Aberdeenshire enjoys the best quality of life in Scotland, a survey of living standards has found.
Its residents enjoy high employment, high earnings, good health and long life expectancy rates, while crime and traffic levels are low, according to the Bank of Scotland (BoS).
The local authority area has risen from third in the bank's annual gradings of Scotland's 32 councils, which collate information on the labour and housing markets, environment, education and health.
East Dunbartonshire and the Orkney Islands came second and third in the list. However, BoS refused to disclose which council areas performed the worst and released only data relating to the 10 best areas to live.
Aberdeenshire was found to have a high employment rate of 81.4%; earnings above the Scottish average at £549 a week; low crime rates and traffic levels; a good general level of health; and one of the highest life expectancies in the country, at 77 years.
The Quality of Life Survey indicated standards of living in northern and central Scotland were higher than in other parts of the country. Five of the council areas in the top 10 were in the north, and four were in the central belt.
The Shetland Islands and East Lothian also made into the top five areas to live in Scotland.
High house prices can be an indicator of good living standards, according to the research. In six of the 10 best performing local authorities, prices are above those in the rest of the country, with an average premium of £10,095, or 6%. In Aberdeenshire, prices are on average £33,914, or 21%, higher.
But the remaining four areas in the top 10 trade at a discount to the Scottish average house price.
The Shetland Islands offer the best value for money, at £36,365, or 22%, lower than the average. The Orkney Islands, Moray and Angus also have lower prices.
Tim Crawford, group economist at Bank of Scotland, said: "A strong local economy, along with good schools and a low crime rate have helped Aberdeenshire to become the area with the best quality of life in Scotland in 2007.
"However, living in Aberdeenshire comes at a price with house prices 21% above the Scottish average.
"Moray, Angus and the Orkney and Shetland Islands are areas which have a high quality of life, but also offer value for money housing."
Information was collected from various sources, including the Office for National Statistics, the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, the Scottish Executive and the Bank of Scotland house price database.
Rita Stephen, Aberdeen City and Shire Economic Forum development manager, said: "This is great news. The business community felt that one of the key strengths of our region is its quality of life and to be able to attract people and investment we have to maintain and enhance that."
The best areas
1 Aberdeenshire
2 East Dunbartonshire
3 Orkney Islands
4 Shetland Islands
5 East Lothian
6 East Renfrewshire
7 Moray
8 Midlothian
9 Scottish Borders
10 Angus
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