Bradford vs Derby

Which is better to live in? (2026)

45

Bradford

Yorkshire and The Humber

Grade D
49

Derby

East Midlands

Grade DHigher Overall
Bradford: 0 wins|Derby: 5 wins

Bradford (Yorkshire and The Humber) and Derby (East Midlands) are two UK areas home buyers and renters frequently weigh against each other. On our overall Area Score, Bradford rates 45/100 (grade D) and Derby rates 49/100 (grade D). Derby has the stronger schools, with 40% of nearby schools rated Good or Outstanding by Ofsted. Derby works out cheaper for typical monthly household bills (~£421 versus ~£429). 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.

Bradford vs Derby: Category Comparison

Bradford
Category
Derby
45/100
🏆Overall Score
BETTER49/100
25/100
🔒Crime Safety
25/100
33% Good/Outstanding
🎓Schools
BETTER40% Good/Outstanding
89/100
🚆Transport
BETTER90/100
41/100
💷Affordability
41/100
~£429/mo
🧾Monthly Bills
BETTER~£421/mo
70/100
📶Broadband
70/100
25/100
🌿Environment
BETTER48/100
25/100
🏥Healthcare
25/100

Our Verdict

Derby leads in 4 of 8 categories, scoring higher for schools, transport, environment. That said, Bradford has the edge in , making it a strong option depending on what matters most to you.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Bradford or Derby better to live in?

Derby leads in 4 of 8 categories, scoring higher for schools, transport, environment. That said, Bradford has the edge in , making it a strong option depending on what matters most to you.

Is Bradford safer than Derby?

Bradford and Derby have similar crime safety scores (25/100). Scores are based on the Index of Multiple Deprivation crime domain.

Which has better schools, Bradford or Derby?

Bradford has 15 schools within 3km, with 33% rated Good or Outstanding by Ofsted. Derby has 15 schools nearby, with 40% rated Good or Outstanding.

Is it cheaper to live in Bradford or Derby?

Estimated monthly bills are lower in Derby (~£421/month) compared to Bradford (~£429/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.