Cambridge vs Cheltenham
Which is better to live in? (2026)
Cambridge (East of England) and Cheltenham (South West) are two UK areas home buyers and renters frequently weigh against each other. On our overall Area Score, Cambridge rates 77/100 (grade B) and Cheltenham rates 67/100 (grade C). Cambridge is the safer of the two on crime (95/100 versus 41/100). 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 ~£443). 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.
Cambridge vs Cheltenham: Category Comparison
Our Verdict
Cambridge comes out ahead in 6 of 8 categories, with particular strengths in crime safety, affordability, broadband. However, Cheltenham performs better in schools and transport, so the best choice depends on your priorities.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Cambridge or Cheltenham better to live in?
Cambridge comes out ahead in 6 of 8 categories, with particular strengths in crime safety, affordability, broadband. However, Cheltenham performs better in schools and transport, so the best choice depends on your priorities.
Is Cambridge safer than Cheltenham?
Cambridge scores higher for crime safety (95/100) compared to Cheltenham (41/100). Scores are based on the Index of Multiple Deprivation crime domain.
Which has better schools, Cambridge or Cheltenham?
Cambridge 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 Cambridge or Cheltenham?
Estimated monthly bills are lower in Cheltenham (~£439/month) compared to Cambridge (~£443/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.