Birmingham vs Sunderland
Which is better to live in? (2026)
Birmingham (West Midlands) and Sunderland (North East) 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 Sunderland rates 57/100 (grade C). Sunderland is the safer of the two on crime (41/100 versus 33/100). Sunderland has the stronger schools, with 73% of nearby schools rated Good or Outstanding by Ofsted. Sunderland works out cheaper for typical monthly household bills (~£415 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 Sunderland: Category Comparison
Our Verdict
Birmingham comes out ahead in 4 of 8 categories, with particular strengths in transport, broadband, environment. However, Sunderland performs better in crime safety and schools, so the best choice depends on your priorities.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Birmingham or Sunderland better to live in?
Birmingham comes out ahead in 4 of 8 categories, with particular strengths in transport, broadband, environment. However, Sunderland performs better in crime safety and schools, so the best choice depends on your priorities.
Is Birmingham safer than Sunderland?
Sunderland 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 Sunderland?
Birmingham has 15 schools within 3km, with 40% rated Good or Outstanding by Ofsted. Sunderland has 15 schools nearby, with 73% rated Good or Outstanding.
Is it cheaper to live in Birmingham or Sunderland?
Estimated monthly bills are lower in Sunderland (~£415/month) compared to Birmingham (~£426/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.