Best places for families in North Yorkshire

Moving within North Yorkshire involves a choice between different kinds of strength. everyday amenities and healthcare access feature repeatedly across the leading places. Settle's case is centred on everyday amenities and healthcare access and Harrogate's case is centred on access to green space and everyday amenities, giving the top of the list two distinct starting points for a search.

For buyers, price is the clearest dividing line: typical recorded sold-price figures run from £189,500 in Selby to £340,938 in Harrogate, with the middle of this shortlist at £270,860. That midpoint describes these selected places, not North Yorkshire as a whole. The individual entries show what each part of that range buys in measured strengths and compromises.

Settle — North Yorkshire — Excellent overall choice · Excellent nationally
Place overview
Settle is a small town in North Yorkshire, in the North West of England. The nearest railway station is Settle Rail Station, about 0.1 km away.
Why it ranked
- ✓ Strong transport links
- ✓ Strong amenities
- ✓ Strong healthcare
Trade-off
- • Less green space nearby
Settle is a small town in North Yorkshire, in the North West of England. The nearest railway station is Settle Rail Station, about 0.1 km away.
For buyers, the clearest advantages are well-provided everyday amenities, good access to healthcare and reliable public transport links.
Its typical recorded sold-price figure is £290,750, above the median figure across this shortlist.
One caveat: Schools has not been measured for Settle, so it plays no part in this result and we make no claim about it.
Harrogate — North Yorkshire — Very strong contender · Excellent nationally
Place overview
Harrogate is a large town in North Yorkshire, in Yorkshire and the Humber. The nearest railway station is Harrogate Rail Station, about 0.3 km away.
Why it ranked
- ✓ Strong green space
- ✓ Strong amenities
- ✓ Strong healthcare
Trade-off
- • Higher house prices
Harrogate is a large town in North Yorkshire, in Yorkshire and the Humber. The nearest railway station is Harrogate Rail Station, about 0.3 km away.
The strongest reasons to consider it are good access to green space, well-provided everyday amenities and good access to healthcare.
Its typical recorded sold-price figure is £340,938, above the median figure across this shortlist.
Skipton — North Yorkshire — Worth considering · Very strong nationally
Place overview
Skipton is a small town in North Yorkshire, in the North West of England. It is served by the Embsay (Embsay & Bolton Abbey Railway) metro network.
Why it ranked
- ✓ Strong transport links
- ✓ Strong amenities
- ✓ Strong healthcare
Trade-off
- • Less green space nearby
Skipton is a small town in North Yorkshire, in the North West of England. It is served by the Embsay (Embsay & Bolton Abbey Railway) metro network.
Skipton's case rests on well-provided everyday amenities, good access to healthcare and reliable public transport links.
Its typical recorded sold-price figure is £273,311, close to the median figure across this shortlist.
Richmond — North Yorkshire — Worth considering · Very strong nationally
Place overview
Richmond is a small town in North Yorkshire, in the North East of England. The nearest railway station is Darlington Rail Station, about 17.8 km away.
Why it ranked
- ✓ Strong value for money
- ✓ Strong amenities
- ✓ Strong healthcare
Trade-off
- • Limited public transport
Richmond is a small town in North Yorkshire, in the North East of England. The nearest railway station is Darlington Rail Station, about 17.8 km away.
What gives Richmond an edge is well-provided everyday amenities and good access to healthcare.
Its typical recorded sold-price figure is £240,238, below the median figure across this shortlist.
Knaresborough — North Yorkshire — Worth considering · Excellent nationally
Place overview
Knaresborough is a small town in North Yorkshire, in Yorkshire and the Humber. The nearest railway station is Knaresborough Rail Station, about 0.3 km away.
Why it ranked
- ✓ Strong green space
- ✓ Strong amenities
- ✓ Strong healthcare
Trade-off
- • Limited public transport
Knaresborough is a small town in North Yorkshire, in Yorkshire and the Humber. The nearest railway station is Knaresborough Rail Station, about 0.3 km away.
What gives Knaresborough an edge is good access to green space, well-provided everyday amenities and good access to healthcare.
Its typical recorded sold-price figure is £272,595, close to the median figure across this shortlist.
York — North Yorkshire — Worth considering · Very strong nationally
Place overview
York is a large town in North Yorkshire, in Yorkshire and the Humber. The nearest railway station is Main Entrance, about 0.2 km away.
Why it ranked
- ✓ Strong green space
- ✓ Strong transport links
- ✓ Strong amenities
Trade-off
- • Higher house prices
York is a large town in North Yorkshire, in Yorkshire and the Humber. The nearest railway station is Main Entrance, about 0.2 km away.
