Birmingham vs Lincoln
Which is better to live in? (2026)
Birmingham (West Midlands) and Lincoln (East Midlands) 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 Lincoln rates 57/100 (grade C). Lincoln is the safer of the two on crime (41/100 versus 33/100). Lincoln has the stronger schools, with 67% of nearby schools rated Good or Outstanding by Ofsted. Lincoln 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 Lincoln: Category Comparison
Our Verdict
Birmingham and Lincoln are closely matched overall. Birmingham performs better in transport and affordability, while Lincoln has the advantage in crime safety and schools. Your ideal choice depends on which factors matter most to your lifestyle.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Birmingham or Lincoln better to live in?
Birmingham and Lincoln are closely matched overall. Birmingham performs better in transport and affordability, while Lincoln has the advantage in crime safety and schools. Your ideal choice depends on which factors matter most to your lifestyle.
Is Birmingham safer than Lincoln?
Lincoln scores higher for crime safety (41/100) compared to Birmingham (33/100). Scores are based on the Index of Multiple Deprivation crime domain.
Which has better schools, Birmingham or Lincoln?
Birmingham has 15 schools within 3km, with 40% rated Good or Outstanding by Ofsted. Lincoln has 15 schools nearby, with 67% rated Good or Outstanding.
Is it cheaper to live in Birmingham or Lincoln?
Estimated monthly bills are lower in Lincoln (~£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.