

122.6

6.2

69.5

81.0

£1,425

£401.00

£2,057.39

6.18

8

Lancaster

North West, England

32.6%

79.5

459

2.1

6.4

90.7

175.2

£680

£260.82

£2,046.36

6.11

9

Winchester

South East, England

27.7%

84.1

648

69.5

6.2

71.1

55.1

£1,725

£266.82

£1,948.85

6.09

10

Chelmsford

East of England

28.1%

82.5

987

35.6

6.1

112.6

107.9

£1,438

£141.65

£1,889.06

5.96


Almost two-fifths of all houses in Norwich are occupied by a single person - more than any other UK city

It has been revealed which areas are best for living alone, but which cities have the biggest proportion of one-person households?



  1. Norwich - one-person households make up 38.9% of all households

Norwich has the highest percentage of one-bedroom households in England. The most recent census data revealed that more than 25,000 residents in Norwich live in a one-person household. Compared to the city’s population, this is the equivalent of almost 39% of all households, a higher proportion than in any other English city.

  1. Liverpool - one-person households make up 36.8% of all households

Almost two in five households across Liverpool are occupied by just one person, which is the second-biggest proportion of all UK cities on this ranking. When looking at this on an individual level, this data shows that more than 76,000 Liverpudlians are currently living without any friends or family. 

  1. Carlisle - one-person households make up 35.1% of all households

As the second entry on this list in North West England, it appears that a significant proportion of residents in this region reside in single-person households. Given that Carlisle was revealed as the best place to live independently, it may come as no surprise that over a third of the households here are home to just one person.

Rank

City

Area

% of one-person households

1

Norwich

East of England

38.9%

2

Liverpool

North West England

36.8%

3

Carlisle

North West, England

35.1%

4

Brighton and Hove

South East England

34.7%

5

Kingston upon Hull

Yorkshire and the Humber

34.2%

5

Newcastle upon Tyne

North East England

34.2%

7

Salford

North West England

34.0%

8

Nottingham

East Midlands

33.6%

9

Southend-on-Sea

East of England

33.3%

9

Lincoln

East Midlands

33.3%

9

Manchester

North West England

33.3%


Best solo-living cities for:

Occupational therapy staff

  1. Carlisle - 306 per 100,000 residents

According to recent data, the Cumbria, Northumberland, Tyne and Wear NHS Foundation Trust has hundreds of occupational therapy staff. As the closest NHS trust to Carlisle, the people of this city have a plethora of resources available to them in this regard. Considering the population, this totals around 306 staff per 100,000 residents.

One-bedroom property rental prices

  1. Doncaster - Average rental price of £650 per month

As the cost of living continues to rise, rental prices are more important than ever to consider when moving house, and one-person households are no exception. When looking at the affordability of one-bedroom properties in England, no city is cheaper than Doncaster. Located in South Yorkshire, this area will set someone living on their own around £650 per month for a one-bedroom property.

Wellbeing

  1. Worcester - 6.5 /10

Worcester outperforms all other cities in England in terms of average levels of happiness, anxiety, and the feeling that life is worthwhile. Breaking down the wellbeing figures by category, residents rated themselves as 7.5 /10 on the happiness scale and an 8 /10 on average when asked how worthwhile their lives are. These ratings, paired with low levels of reported anxiety, indicate that Worcester is a good place to live in terms of mental health.

Life expectancy

  1. Winchester - 84.1 years

Winchester’s residents have the longest life expectancy of any city in England, with an average of just over 84 years. While moving to this city may not guarantee a longer life, it is clear that the residents benefit from a positive environment that promotes longevity. 

Crime rate

  1. Exeter - 69.5 crimes per 1,000 reports

When living alone, it is common for people to feel unsafe and insecure in their daily lives. With this in mind, Exeter is the safest city in England based on crime rates. A crime rate of 69.5 reports per 1,000 people isn’t perfect, but it does signify that you’ll be less likely to be the victim of crime than in other areas of England.

