Bristol vs Chester

Which is better to live in? (2026)

54

Bristol

South West

Grade C
60

Chester

North West

Grade CHigher Overall
Bristol: 1 wins|Chester: 6 wins

Category Comparison

Bristol
Category
Chester
54/100
๐Ÿ†Overall Score
BETTER60/100
25/100
๐Ÿ”’Crime Safety
25/100
60% Good/Outstanding
๐ŸŽ“Schools
BETTER73% Good/Outstanding
92/100BETTER
๐Ÿš†Transport
87/100
72/100
๐Ÿ’ทAffordability
BETTER79/100
~ยฃ426/mo
๐ŸงพMonthly Bills
BETTER~ยฃ407/mo
65/100
๐Ÿ“ถBroadband
BETTER74/100
33/100
๐ŸŒฟEnvironment
33/100
25/100
๐ŸฅHealthcare
BETTER48/100

Our Verdict

Chester leads in 4 of 8 categories, scoring higher for schools, affordability, broadband. That said, Bristol has the edge in transport and energy efficiency, making it a strong option depending on what matters most to you.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Bristol or Chester better to live in?

Chester leads in 4 of 8 categories, scoring higher for schools, affordability, broadband. That said, Bristol has the edge in transport and energy efficiency, making it a strong option depending on what matters most to you.

Is Bristol safer than Chester?

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

Which has better schools, Bristol or Chester?

Bristol has 15 schools within 3km, with 60% rated Good or Outstanding by Ofsted. Chester has 15 schools nearby, with 73% rated Good or Outstanding.

Is it cheaper to live in Bristol or Chester?

Estimated monthly bills are lower in Chester (~ยฃ407/month) compared to Bristol (~ยฃ426/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.