Bournemouth vs Sunderland
Which is better to live in? (2026)
Bournemouth (South West) and Sunderland (North 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 Sunderland rates 57/100 (grade C). Sunderland is the safer of the two on crime (41/100 versus 25/100). 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 ~£448). 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 Sunderland: Category Comparison
Our Verdict
Bournemouth and Sunderland are closely matched overall. Bournemouth performs better in transport and environment, while Sunderland has the advantage in crime safety and schools. Your ideal choice depends on which factors matter most to your lifestyle.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Bournemouth or Sunderland better to live in?
Bournemouth and Sunderland are closely matched overall. Bournemouth performs better in transport and environment, while Sunderland has the advantage in crime safety and schools. Your ideal choice depends on which factors matter most to your lifestyle.
Is Bournemouth safer than Sunderland?
Sunderland scores higher for crime safety (41/100) compared to Bournemouth (25/100). Scores are based on the Index of Multiple Deprivation crime domain.
Which has better schools, Bournemouth or Sunderland?
Bournemouth has 7 schools within 3km, with 71% rated Good or Outstanding by Ofsted. Sunderland has 15 schools nearby, with 73% rated Good or Outstanding.
Is it cheaper to live in Bournemouth or Sunderland?
Estimated monthly bills are lower in Sunderland (~£415/month) compared to Bournemouth (~£448/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.