Bournemouth vs Portsmouth
Which is better to live in? (2026)
Category Comparison
Our Verdict
Bournemouth and Portsmouth are closely matched overall. Bournemouth performs better in schools and affordability, while Portsmouth has the advantage in transport and broadband. Your ideal choice depends on which factors matter most to your lifestyle.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Bournemouth or Portsmouth better to live in?
Bournemouth and Portsmouth are closely matched overall. Bournemouth performs better in schools and affordability, while Portsmouth has the advantage in transport and broadband. Your ideal choice depends on which factors matter most to your lifestyle.
Is Bournemouth safer than Portsmouth?
Bournemouth and Portsmouth have similar crime safety scores (25/100). Scores are based on the Index of Multiple Deprivation crime domain.
Which has better schools, Bournemouth or Portsmouth?
Bournemouth has 7 schools within 3km, with 71% rated Good or Outstanding by Ofsted. Portsmouth has 15 schools nearby, with 53% rated Good or Outstanding.
Is it cheaper to live in Bournemouth or Portsmouth?
Estimated monthly bills are lower in Portsmouth (~£418/month) compared to Bournemouth (~£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.