File photo dated 14/02/08 of Rutland Water as Rutland residents have the highest standard of living in rural Britain, a report has found. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Issue date: Monday March 30, 2015. Nestling in the East Midlands countryside, Rutland topped Halifax's annual Rural Areas Quality of Life Survey, which takes residents' health and life expectancy, crime rates, weather, employment, school results, broadband access and personal wellbeing into account. Rutland residents tend to be fit and well, with more than 96% in good or fairly good health, the report said. They enjoy a relatively good climate, with less rainfall per year than the national average, at 681mm against 879mm, and more weekly hours of sunshine, at 30.4 hours against the national average of 29.5 hours. But living in Rutland comes at a price, and the cost of living there is higher than in many other parts of Britain. The average house price is around 6.7 times the annual pre-tax local income, compared with the national average of 6.2. See PA story MONEY Rural. Photo credit should read: Rui Vieira/PA Wire