Garrington Property Finders have released their ranking of the Best Places to Live for 2026 across England and Wales.
Their data analysts have identified nearly 1,450 cities, towns and villages across England and Wales that all score highly in at least one of five selection criteria – house price quality & value, natural environment, schools, employment & connectivity, heritage & culture and wellbeing.
A number of Derbyshire locations have been ranked highly, but some parts of the county also received poor ratings in the Garrington’s guide.
We have compiled a list of the places that have been named as the best to live in Derbyshire – and those that were among the worst – which can be found below. Each area was ranked out of the 35 Derbyshire and 1447 national locations included in the Garrington Property Finders ranking.
1. Dronfield
Dronfield was ranked the best place to live in Derbyshire and was 60th on the national list, receiving the following scores: Natural environment: 27 Wellbeing: 398 Heritage/culture: 787 Schools, employment and connectivity: 642 House price quality and value: 193 Average house price: £443,287. Photo: Brian Eyre
2. Chapel-en-le-Frith
Chapel-en-le-Frith was ranked the second best place to live in Derbyshire and was 104th on the national list, receiving the following scores: Natural environment: 401 Wellbeing: 122 Heritage/culture: 567 Schools, employment and connectivity: 1,014 House price quality and value: 223 Average house price: £447,908. Photo: jason chadwick
3. New Mills
New Mills was ranked the third best place to live in Derbyshire and was 114th on the national list, receiving the following scores: Natural environment: 139 Wellbeing: 464 Heritage/culture: 415 Schools, employment and connectivity: 577 House price quality and value: 807 Average house price: £412,839. Photo: Brian Eyre
4. Matlock
Matlock was named the fourth best place to live in Derbyshire and was 191st on the national list, receiving the following scores: Natural environment: 434 Wellbeing: 447 Heritage/culture: 364 Schools, employment and connectivity: 805 House price quality and value: 580 Average house price: £396,014. Photo: Brian Eyre