Bath vs Portsmouth
Which is better to live in? (2026)
Bath (South West) and Portsmouth (South East) 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 Portsmouth rates 50/100 (grade D). Bath is the safer of the two on crime (48/100 versus 25/100). Bath has the stronger schools, with 60% of nearby schools rated Good or Outstanding by Ofsted. Portsmouth works out cheaper for typical monthly household bills (~£427 versus ~£440). 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 Portsmouth: Category Comparison
Our Verdict
Bath and Portsmouth are closely matched overall. Bath performs better in crime safety and schools, while Portsmouth has the advantage in transport and broadband. Your ideal choice depends on which factors matter most to your lifestyle.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Bath or Portsmouth better to live in?
Bath and Portsmouth are closely matched overall. Bath performs better in crime safety and schools, while Portsmouth has the advantage in transport and broadband. Your ideal choice depends on which factors matter most to your lifestyle.
Is Bath safer than Portsmouth?
Bath scores higher for crime safety (48/100) compared to Portsmouth (25/100). Scores are based on the Index of Multiple Deprivation crime domain.
Which has better schools, Bath or Portsmouth?
Bath has 15 schools within 3km, with 60% rated Good or Outstanding by Ofsted. Portsmouth has 15 schools nearby, with 53% rated Good or Outstanding.
Is it cheaper to live in Bath or Portsmouth?
Estimated monthly bills are lower in Portsmouth (~£427/month) compared to Bath (~£440/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.