The district had the highest proportion of
home ownership of the 18 local authorities in Bedfordshire, Buckinghamshire and Hertfordshire: combining the social (housing association and local authority provided) and private rented sectors, Stevenage's returns recorded in 2011 that its rented sector comprised 33.2% of its housing, whereas 10.0% of Chiltern's residents rented their homes. In May 2008, the district was assessed by
Halifax as having the best rural quality of life anywhere in Britain. ==Energy consumption==