Community gardening groups

  1. Preston - 455.2 groups per 100,000 residents

The sense of belonging that comes from being part of your local community is incredibly fulfilling for people living independently. From Britain in Bloom to It’s Your Neighbourhood, Preston is home to many gardening-related community groups, with more than 455 of these per 100,000 residents.

Cost of utilities

  1. Chelmsford - Average monthly cost of £141.65

Rental prices and council tax may be expensive in Chelmsford, but when it comes to the cost of utilities, the residents of this city pay less than any other in England. When considering essential utilities such as electricity and water, as well as mobile phone and internet bills, the utilities in Chelmsford will set residents back an average of £141.56 per month.

Annual council tax cost

  1. Derby - £1,406.25 (with 25% single-person discount)

Councils offer 25% discounts to UK adults living independently to help them pay their council tax. When taking an average of each tax band and applying the 25% single-person discount, Derby has the most affordable average annual council tax of any English city, totalling £1,400.


Hospital bed availability

  1. Lincoln - 1,893 beds per 100,000 residents

NHS hospital bed shortages in recent times have made it more critical than ever to have peace of mind that we will be cared for in our time of need, and Lincoln surpasses any other in this regard with one bed for every 53 residents. Lincolnshire’s daily number of available and occupied beds equates to 1,893 per 100,000 residents, giving those who may not have anyone else a better chance of receiving care in a shorter wait time. To put these figures into perspective, the worst area for bed availability is Stoke-on-Trent, whose residents have just one bed per 1,639 residents.


Manchester has the biggest proportion of GP services in England, totalling 22.6 per 100,000 residents

General practitioners are indispensable, offering various services, from advice on health problems to medication and referrals. Getting an appointment with your local GP has become more challenging in recent years, which can be a scary prospect, especially for those living alone, with nobody at home to support them. The following rank reveals which areas in England have the most GP services.



  1. Manchester - 22.6 GP services per 100,000 residents

Home to more than 10 NHS hospitals across the city, Manchester provides its residents with a wide range of healthcare services, and GP services are no exception. With 22.6 doctor/ GP locations per 100,000 residents, Manchester has the most significant proportion of GP services to people compared to any other area in England.

  1. Liverpool - 21.4 GP services per 100,000 residents

According to the most recent data, there are 108 GP locations throughout Liverpool. When considering the population, this equates to 21.4 services per 100,000 residents, indicating that the residents here have more opportunities to access GP services than most others.

  1. Leicester - 21.1 GP services per 100,000 residents

Leicester falls shy of the second spot, with 21.1 GP services per 100,000 residents. Leicester’s local council’s healthcare strategy for the upcoming years focuses on healthy ageing, aiming to help older people manage their mental well-being and physical health — a goal that wouldn’t be possible without GP services.

Westminster has the most GP services in London per 100,000 residents

The standard of living in England’s capital city varies depending on your area, but which London boroughs are home to the most GP services? Here’s what we found.

  1. City of Westminster - 167.8 GP services per 100,000 residents

The city of Westminster stands out among all other London boroughs in terms of the number of GP services available to its population. Located in Greater London and home to the Houses of Parliament and Buckingham Palace, this borough offers over 167 GP/doctor locations per 100,000 residents.

  1. Kensington and Chelsea - 69.2 GP services per 100,000 residents

Kensington and Chelsea rank second, with 69.2 doctor locations per 100,000 residents. This royal borough may not be the biggest in population. Still, when comparing the number of GP services to its residents, this area has one of the most significant ratios in London.

  1. Camden - 35.3 GP services per 100,000 residents

Camden is known for its vibrant atmosphere and unique stalls. Although this London borough may not be as upmarket as some other entries on this list, it offers plenty of GP services for its residents, totalling 35.3 locations per 100,000 residents.

How to combat loneliness when living alone

While some people choose to live alone for freedom and financial independence, others associate solo living with extreme stress and loneliness. If you are struggling with feelings of isolation, here is some advice and tips.

