Bristol vs Ipswich

Which is better to live in? (2026)

54

Bristol

South West

Grade C
59

Ipswich

East of England

Grade CHigher Overall
Bristol: 2 wins|Ipswich: 7 wins

Category Comparison

Bristol
Category
Ipswich
54/100
๐Ÿ†Overall Score
BETTER59/100
25/100
๐Ÿ”’Crime Safety
BETTER41/100
60% Good/Outstanding
๐ŸŽ“Schools
BETTER67% Good/Outstanding
92/100BETTER
๐Ÿš†Transport
82/100
72/100BETTER
๐Ÿ’ทAffordability
48/100
~ยฃ426/mo
๐ŸงพMonthly Bills
BETTER~ยฃ417/mo
65/100
๐Ÿ“ถBroadband
BETTER72/100
33/100
๐ŸŒฟEnvironment
BETTER56/100
25/100
๐ŸฅHealthcare
BETTER48/100

Our Verdict

Ipswich leads in 6 of 8 categories, scoring higher for crime safety, schools, broadband. That said, Bristol has the edge in transport and affordability, making it a strong option depending on what matters most to you.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Bristol or Ipswich better to live in?

Ipswich leads in 6 of 8 categories, scoring higher for crime safety, schools, broadband. That said, Bristol has the edge in transport and affordability, making it a strong option depending on what matters most to you.

Is Bristol safer than Ipswich?

Ipswich 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 Ipswich?

Bristol has 15 schools within 3km, with 60% rated Good or Outstanding by Ofsted. Ipswich has 15 schools nearby, with 67% rated Good or Outstanding.

Is it cheaper to live in Bristol or Ipswich?

Estimated monthly bills are lower in Ipswich (~ยฃ417/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.