Bath vs Bournemouth
Which is better to live in? (2026)
Bath (South West) and Bournemouth (South West) are two UK areas home buyers and renters frequently weigh against each other. On our overall Area Score, Bath rates 62/100 (grade C) and Bournemouth rates 55/100 (grade C). Bath is the safer of the two on crime (48/100 versus 25/100). Bournemouth has the stronger schools, with 71% of nearby schools rated Good or Outstanding by Ofsted. Bath works out cheaper for typical monthly household bills (~£440 versus ~£448). The full side-by-side breakdown of crime, schools, transport, affordability, broadband, environment and healthcare is below, followed by our verdict on which area fits which kind of buyer.
Bath vs Bournemouth: Category Comparison
Our Verdict
Bath comes out ahead in 4 of 8 categories, with particular strengths in crime safety, transport, affordability. However, Bournemouth performs better in schools and environment, so the best choice depends on your priorities.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Bath or Bournemouth better to live in?
Bath comes out ahead in 4 of 8 categories, with particular strengths in crime safety, transport, affordability. However, Bournemouth performs better in schools and environment, so the best choice depends on your priorities.
Is Bath safer than Bournemouth?
Bath scores higher for crime safety (48/100) compared to Bournemouth (25/100). Scores are based on the Index of Multiple Deprivation crime domain.
Which has better schools, Bath or Bournemouth?
Bath has 15 schools within 3km, with 60% rated Good or Outstanding by Ofsted. Bournemouth has 7 schools nearby, with 71% rated Good or Outstanding.
Is it cheaper to live in Bath or Bournemouth?
Estimated monthly bills are lower in Bath (~£440/month) compared to Bournemouth (~£448/month). Bills include council tax, energy, water, broadband, and insurance estimates.
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Data sources: Scores are estimated using pre-loaded data from MHCLG Indices of Deprivation, Ofsted/GIAS school ratings, DfT Transport Connectivity 2025, MHCLG council tax data, Ofgem energy price cap, and regional averages. For full live data from 20+ government sources, view the individual town reports. Data provided under the Open Government Licence v3.0.