Watford ranked one of the best places to live for fourth year in a row

Watford has once again made the Top Three Places to Live in the 2026 Vitality Index which measures the UK's top 100 Urban areas to live.

The town has officially been named the second best place to live, according to the 2026 Vitality Index surveyed by Lambert Smith Hampton, only beaten by Windsor and Maidenhead in Berkshire, who have kept the top spot from 2025.  This is the fourth consectutive year that the town has been featured in the top three, after coming 3rd in 2022, 1st in 2024 and 3rd once more in 2025 respectively. 

The town has been reaching the top three mainly due to its score in the Economic and Business rankings, ranking outstanding in four of seven categories. It also scored highly in the Health and Environment section. 

Lambert Smith Hampton commented: “The Hertfordshire town continued to perform strongly on both the Living and Economy & Business pillars, achieving top scores for comparison retail spending and new business start-ups.”

On it's achievement, Peter Taylor, elected mayor of Watford “We’re also investing in the future of our local economy, with plans for an Innovation and Incubation Hub moving forward, while continuing to deliver high-quality day-to-day services despite ongoing financial pressures.

Looking ahead, we’re building on that success with further investment in cleaner streets, better parks and leisure facilities, and continued action on sustainability and infrastructure. Our priority remains clear: to keep improving Watford for residents, businesses and visitors, and to make sure the opportunities we create today deliver lasting benefits for years to come.”

Only time will tell if the town can reclaim the number one spot in 2027.