To be annoyed about this..

[Fuzzyduck31]

We have recently moved out of London to a commuter village with my two DC. I went out yesterday to meet friends and some were asking how it is living in the new house. We love it out here - lovely community feel, safe, bigger house, amazing garden etc. My best friend said “I hate it there!”
shes been to visit a few times and it took me by surprise! She has a one bed flat in an area of London I would never choose to live in but I say nothing about that. It was definitely said in a sneering tone.
AIBU to be upset about her comments or do I say something back for a taste of her own medicine?

I'd let it slide this time as it seems the time has passed, but if she said anything again, I'd definitely be quickly asking her to keep her unsolicited opinions on your chosen home to herself - it's rude.

I haven’t voted because she’s probably a touch envious of what you’ve got or just that you’re so happy.
I would let it go this time but if she says anything again reply with ‘well I’ll be sure not to invite you over then in future.’

i'd be pissed off. It's rude, socially unaware, and like she's trying to piss on your chips/"bring you down a peg or two". Her comment says more about her than you and i'm sure mutual friends would have thought "what an odd thing to say". Like others, i'd probably let it slide for now, as maybe there is some envy going on, which she doesn't want to admit to or face, but if she behaves like this again, i would tell her that her attitude was hurtful, and to not say anything if she's going to be so rude

If she says anything again, tell her how rude she sounds
Why hold back? She doesn't

In my experience when folks really don’t like something like this they make polite noises and don’t say it, as you are doing with her place. When folks burst out with this sort of comment it’s envy.

It's rude. I can't stand where my best friend lives and I find it unbearably depressing but I'd never actually say that to her.

Incredibly rude.

do I say something back for a taste of her own medicine?

Why would you stoop to her level? Find a new friend. She isn't one.

"That's fine. I just won't invite you again."

All depends how your relationship is/how easily offended she is though. I have a friend who can be spectacularly rude but it's more a foot in mouth/blurting the first thought in his head, and it's quite fun ribbing him and he takes it in good grace and apologises.

The other day he said, 'I can't stand <this really minor structural quirk> about your flat, it drives me mad.' My flat is rented, I don't have a choice. I shrugged, looked him straight in the eye and said, 'you only wish you could afford to rent a flat like this in this location'.

I didn't mean it of course, but it shut him up and we laughed about it.

Are you sure it wasn't a poor effort at sarcasm?

If your friend was male I'd be asking if the house was in Westchester 😆

Depends really on how you told the friends about your new place.
"We really love it, we're very happy"
Or,
"It's bigger, fabulous garden, no longer in the middle of the city with no space but lots of noise" - which could (and would) be taken as you dissing where she lives

The comment out of context was harsh. Sure. But did it just come from nowhere or was she responding to what she saw as bragging about the new place, and dissing the old?

In any case, everybody likes different things. I'd love to live in the middle of nowhere, or, conversely the middle of London. Dp hates both equally.

It is very rude, but she is clearly just jealous and that probably came across to the others. You didn’t need to say anything and lower yourself, but likewise you don’t need to feel upset as it’s pure envy.

Perhaps not jealousy, but her missing you made her have an emotional outburst in an unkind way. That is what firstly came to my mind. She cannot do anything to change the situation so she pisses on it.