Bristol vs Cheltenham
Which is better to live in? (2026)
Bristol (South West) and Cheltenham (South West) 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 Cheltenham rates 67/100 (grade C). Cheltenham is the safer of the two on crime (41/100 versus 25/100). Cheltenham has the stronger schools, with 93% of nearby schools rated Good or Outstanding by Ofsted. Cheltenham works out cheaper for typical monthly household bills (~£439 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 Cheltenham: Category Comparison
Our Verdict
Cheltenham leads in 4 of 8 categories, scoring higher for crime safety, schools, affordability. That said, Bristol has the edge in transport and environment, making it a strong option depending on what matters most to you.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Bristol or Cheltenham better to live in?
Cheltenham leads in 4 of 8 categories, scoring higher for crime safety, schools, affordability. That said, Bristol has the edge in transport and environment, making it a strong option depending on what matters most to you.
Is Bristol safer than Cheltenham?
Cheltenham scores higher for crime safety (41/100) compared to Bristol (25/100). Scores are based on the Index of Multiple Deprivation crime domain.
Which has better schools, Bristol or Cheltenham?
Bristol has 15 schools within 3km, with 60% rated Good or Outstanding by Ofsted. Cheltenham has 15 schools nearby, with 93% rated Good or Outstanding.
Is it cheaper to live in Bristol or Cheltenham?
Estimated monthly bills are lower in Cheltenham (~£439/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.