Forget the countryside idyll. If you want to enjoy your twilight years in Yorkshire, the answer may be a city – and not just any city.
York has been named the best place in Yorkshire and the Humber to grow old, beating North Yorkshire, Barnsley and every other district in the region.
The historic city finished 30th out of 294 English districts in the new Twilight Years Capitals index, scoring 71.6 out of 100.
And while York’s attractions are well known to residents and visitors alike, the study suggests its biggest advantage for older residents may be what happens away from the postcard views.
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York recorded the lowest loneliness rate in Yorkshire and the Humber, with just 5.8 per cent of adults saying they often or always feel lonely. It also had the region’s lowest rate of low income among over-60s, at 10.49 per cent, and the lowest level of fuel poverty.
That means more money for the important things in life – whether that is a coffee and cake in a city-centre café, a matinee at the theatre or a second helping of Sunday lunch.
York also performed strongly for care. Some 92.5 per cent of the care services older residents could choose from were rated Good or better by the Care Quality Commission – the highest share in Yorkshire and the Humber.
It came third in the region for getting around without a car and had more libraries for its population than anywhere else in Yorkshire and the Humber. In other words, there are plenty of ways to get out, stay connected and keep busy without having to negotiate the city’s famously confusing one-way system.
North Yorkshire came second regionally and 41st nationally, scoring 70. It led the region for community and safety, with the lowest recorded crime rate and the longest life expectancy at 65.
Barnsley took third place, thanks to its green spaces, allotments and speedy GP appointments. Rotherham was fourth, with the region’s strongest health score, while Kirklees completed the top five.
The index, produced by care home operator Lovett Care, assessed 37 measures covering health, care, transport, housing costs, the environment and community.
Cathryn Fairhurst, of Lovett Care, said the findings showed that people approaching retirement increasingly considered access to nature, social life and community services when deciding where to live.
York, it seems, has managed to offer all three – plus a decent excuse for another afternoon tea.
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