Happiest retirees are those that live in the country

Retirees in rural areas are happier than those in cities, with urban dwellers believing they would be more content if they lived in the country, according to a study by Saga.

The Saga Populus panel, the largest research panel of over 50s in the UK, discovered that the South West is rated as the best place to retire to, with one in four Brits (25%) believing Devon, Dorset and Cornwall (10%, 9% and 6% respectively) offer the best lifestyle for retirement, regardless of whether they live there or not. Location was a key factor - access to the sea and countryside were important factors in this choice.

Recommendations from current residents

Not only did Dorset rank as one of the top three places people would like to retire to generally, but over 50s currently living there were the most enthusiastic in terms of their praise for their home county. Almost all (92%) said they would urge others to consider it as a to place retire to, with 85% saying they were either very happy or quite happy with the community in which they lived. Other proud residents from Aberdeenshire (86%), Fife (86%) and Gloucestershire (85%) were also vocal in believing their county offered the perfect surroundings for retirement.

At the other end of the spectrum, the nearer people lived to cities and big towns, the more discontented they were. Residents in Greater Manchester and Greater London were the least likely to recommend their location as a great place to retire - only a fifth of Mancunians and a quarter of Londoners were happy with the surrounding community, with the cost of living (London - 74%) and high crime rate (Manchester - 66%) being cited as key problems.

Emma Soames, Editor at large, Saga Magazine, commented: Our research shows that many over 50s are very aware they could be living on a restricted budget in their retirement years, and this is an important factor when choosing where to live in later life - in the current climate when money worries are on the agenda, a high cost of living could stop people retiring to a certain location, despite everything else the area has to offer."

Key considerations in choosing a retirement location

When it comes to looking for a retirement location, having peace and quiet (75%) and being near the countryside (85%) topped the poll of must-haves amongst the over 50s, with far more people choosing these over an active social life, culture, good public amenities or access to healthcare.

Other important features included a friendly neighbourhood (62%), good shopping facilities (58%) and transport links (57%). In addition, almost a fifth (17%) of active over 50s say that availability of good sporting facilities is vital, while just 6% feel that being near a pub is a necessity for a happy retirement.

Emma Soames, concluded: "Retirement needs vary from individual to individual, but today's over 50s prioritise the great outdoors and being part of a happy community above all else when they select their retirement destination. If they are considering a move, it is important for today's retirees to view location as objectively as possible to make sure wherever they move to is as perfect and affordable as possible."