Nearby supermarket tops Danes’ housing wishlist

The survey, which was commissioned by Local Government Denmark, which represents municipalities, brings new ammunition to those who argue that the reason Danes lead the world in happiness is primarily that they tend to have quite low expectations. 

 

A full 72 percent of the 1,512 people questioned in the survey ranked easy access to a supermarket top of their list when deciding where to live, while just 57 percent put proximity to nature, 47 percent proximity to friends, and a mere 14 percent proximity to cultural centres. 

 

Hans Thor Andersen, head of research at the Danish Building Research Institute, said the result reflected that fact that shopping was simply something that needed to be done more often than say, going to the doctor, which was rated as important by 57 percent. 

  

"Most people, fortunately have a greater need to go to the local supermarket than going to the doctor, for example,” he said. “The explanation is just that grocery shopping is something that we all need – and quite often – so it is an integral part of Danish everyday life.” 

 

For those under 35 years old, the survey discovered, distance to sports facilities was the most important factor, while those under 50-year-old ranked schools and daycare more highly.