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Live in the country? Then you're happier than your city-dwelling friends... Rural folk more optimistic than those in urban areasRead more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-2458600/People-living-countryside-happier-optimistic-towns-cities.html#ixzz4e3Ql4CCq Follow us: @MailOnline on Twitter | DailyMail on Facebook

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Live in the country? Then you're happier than your city-dwelling friends... Rural folk more optimistic than those in urban areasRead more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-2458600/People-living-countryside-happier-optimistic-towns-cities.html#ixzz4e3Ql4CCq Follow us: @MailOnline on Twitter | DailyMail on Facebook

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Satisfaction ratings from people in rural areas higher than in urban areas

People in town and cities more worried about crime and the economy

Sarah Bridge for The Mail on Sunday

People living in rural areas of Britain are more optimistic about the future and happier about their quality of life than people in cities and towns, a new survey has found.

The Countryside Living Index carried out to record how people feel about their lives, found that the satisfaction ratings of people living in the countryside leapt by 10.7 per cent between the first and second quarters of 2013, with their views about the cost of living, education and crime all improving.

Meanwhile confidence about jobs and the economy fell 3.8 per cent in urban areas.

People in both rural and urban areas said that they felt more optimistic about health, education and the environment, but the positive change was much more pronounced among country-dwellers than city inhabitants.

People from urban areas also said that they were increasingly more worried about crime than those in the countryside and overall the rise in perceived quality of life was three times higher in the countryside than in the cities.

Tim Price, rural affairs specialist at NFU Mutual, who carried out the study, said: 'The recession made life in the countryside very tough for many people, so it's great news to see concerns about the cost of living easing.

'Over the last two years we have seen firms struggle to stay afloat. We think that many have only managed to survive thanks to innovative management combined with measures such as freezing fuel duty and support for small and medium-sized enterprises.

However, for young people the lack of rural jobs paying a living wage and high transport and housing costs continue to make it hard for them to live in the countryside, and we urge the Government to support this group to prevent country homes being affordable only for second homeowners and city commuters.'

Last week senior Conversative MP Graham Stuart claimed that rural areas were still suffering a serious 'injustice' in the amount of money they receive for local services.

He said that the coalition's failure to address the shortfall in funding endured by councils in rural parts of the country was 'inexcusable'.

Stuart, MP for Beverley and Holderness, said that rural councils received around half the funding of their urban counterparts per head of population - a so-called 'rural penalty' - due to the way Government funding formulas work.

'The rural penalty of 50 per cent more per head going to urban areas is just not right,' Stuart told the Commons.

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People living in the countryside are happier and more optimistic

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By Satisfaction ratings from people in rural areas higher than in urban areas People in town and cities more worried about crime and the economy Sarah Bridge for The Mail on Sunday People living in rural areas of Britain are more optimistic about the future and happier about their quality of life than people in cities and towns, a new survey has found.

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The advantages and disadvantages of living in the country

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The advantages and disadvantages of living in the country

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Living in the countryside has a lot of advantages, but also many disadvantages. As the advantage we can consider the fact that the country is less polluted and the traffic isn't so heavy. You are fit and you don't need to worry about your health condition, because in the countryside the air and water are so clean. In the country there are many plant species. There aren't any huge blocks of flats, modern skyscrapers or bothersome traffic jams. In the country you are free to admire the breathtaking landscapes such as huge meadows, peaceful hills or forests. You can enjoy walking in the forest and picking mushrooms or hunting. Another advantage is that you may easily build a big house and the garden, because charges for ground are much lower than in the suburbs. Moreover, living in the countryside is cheaper than it is in the city, so you probably may afford many other things, because the prices are lower. What is more, you can invite your friends to the barbecue organized in your garden. It would be great! The other positive side is the safety. In the rural area the crime rate is much lower. There aren't a lot of housebreaks and the possibility of burglary is also lower. In the countryside people usually and keep eyes on neighbour's estates. They always react when something strange is happening. Country life is very peaceful and silent. You will enjoy the feeling of peace.

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English countryside is mainly grasses, trees, fields and farms, It has alot of animals, birds and bugs including: Blackbirds, Magpie's, Robins, Swans, Butterflies,Dragonflies, Bees, Wasps, Fox's, Badgers, Horses and Rabbits. Music: Summer Rain by Machinimasound.com Licensed under Creative Commons CC-BY 3.0 Unported License | https://machinimasound.com/license