The area stands out for pay and childcare
Town 8 miles from Birmingham named second-best place in England to raise a family(Image: National Trust / David Levenson)
A new study has named Solihull the second-best place in England to raise a family.
The study from MoneySuperMarket scores areas on the factors that shape everyday family life, including housing, pay, childcare, education, green space, road safety, and community.
Solihull scores 60.99 out of 100, missing out on the top spot to West Midlands neighbour Telford and Wrekin by just 0.01 points, and finishing ahead of St Helens (3rd), York (4th), and Windsor and Maidenhead (5th).
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Solihull stands out for pay and childcare, with an average annual salary of £46,896 and a strong Childcare Affordability score, with childcare costing an average of £6.29 an hour.
Telford and Wrekin were named the best place to raise a family in England, while St Helens in Merseyside takes third (60.35), scoring the best Education Score of the top three (6.01) alongside a below-average house price of £182,923.
York ranks fourth (60.13), standing out for healthcare access with the best Healthcare Score of the top 15, thanks to 20.5 dental practices and 17.9 GPs per 100,000 people.
Windsor and Maidenhead round out the top five (59.91) and are also the most expensive area to make the cut with an average house price of £584,743, which is offset by strong Pay, Road Safety and Community Scores.
The top 15 places to raise a family in England
- Telford and Wrekin (61.00)
- Solihull (60.99)
- St Helens (60.35)
- York (60.13)
- Windsor and Maidenhead (59.91)
- Rutland (59.39)
- Swindon (58.90)
- Bracknell Forest (58.60)
- Stoke-on-Trent (58.20)
- Doncaster (57.26)
- Warrington (57.13)
- Darlington (57.01)
- Calderdale (56.97)
- Northumberland (56.58)
- Leeds (56.54)
Kara Gammell, Life Insurance Expert at MoneySuperMarket, comments: “Telford and Wrekin topping the list for England highlights the importance of the everyday factors that can make family life easier, from access to green space and affordable childcare to having more room in the household budget.
“It’s a reminder that quality of life isn’t defined by one measure alone, but by a combination of factors that help families thrive.
“Wherever families choose to put down roots, having the right financial protection in place can provide valuable peace of mind.
“Life insurance can help ensure loved ones are supported financially if the worst were to happen, and comparing policies is a simple way to find cover that suits your family’s needs and budget.”
