Bristol (South West) and Cambridge (East of England) are two UK areas home buyers and renters frequently weigh against each other. On our overall Area Score, Bristol rates 54/100 (grade C) and Cambridge rates 77/100 (grade B). Cambridge is the safer of the two on crime (95/100 versus 25/100). Cambridge works out cheaper for typical monthly household bills (~£443 versus ~£467). 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.
Bristol vs Cambridge: Category Comparison
Our Verdict
Cambridge leads in 5 of 8 categories, scoring higher for crime safety, affordability, broadband. That said, Bristol has the edge in transport, making it a strong option depending on what matters most to you.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Bristol or Cambridge better to live in?
Cambridge leads in 5 of 8 categories, scoring higher for crime safety, affordability, broadband. That said, Bristol has the edge in transport, making it a strong option depending on what matters most to you.
Is Bristol safer than Cambridge?
Cambridge scores higher for crime safety (95/100) compared to Bristol (25/100). Scores are based on the Index of Multiple Deprivation crime domain.
Which has better schools, Bristol or Cambridge?
Bristol has 15 schools within 3km, with 60% rated Good or Outstanding by Ofsted. Cambridge has 15 schools nearby, with 60% rated Good or Outstanding.
Is it cheaper to live in Bristol or Cambridge?
Estimated monthly bills are lower in Cambridge (~£443/month) compared to Bristol (~£467/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.