Solihull just misses out on top spot in England’s best places to raise a family

Solihull has been ranked one of the best places in England to raise a family in a new study, finishing just behind Telford and Wrekin.

The area scored 60.99 out of 100, compared with 61.00 for Telford and Wrekin, according to research from MoneySuperMarket.

The study assessed locations across a range of factors considered important to family life, including housing, pay, childcare, education, healthcare, green space, road safety and community.

Solihull's strong performance was helped by its relatively high salaries and childcare affordability.

The research puts the average annual salary in Solihull at £46,896, while average childcare costs were estimated at £6.29 an hour.

The result places Solihull ahead of several well-known locations for families, including St Helens, York and Windsor and Maidenhead.

St Helens came third with a score of 60.35, followed by York on 60.13 and Windsor and Maidenhead on 59.91.

Solihull was also the highest-ranked location in the West Midlands in the study, although neighbouring Telford and Wrekin took the overall top position.

The research highlights the different factors that contribute to the appeal of an area for families, rather than focusing solely on house prices.

Kara Gammell, life insurance expert at MoneySuperMarket, said: “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.”

She added that quality of life “isn't defined by one measure alone”, but by a combination of factors that can help families thrive.

Top 15 places to raise a family in England

1. Telford and Wrekin – 61.00

2. Solihull – 60.99

3. St Helens – 60.35

4. York – 60.13

5. Windsor and Maidenhead – 59.91

6. Rutland – 59.39

7. Swindon – 58.90

8. Bracknell Forest – 58.60

9. Stoke-on-Trent – 58.20

10. Doncaster – 57.26

11. Warrington – 57.13

12. Darlington – 57.01

13. Calderdale – 56.97

14. Northumberland – 56.58

15. Leeds – 56.54

The result puts Solihull firmly among England's leading locations for families, with the borough missing out on first place by the smallest possible margin.