Forget North-South divide over jobs and house prices, now it's war of the marriages: Northern couples most blissful with Sheffield, Stoke and Leeds topping happy marriage league

By RICHARD MARSDEN, GENERAL REPORTER Published: 16:11, 24 May 2026 | Updated: 16:25, 24 May 2026 Forget the North-South divide over jobs and house prices, now it’s war of the marriages with northern couples apparently the happiest, research has found. Sheffield came out on top with 47pc of couples declaring themselves to be ‘incredibly happy’ with their other half, followed by Stoke-on-Trent, at 38pc, and Leeds at 34pc. Fourth-placed Oxford was the highest-placed southern location, with 32pc of couples agreeing with the statement, falling to a miserable 16pc in Cambridge. The nationwide survey of 2,000 married Britons was commissioned by digital wealth manager, Moneyfarm, and the company says it paints a ‘shockingly mixed picture of modern marriage’. The research even found as many as half of married Brits admit to regularly thinking about leaving their partner, while some confess to only staying together for financial reasons. Carina Chambers, Pensions Technical Expert at digital wealth manager Moneyfarm, said: ‘While it’s encouraging to see cities like Sheffield, Stoke and Leeds reporting high levels of marital happiness, our research reveals a more complex picture beneath the surface. ‘Financial insecurity is a major factor keeping many people in unhappy relationships, from the division of assets and pensions to ensuring long-term security, showing that the ‘grey divorce trap’ is becoming an increasingly real issue for middle-aged Britons. ‘Divorce can be one of the most financially and emotionally stressful moments in life, particularly for those who feel unable to leave unhappy marriages because of financial insecurity.’ Some 47pc of couples in Sheffield, South Yorkshire, described themselves as very happy While couples hitting the rocks are traditionally encouraged to seek marriage guidance counselling, Ms Chambers believes financial planning advice is also important for people trapped in unhappy unions. She said: ‘Clear advice can give individuals the confidence to make informed decisions, particularly where pensions are involved, which are often one of the most complex and overlooked assets to divide. ‘Properly understanding and reviewing the options available, and how your future income will be affected, are essential to securing a fair outcome and maintaining financial resilience beyond divorce.’ The survey found that more than a third of people surveyed (34pc) confessed the only thing stopping them walking away is the fear of the financial fallout. The survey has found how the top three places for happy marriages are in northern areas Meanwhile, a further 30pc worried about being left financially ruined after a split and more women than men were most concerned about being left empty-handed, some 34pc of females interviewed. Nearly two thirds of couples, 65pc, admitted they rely on their partner for financial security. The research also uncovered a divorce knowledge gap, with 41pc admitting they wouldn’t even know where to start if they decided to call it quits. Second thoughts were also revealed with 22pc admitting they wished they’d married someone else, and 7pc confessing they have secretly kept in touch with ‘the one that got away’. But many couples were determined to make marriage work, with almost a quarter (23pc) saying they’d rather work on their marriage before making a divorce final. No comments have so far been submitted. Why not be the first to send us your thoughts, or debate this issue live on our message boards. By posting your comment you agree to our house rules. Do you want to automatically post your MailOnline comments to your Facebook Timeline? Your comment will be posted to MailOnline as usual. Do you want to automatically post your MailOnline comments to your Facebook Timeline? Your comment will be posted to MailOnline as usual We will automatically post your comment and a link to the news story to your Facebook timeline at the same time it is posted on MailOnline. To do this we will link your MailOnline account with your Facebook account. We’ll ask you to confirm this for your first post to Facebook. You can choose on each post whether you would like it to be posted to Facebook. Your details from Facebook will be used to provide you with tailored content, marketing and ads in line with our Privacy Policy.