Living in North Yorkshire

North Yorkshire is a large county in the north of England, known for its wide open landscapes, historic towns and strong rural character. It stretches from the Pennines in the west to the North Sea coast in the east, encompassing a varied landscape of moorland, valleys and farmland. Much of the county feels spacious and lightly populated, with settlements spread across a broad and diverse area.

The county includes towns such as York, Harrogate, Scarborough, Northallerton and Skipton, each serving surrounding communities in different ways. York stands out for its historic importance and role as a cultural and economic centre, while coastal towns developed through fishing and tourism. Market towns and villages continue to support local services, agriculture and everyday life across the county.

North Yorkshire is strongly associated with its natural environment, including areas such as the Yorkshire Dales and the North York Moors. Walking, cycling and outdoor recreation are widely enjoyed, often in quiet and scenic surroundings. Overall, North Yorkshire offers a calm and enduring mix of rural landscape, historic settlement and coastal influence, giving it a distinctive and well rooted place within England.

Largest Towns in North Yorkshire 12

York
254.7K
Middlesbrough
172.3K
Harrogate
93.8K
Leeds
83.4K
Scarborough
73.9K
Keighley
65.7K
Darlington
61.3K
Redcar
49.1K
Goole
46.3K
Selby
43.5K
Driffield
33.4K
Saltburn-by-the-Sea
32.8K

Location

Elevation & Terrain

Lowest point Boulby — 0 ft (0 m)
Highest point Ravenseat — 1,430 ft (436 m)
Average across towns 331 ft (101 m)
Elevation range 1,430 ft (436 m)

North Yorkshire stretches from 0 ft at Boulby up to 1,430 ft at Ravenseat, a span of 1,430 ft across 1,199 towns and villages. This reflects dramatic upland terrain, with a substantial climb from the lowest to the highest places.

Deprivation Index (IMD)

Average deprivation scores across 66 postcode areas in North Yorkshire. Higher deciles (closer to 10) indicate less deprivation.

Overall Deprivation
6/10
Income
7/10
Employment
7/10
Education
6/10
Health
6/10
Housing
5/10
Environment
5/10
369,293 Children (0-15) 17%
1,341,916 Working Age 60%
680,663 Older (60+) 31%

Places in North Yorkshire 1199

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P R S T U W Y

Postcode Areas in North Yorkshire 9

North Yorkshire is served by 9 postcode areas. Each area contains multiple postcode districts covering different parts of the county.

BD 117 places
DL 219 places
DN 17 places
HG 173 places
LA 25 places
LS 61 places
TS 110 places
WF 10 places
YO 467 places

Neighbouring Counties 4

West Yorkshire 33 miles away
County Durham 38 miles away
East Riding of Yorkshire 43 miles away
South Yorkshire 48 miles away