Bath (South West) and Bristol (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 Bristol rates 54/100 (grade C). Bath is the safer of the two on crime (48/100 versus 25/100). Bath works out cheaper for typical monthly household bills (~£440 versus ~£467). 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 Bristol: Category Comparison
Our Verdict
Bath and Bristol are closely matched overall. Bath performs better in crime safety and healthcare, while Bristol has the advantage in transport and environment. Your ideal choice depends on which factors matter most to your lifestyle.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Bath or Bristol better to live in?
Bath and Bristol are closely matched overall. Bath performs better in crime safety and healthcare, while Bristol has the advantage in transport and environment. Your ideal choice depends on which factors matter most to your lifestyle.
Is Bath safer than Bristol?
Bath scores higher for crime safety (48/100) compared to Bristol (25/100). Scores are based on the Index of Multiple Deprivation crime domain.
Which has better schools, Bath or Bristol?
Bath has 15 schools within 3km, with 60% rated Good or Outstanding by Ofsted. Bristol has 15 schools nearby, with 60% rated Good or Outstanding.
Is it cheaper to live in Bath or Bristol?
Estimated monthly bills are lower in Bath (~£440/month) compared to Bristol (~£467/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.