Birmingham vs Nottingham
Which is better to live in? (2026)
Birmingham (West Midlands) and Nottingham (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 Nottingham rates 57/100 (grade C). Birmingham is the safer of the two on crime (33/100 versus 25/100). Nottingham has the stronger schools, with 73% of nearby schools rated Good or Outstanding by Ofsted. Birmingham works out cheaper for typical monthly household bills (~£426 versus ~£459). 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 Nottingham: Category Comparison
Our Verdict
Birmingham comes out ahead in 4 of 8 categories, with particular strengths in crime safety, transport, broadband. However, Nottingham performs better in schools and healthcare, so the best choice depends on your priorities.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Birmingham or Nottingham better to live in?
Birmingham comes out ahead in 4 of 8 categories, with particular strengths in crime safety, transport, broadband. However, Nottingham performs better in schools and healthcare, so the best choice depends on your priorities.
Is Birmingham safer than Nottingham?
Birmingham scores higher for crime safety (33/100) compared to Nottingham (25/100). Scores are based on the Index of Multiple Deprivation crime domain.
Which has better schools, Birmingham or Nottingham?
Birmingham has 15 schools within 3km, with 40% rated Good or Outstanding by Ofsted. Nottingham has 15 schools nearby, with 73% rated Good or Outstanding.
Is it cheaper to live in Birmingham or Nottingham?
Estimated monthly bills are lower in Birmingham (~£426/month) compared to Nottingham (~£459/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.