And the happiest place in Shropshire is . . .
How happy are you? Well the answer to that question very much depends on where you live according to a new survey.
The picture painted in statistics from the Office for National Statistics shows that people in Telford and Wrekin have reported being happier than they were a year ago.
But in the rest of Shropshire and Mid Wales it is not so rosy, with people questioned about their personal well-being scoring lower than in the same survey last year.
The annual survey, which covers the 12 months to the end of March, asked people aged 16 and over to rate areas of their personal well-being from zero to 10.
The average happiness score for respondents in Telford and Wrekin was 7.62, above the national average of 7.52.
Overall, 76 per cent of people in Telford and Wrekin ranked their happiness between seven and ten, meaning either high or very high, compared to 75.4 per cent in the UK.
Although less happy than they were a year ago, people in Shropshire are still happier than average.
The average happiness score for respondents in Shropshire was 7.53 while overall 76 per cent of people in Shropshire ranked their happiness between seven and ten.
Shropshire Star comment:
According to the survey people in Powys are among the most unhappy in Wales with an average happiness score of 7.43, one of the lowest scores in the principality.
Overall, 75 per cent of people in Powys ranked their happiness between seven and ten.
Wales as a country reported lower than average satisfaction with life than the other nations of the UK.
The happiest place in the UK this year was Rushmoor, in Hampshire, while the worst scores came out of London.
Relationship
The levels of happiness this year were the highest since the survey began for Telford and Wrekin although feelings that things in life are worthwhile scored lower than last year.
The population also appears to be more stressed and anxious than they were this time last year.
According to the ONS research, people's views about their health, employment, and relationship status are the factors most likely to impact how they rate their personal well-being.
Bad health was the most significant factor associated with reports of poor well-being, followed by being economically inactive with a long-term illness or disability.
Silvia Manclossi, head of the quality of life team at the ONS said: "An important part of our work is looking beyond the economic health of the country to how its people are faring and inequalities in society."
“Today, for the first time, we have identified how factors such as health, access to services and crime levels may affect how people rate their well-being in different parts of the UK.
“This can help local authorities and other organisations to better understand where services could be targeted to help improve the well-being of people in their area.”
The report said that employment worries went beyond just having a job. They were also concerned the quality of job security, wages and work-life balance.
Coming out top in the well-being survey this year was Northern Ireland, which reported the lowest levels of anxiety and the highest levels of happiness, satisfaction and feelings of worthiness of any UK region for two years running.
