Every year, Rightmove asks thousands of people across Great Britain about their feelings toward where they live, covering factors such as community pride, safety and overall satisfaction.
Of the 32 London boroughs and the City of London included in the survey, Croydon placed 26th in London and 193rd nationally.
Residents in Croydon enjoy strong transport links, varied neighbourhoods and easy access to green spaces such as Lloyd Park, Park Hill and South Norwood Country Park.
The borough’s town centre parks, including Queen’s Gardens and Wandle Park, remain popular with families and office workers, with large open lawns, children’s play spaces and walking routes.
Croydon’s housing stock is wide-ranging, from Victorian terraces in South Croydon to modern flats in the town centre and family homes in areas such as Shirley, Purley and Sanderstead.
House prices in Croydon have an overall average of £408,697 over the last year.
The majority of properties sold in Croydon during the last year were terraced properties, selling for an average price of £438,784.
Flats sold for an average of £276,838, with semi-detached properties fetching £532,358.
Schools are another factor that typically influences residents’ satisfaction.
Within three miles of central Croydon, several schools are rated highly by Ofsted, and a further 100 are rated good, including well-regarded options such as Harris Invictus Academy, Archbishop Tenison’s, Coloma Convent Girls’ School and St Mary’s Catholic High School.
Croydon’s connectivity is widely seen as a strength, with fast rail links into London Victoria, London Bridge and St Pancras, trams across the borough, and easy access to Gatwick Airport via East Croydon station.
The area also benefits from Boxpark, Fairfield Halls, and strong arts and music communities, along with a growing independent food scene in South End.
Despite Croydon’s low placing in the happiness index, the borough continues to attract new residents thanks to its transport, green space and relative affordability compared with much of London.
Richmond-upon-Thames was named the happiest borough, while Barking and Dagenham ranked as the unhappiest.
