Bristol vs Peterborough
Which is better to live in? (2026)
Bristol (South West) and Peterborough (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 Peterborough rates 52/100 (grade D). Bristol has the stronger schools, with 60% of nearby schools rated Good or Outstanding by Ofsted. Peterborough works out cheaper for typical monthly household bills (~£428 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 Peterborough: Category Comparison
Our Verdict
Peterborough leads in 4 of 8 categories, scoring higher for broadband, environment, healthcare. That said, Bristol has the edge in schools and transport, making it a strong option depending on what matters most to you.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Bristol or Peterborough better to live in?
Peterborough leads in 4 of 8 categories, scoring higher for broadband, environment, healthcare. That said, Bristol has the edge in schools and transport, making it a strong option depending on what matters most to you.
Is Bristol safer than Peterborough?
Bristol and Peterborough have similar crime safety scores (25/100). Scores are based on the Index of Multiple Deprivation crime domain.
Which has better schools, Bristol or Peterborough?
Bristol has 15 schools within 3km, with 60% rated Good or Outstanding by Ofsted. Peterborough has 15 schools nearby, with 53% rated Good or Outstanding.
Is it cheaper to live in Bristol or Peterborough?
Estimated monthly bills are lower in Peterborough (~£428/month) compared to Bristol (~£467/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.