Best places to live 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. Skipton's typical recorded sold-price figure of £273,311 is materially below Harrogate's £340,938, despite both appearing at the front of the shortlist.

For buyers, price is the clearest dividing line: typical recorded sold-price figures run from £234,500 in Malton to £340,938 in Harrogate, with the middle of this shortlist at £272,953. 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.

Harrogate — North Yorkshire — Excellent overall choice · 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 0.4 km away.
Why it ranked
- ✓ Strong green space
- ✓ Strong transport links
- ✓ Strong amenities
Trade-off
- • Higher house prices
Harrogate is differentiated within this shortlist by good access to green space, good access to healthcare and reliable public transport links.
The nearest railway station is Harrogate Rail Station, about 0.4 km away.
Its typical recorded sold-price figure of £340,938 carries a material premium over this shortlist's median.
Skipton — North Yorkshire — Very strong contender · 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 differentiated within this shortlist by good access to healthcare and reliable public transport links.
It is served by the Embsay (Embsay & Bolton Abbey Railway) metro network.
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 differentiated within this shortlist by good access to healthcare.
The nearest railway station is Darlington Rail Station, about 17.8 km away.
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 14.1 km away.
Why it ranked
- ✓ Strong green space
- ✓ Strong amenities
- ✓ Strong healthcare
Trade-off
- • Limited public transport
Ripon is differentiated within this shortlist by good access to green space and good access to healthcare.
The nearest railway station is Thirsk Rail Station, about 14.1 km away.
Whitby — North Yorkshire — Worth considering · Very strong 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 differentiated within this shortlist by good access to healthcare and reliable public transport links.
It sits on the coast. The nearest railway station is Whitby Rail Station, about 0.7 km away.
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 18.7 km away.
Why it ranked
- ✓ Strong green space
- ✓ Strong amenities
Trade-off
- • Limited public transport
Masham is differentiated within this shortlist by good access to green space.
The nearest railway station is Thirsk Rail Station, about 18.7 km away.
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 York Rail Station, about 0.3 km away.
Why it ranked
- ✓ Strong green space
- ✓ Strong transport links
- ✓ Strong amenities
Trade-off
- • Higher house prices
York is differentiated within this shortlist by good access to green space, good access to healthcare and reliable public transport links.
The nearest railway station is York Rail Station, about 0.3 km away.
Its typical recorded sold-price figure of £329,313 carries a material premium over this shortlist's median.
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 transport links
- ✓ Strong amenities
Trade-off
- • Variable school performance
Knaresborough is differentiated within this shortlist by good access to green space, good access to healthcare and reliable public transport links.
The nearest railway station is Knaresborough Rail Station, about 0.3 km away.
Settle — North Yorkshire — Worth considering · 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 differentiated within this shortlist by good access to healthcare and reliable public transport links.
The nearest railway station is Settle Rail Station, about 0.1 km away.
Malton — North Yorkshire — Worth considering · Very strong 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 value for money
- ✓ Strong transport links
- ✓ Strong amenities
Trade-off
- • Less green space nearby
Malton is differentiated within this shortlist by good access to healthcare and reliable public transport links.
The nearest railway station is Malton Rail Station, about 0.7 km away.
Helmsley — North Yorkshire — Worth considering · Strong nationally
Place overview
Helmsley is a village in North Yorkshire, in Yorkshire and the Humber. The nearest railway station is Thirsk Rail Station, about 20.5 km away.
Why it ranked
- ✓ Strong amenities
Trade-off
- • Higher house prices
Held evidence for Helmsley supports well-provided everyday amenities.
The nearest railway station is Thirsk Rail Station, about 20.5 km away.
Its typical recorded sold-price figure of £329,000 carries a material premium over this shortlist's median.
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 15.2 km away.
Why it ranked
- ✓ Strong green space
- ✓ Strong amenities
- ✓ Strong healthcare
Trade-off
- • Limited public transport
Easingwold is differentiated within this shortlist by good access to green space and good access to healthcare.
The nearest railway station is Hammerton Rail Station, about 15.2 km away.

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 Malton 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.