For buyers, the clearest advantages are good access to green space, well-provided everyday amenities and good access to healthcare.
Its typical recorded sold-price figure is £329,313, above the median figure across this shortlist.
Whitby — North Yorkshire — Worth considering · Excellent nationally
Place overview
Whitby is a small town in North Yorkshire, in the North East of England. It sits on the coast. The nearest railway station is Whitby Rail Station, about 0.7 km away.
Why it ranked
- ✓ Strong transport links
- ✓ Strong amenities
- ✓ Strong healthcare
Trade-off
- • Less green space nearby
Whitby is a small town in North Yorkshire, in the North East of England. It sits on the coast.
For buyers, the clearest advantages are well-provided everyday amenities, good access to healthcare and reliable public transport links.
Its typical recorded sold-price figure is £246,688, below the median figure across this shortlist.
Ripon — North Yorkshire — Worth considering · Very strong nationally
Place overview
Ripon is a small town in North Yorkshire, in Yorkshire and the Humber. The nearest railway station is Thirsk Rail Station, about 14.0 km away.
Why it ranked
- ✓ Strong green space
- ✓ Strong amenities
- ✓ Strong healthcare
Trade-off
- • Limited public transport
Ripon is a small town in North Yorkshire, in Yorkshire and the Humber. The nearest railway station is Thirsk Rail Station, about 14.0 km away.
What gives Ripon an edge is good access to green space, well-provided everyday amenities and good access to healthcare.
Its typical recorded sold-price figure is £269,125, close to the median figure across this shortlist.
Malton — North Yorkshire — Worth considering · Excellent nationally
Place overview
Malton is a small town in North Yorkshire, in Yorkshire and the Humber. The nearest railway station is Malton Rail Station, about 0.7 km away.
Why it ranked
- ✓ Strong schools
- ✓ Strong value for money
- ✓ Strong amenities
Trade-off
- • Limited public transport
Malton is a small town in North Yorkshire, in Yorkshire and the Humber. The nearest railway station is Malton Rail Station, about 0.7 km away.
For buyers, the clearest advantages are strong school performance, well-provided everyday amenities and good access to healthcare.
Its typical recorded sold-price figure is £234,500, below the median figure across this shortlist.
Easingwold — North Yorkshire — Worth considering · Very strong nationally
Place overview
Easingwold is a small town in North Yorkshire, in Yorkshire and the Humber. The nearest railway station is Hammerton Rail Station, about 15.1 km away.
Why it ranked
- ✓ Strong green space
- ✓ Strong amenities
- ✓ Strong healthcare
Trade-off
- • Limited public transport
Easingwold is a small town in North Yorkshire, in Yorkshire and the Humber. The nearest railway station is Hammerton Rail Station, about 15.1 km away.
For buyers, the clearest advantages are good access to green space, well-provided everyday amenities and good access to healthcare.
Its typical recorded sold-price figure is £266,490, close to the median figure across this shortlist.
Masham — North Yorkshire — Worth considering · Strong nationally
Place overview
Masham is a village in North Yorkshire, in Yorkshire and the Humber. The nearest railway station is Thirsk Rail Station, about 18.6 km away.
Why it ranked
- ✓ Strong green space
- ✓ Strong amenities
Trade-off
- • Limited public transport
Masham is a village in North Yorkshire, in Yorkshire and the Humber. The nearest railway station is Thirsk Rail Station, about 18.6 km away.
For buyers, the clearest advantages are good access to green space and well-provided everyday amenities.
Its typical recorded sold-price figure is £290,873, above the median figure across this shortlist.
One caveat: Schools has not been measured for Masham, so it plays no part in this result and we make no claim about it.
Selby — North Yorkshire — Worth considering · Very strong nationally
Place overview
Selby is a small town in North Yorkshire, in Yorkshire and the Humber. The nearest railway station is Selby Rail Station, about 0.4 km away.
Why it ranked
- ✓ Strong value for money
- ✓ Strong amenities
- ✓ Strong healthcare
Trade-off
- • Limited public transport
Selby is a small town in North Yorkshire, in Yorkshire and the Humber. The nearest railway station is Selby Rail Station, about 0.4 km away.
For buyers, the clearest advantages are housing that offers relative value, well-provided everyday amenities and good access to healthcare.
Its typical recorded sold-price figure is £189,500, below the median figure across this shortlist.

What this means for your search

The useful dividing line in North Yorkshire is not one headline quality. everyday amenities and healthcare access appear in different combinations, while Selby and Harrogate mark opposite ends of the shortlist's recorded-price range. Buyers can use that contrast to decide which measured strengths justify the extra cost for them.