Birmingham vs Milton Keynes

Which is better to live in? (2026)

54

Birmingham

West Midlands

Grade C
55

Milton Keynes

South East

Grade CHigher Overall
Birmingham: 4 wins|Milton Keynes: 5 wins

Category Comparison

Birmingham
Category
Milton Keynes
54/100
๐Ÿ†Overall Score
BETTER55/100
33/100BETTER
๐Ÿ”’Crime Safety
25/100
40% Good/Outstanding
๐ŸŽ“Schools
BETTER53% Good/Outstanding
93/100BETTER
๐Ÿš†Transport
84/100
64/100BETTER
๐Ÿ’ทAffordability
41/100
~ยฃ402/moBETTER
๐ŸงพMonthly Bills
~ยฃ418/mo
72/100
๐Ÿ“ถBroadband
BETTER76/100
48/100
๐ŸŒฟEnvironment
BETTER87/100
25/100
๐ŸฅHealthcare
BETTER33/100

Our Verdict

Milton Keynes leads in 5 of 8 categories, scoring higher for schools, broadband, environment. That said, Birmingham has the edge in crime safety and transport, making it a strong option depending on what matters most to you.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Birmingham or Milton Keynes better to live in?

Milton Keynes leads in 5 of 8 categories, scoring higher for schools, broadband, environment. That said, Birmingham has the edge in crime safety and transport, making it a strong option depending on what matters most to you.

Is Birmingham safer than Milton Keynes?

Birmingham scores higher for crime safety (33/100) compared to Milton Keynes (25/100). Scores are based on the Index of Multiple Deprivation crime domain.

Which has better schools, Birmingham or Milton Keynes?

Birmingham has 15 schools within 3km, with 40% rated Good or Outstanding by Ofsted. Milton Keynes has 15 schools nearby, with 53% rated Good or Outstanding.

Is it cheaper to live in Birmingham or Milton Keynes?

Estimated monthly bills are lower in Birmingham (~ยฃ402/month) compared to Milton Keynes (~ยฃ418/month). Bills include council tax, energy, water, broadband, and insurance estimates.

Related Comparisons

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.