CHESHIRE towns have been named among some of the best and worst places to live in the country.

Property finder company Garrington has published its 2024 marketing report for England and Wales.

The report ranks more than 1,400 towns, cities and villages on measures covering four categories – natural beauty, wellbeing, heritage, and schools, employment and connectivity, as well as value for money.

Wilmslow in Cheshire East finds itself near the top of the table.

Ranked 440 or above in every category has the town into the top 50 overall – 46 out of 1,429.

Value is the best-performing area for the town, with a ranking of 188 in that category.

The average cost of a family home in Wilmslow, according to Garrington, is £620,634 – a 3.5 per cent rise in the last 12 months.

Northwich Guardian: Wilmslow is the 46th best place to live in England and WalesWilmslow is the 46th best place to live in England and Wales (Image: Wilmslow Town Council)

Neighbouring Knutsford also fares quite well, an overall ranking of 249.

It has an impressive value ranking of 116 but is let down by a score of 1,102 for schools, employment and connectivity.

At the other end of the table, Winsford is ranked among the country's worst places to live – 1,363 out of 1,429, meaning it is just 66 places above the foot of the table.

When it comes to heritage, Winsford is ranked 1,301 with a similarly low ranking of 1,282 for wellbeing.

With a £22.5 million regeneration of the town centre well underway we can hope to see Winsford jump up the rankings in the near future.

There has been a 5.3 per cent rise in average sale prices over the last year, with the average family home in Winsford now costing £314,147.

Northwich Guardian: Winsford's town centre is currently undergoing a major regeneration Winsford's town centre is currently undergoing a major regeneration (Image: Newsquest)

Meanwhile, Northwich manages to squeeze inside the top 1,000 places to live – 983.

It fares slightly better than most of its surrounding areas, with Barnton the notable anomaly, ranked 724.

Northwich is however one of the few places in Cheshire to see house prices drop.

In the last 12 months, the average sale price dropped by 0.9 per cent, with the average family home now costing £314,271.

Cheshire towns and villages' overall rankings

  •  Wilmslow - 46
  • Knutsford - 249
  • Barnton – 724
  • Weaverham - 953
  • Northwich - 983
  • Hartford 1,063
  • Cuddington – 1,159
  • Holmes Chapel - 1,161
  • Davenham - 1,174
  • Middlewich - 1,218
  • Winsford - 1,363