Bournemouth vs Brighton
Which is better to live in? (2026)
Bournemouth (South West) and Brighton (South East) are two UK areas home buyers and renters frequently weigh against each other. On our overall Area Score, Bournemouth rates 55/100 (grade C) and Brighton rates 59/100 (grade C). Brighton has the stronger schools, with 100% of nearby schools rated Good or Outstanding by Ofsted. Bournemouth works out cheaper for typical monthly household bills (~£448 versus ~£451). 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.
Bournemouth vs Brighton: Category Comparison
Our Verdict
Brighton leads in 4 of 8 categories, scoring higher for schools, transport, broadband. That said, Bournemouth has the edge in affordability and environment, making it a strong option depending on what matters most to you.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Bournemouth or Brighton better to live in?
Brighton leads in 4 of 8 categories, scoring higher for schools, transport, broadband. That said, Bournemouth has the edge in affordability and environment, making it a strong option depending on what matters most to you.
Is Bournemouth safer than Brighton?
Bournemouth and Brighton have similar crime safety scores (25/100). Scores are based on the Index of Multiple Deprivation crime domain.
Which has better schools, Bournemouth or Brighton?
Bournemouth has 7 schools within 3km, with 71% rated Good or Outstanding by Ofsted. Brighton has 15 schools nearby, with 100% rated Good or Outstanding.
Is it cheaper to live in Bournemouth or Brighton?
Estimated monthly bills are lower in Bournemouth (~£448/month) compared to Brighton (~£451/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.