Craven is the best place to retire to, according to new research that placed the district top in England for quality of life.

Number crunchers at Experian assessed factors including crime rate, neighbourliness and house prices in their report for The Guardian newspaper.

“Where is the best mix of house prices, council tax, sun, low crime and health?” the newspaper asked. “We discover the perfect retirement idyll … Skipton in Yorkshire.”

The research, published on Friday, said: “Despite relatively little sunshine, Skipton scored highly on other indicators, including rainfall, crime, house prices, transport, neighbourliness – and access to glorious countryside.”

Experian looked at 40 measures that make up “quality of life” as rated by people whose children have left home.

The data specialists focussed in particular on air quality, crime and burglary rates, population density, neighbourliness, good health and life expectancy.

Craven came ahead of North Dorset and West Devon in second and third places respectively.

The Guardian concluded “Devon and Dorset will remain firm favourites for years to come – but also that several northern districts beat the south hands down when it comes to quality of life.”

The survey found that Craven has annual rainfall of 883 mls, well below the UK average of 1,126mls. It has 194.59 crimes per 10,000 population – the 10th lowest out of 324 districts in England – and 92.43 per cent of residents think “neighbours look out for each other”.

The Guardian summed up the district as: “Picture-perfect market towns with access to swathes of countryside from the iconic three peaks Pen-y-ghent, Ingleborough and Whernside in Ribblesdale , through the moorlands and meadows of Wharfedale , to the dramatic limestone of Malhamdale.”

Craven has the highest proportion of pensioners in the country, with 60 per cent of people receiving a pension.