Join a club or group

From bingo to birdwatching and everything in between, joining a club is a great way to put yourself out there whilst having fun. It may be scary, but being part of a group gives you a sense of belonging and allows you to explore new and exciting avenues while reducing your alone time. If you cannot attend in-person meetings, there are many great virtual groups to try.

Connect with those around you

While we understand that some people have nightmare neighbours, feeling comfortable with your nearby residents can help alleviate some of the stress of living alone. Even if it’s just a wave across the street or some small talk, forming relationships with those around you can go a long way toward staying up to date with the local community.

Make the most of technology

If you live alone and can’t get out of the house as often as you’d like, mobile phones and internet-based devices can be particularly beneficial for your social life. In addition to organising meet-ups with your local network, you can use technology to reach out to friends further afield and even rekindle old relationships.

If you are looking to meet new people but cannot put yourself out there in a face-to-face setting, there is also a range of dating and friendship-building apps available.

Learn a new skill

We have already touched on the social advantages of joining a club or group but learning a new skill can take many forms. From taking an online course to experimenting with arts and crafts, learning a new skill can help decrease boredom and improve overall mental health, among other benefits, regardless of whether you take it up as part of a group or on your own.

Focus on self-care

Feelings of loneliness are unpleasant and can be hard to deal with. However, it is important to be kind to yourself, especially during times of struggle. Some of the most widely used self-care techniques include journaling, guided meditation, and treating yourself to something nice.

Reach out

Looking after your physical health can be challenging, but mental health issues can often be overlooked as it is harder to spot the signs and symptoms. Admitting you are struggling is the first step to recovery, and if you are unable to talk to your loved ones, there are lots of helplines and GP services that can help.

Methodology

We used ONS data to make a seeding list of UK cities and their 2023 populations. We used Carlisle's 2021 population, as this was the most recent available.

We used NHS data to find the number of occupational therapy staff for NHS trusts in each city as of June 2024. Where this data was unavailable, we used their most local trust. We divided the number of occupational therapy staff by each city’s population before multiplying this by 100,000 to calculate the number of staff per 100,000 residents.

We used Home to find the median rental price for a one-bedroom property in each city. The data is accurate as of 09/12/2024.

We used the most recent Census data to find the percentage of one-person households in each city.

We used ONS data to find the average levels of the following indicators for each city as of 2022-23: happiness, anxiety, and ‘feeling life is worthwhile’ levels. We took an average of each of these scores to calculate a wellbeing score for each city. ONS was also used to find the average life expectancy for males and females in each city as of 2021-2023. All this data was unavailable for London, and life expectancy figures were also unavailable for Carlisle.

We used Numbeo to find the monthly cost of utilities (basic, mobile, and internet). Data is accurate as of 13/12/2024.

We used CrimeRate to find the 2024 crime rate of each city per 1,000 reports.

We used the Royal Horticultural Society to find the number of Britain in Bloom and It’s Your Neighbourhood groups in each city. After adding these figures, we divided the number of groups by each city’s population before multiplying this by 100,000 to calculate the number of community gardening groups per 100,000 residents.

We used NHS data to find the number of daily available and occupied beds open overnight for NHS trusts in each city as of June 2024. Where this data was unavailable, we used their most local trust. We divided the number of beds by each city’s population before multiplying this by 100,000 to calculate the number of hospital beds per 100,000 residents.

We used LG Inform to find the number of doctor/ GP locations in each local authority as of Oct-Dec 2024. We divided the locations by each city’s population before multiplying this by 100,000 to calculate the number of consultation services per 100,000 residents.

We used each city’s government website to find the annual council tax per band in 2024-25. After adding each band, we calculated each city's yearly average council tax cost. We multiplied these figures by 75 to find the price of council tax with a single-person discount.

Finally, we used the solo-related factors (Occupational therapy staff per 100,000, one-bedroom property rent, percentage of 1-bedroom households, average wellbeing score, life expectancy, crime rate, community gardening groups per 100,000, hospital beds per 100,000, monthly utility costs and average single-person council tax cost). We normalised each factor out of 10 before taking an average of those scores to get our overall ‘solo living score’.

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