Reading has been named one of the best places in the UK for new parents in a new study looking at factors including healthcare, house prices, safety, childcare and schools.
The Berkshire town ranked eighth in a list compiled by home insurance company esure, scoring 6.48 out of 10 overall.
The study looked at 10 locations across the UK, with Sheffield coming top with a score of 7.76.
Stoke-on-Trent was second on 7.65, while Leicester was third with 7.60.
Reading scored particularly well for safety, achieving 8.08 out of 10, while its GP score was 7.28.
The town scored 6.28 for the proportion of primary schools rated ‘good’ or ‘outstanding’.
However, Reading scored 5.17 for its house price-to-income ratio and 5.57 for private nursery fees.
The research comes as thousands of families prepare for life with a new baby, with September traditionally among the most popular months for births in England.
Esure analysed five factors when compiling its rankings: GP availability, house prices compared with incomes, safety, nursery fees and primary school ratings.
Reading’s overall position puts it ahead of Leeds, which was ninth, and Derby, which was 10th.
Other places included in the top 10 were Nottingham, Northampton, Wakefield and Liverpool.
The research found Leicester had the highest score for GP availability, while Stoke-on-Trent performed best for its house price-to-income ratio and nursery costs.
Nottingham had the highest proportion of primary schools rated ‘good’ or ‘outstanding’ in the analysis.
Newcastle-upon-Tyne recorded the highest safety score.
An esure spokesperson said choosing where to raise a family was a “big decision” and there was “no one-size-fits-all answer”.
“There are many factors that can impact decisions on where to live, including housing, access to green space, childcare, healthcare and safety,” they said.
“Proximity to family and friends can also be an important factor, particularly for parents who value having a support network close by.”
The spokesperson added that looking at local safety and home insurance costs could help families understand the wider financial picture when planning for life with children.
The figures were produced by esure using the five factors included in its analysis, meaning the ranking reflects the criteria selected for the study rather than an overall assessment of family life in each location.
