Bristol vs Plymouth

Which is better to live in? (2026)

54

Bristol

South West

Grade CHigher Overall
52

Plymouth

South West

Grade D
Bristol: 4 wins|Plymouth: 2 wins

Category Comparison

Bristol
Category
Plymouth
54/100BETTER
๐Ÿ†Overall Score
52/100
25/100
๐Ÿ”’Crime Safety
BETTER33/100
60% Good/OutstandingBETTER
๐ŸŽ“Schools
47% Good/Outstanding
92/100BETTER
๐Ÿš†Transport
89/100
72/100BETTER
๐Ÿ’ทAffordability
48/100
~ยฃ426/mo
๐ŸงพMonthly Bills
~ยฃ426/mo
65/100
๐Ÿ“ถBroadband
65/100
33/100
๐ŸŒฟEnvironment
BETTER48/100
25/100
๐ŸฅHealthcare
25/100

Our Verdict

Bristol comes out ahead in 3 of 8 categories, with particular strengths in schools, transport, affordability. However, Plymouth performs better in crime safety and environment, so the best choice depends on your priorities.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Bristol or Plymouth better to live in?

Bristol comes out ahead in 3 of 8 categories, with particular strengths in schools, transport, affordability. However, Plymouth performs better in crime safety and environment, so the best choice depends on your priorities.

Is Bristol safer than Plymouth?

Plymouth scores higher for crime safety (33/100) compared to Bristol (25/100). Scores are based on the Index of Multiple Deprivation crime domain.

Which has better schools, Bristol or Plymouth?

Bristol has 15 schools within 3km, with 60% rated Good or Outstanding by Ofsted. Plymouth has 15 schools nearby, with 47% rated Good or Outstanding.

Is it cheaper to live in Bristol or Plymouth?

Monthly bills are similar in both areas (~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.