Birmingham vs Hull
Which is better to live in? (2026)
Birmingham (West Midlands) and Hull (Yorkshire and The Humber) are two UK areas home buyers and renters frequently weigh against each other. On our overall Area Score, Birmingham rates 54/100 (grade C) and Hull rates 51/100 (grade D). Hull is the safer of the two on crime (48/100 versus 33/100). Hull has the stronger schools, with 47% of nearby schools rated Good or Outstanding by Ofsted. Hull works out cheaper for typical monthly household bills (~£423 versus ~£426). 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.
Birmingham vs Hull: Category Comparison
Our Verdict
Birmingham comes out ahead in 5 of 8 categories, with particular strengths in transport, affordability, broadband. However, Hull performs better in crime safety and schools, so the best choice depends on your priorities.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Birmingham or Hull better to live in?
Birmingham comes out ahead in 5 of 8 categories, with particular strengths in transport, affordability, broadband. However, Hull performs better in crime safety and schools, so the best choice depends on your priorities.
Is Birmingham safer than Hull?
Hull scores higher for crime safety (48/100) compared to Birmingham (33/100). Scores are based on the Index of Multiple Deprivation crime domain.
Which has better schools, Birmingham or Hull?
Birmingham has 15 schools within 3km, with 40% rated Good or Outstanding by Ofsted. Hull has 15 schools nearby, with 47% rated Good or Outstanding.
Is it cheaper to live in Birmingham or Hull?
Estimated monthly bills are lower in Hull (~£423/month) compared to Birmingham (~£426/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.