Cambridge vs Coventry

Which is better to live in? (2026)

77

Cambridge

East of England

Grade BHigher Overall
50

Coventry

West Midlands

Grade D
Cambridge: 5 wins|Coventry: 2 wins

Cambridge (East of England) and Coventry (West Midlands) 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 Coventry rates 50/100 (grade D). Cambridge is the safer of the two on crime (95/100 versus 25/100). Coventry 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 Coventry: Category Comparison

Cambridge
Category
Coventry
77/100BETTER
🏆Overall Score
50/100
95/100BETTER
🔒Crime Safety
25/100
60% Good/Outstanding
🎓Schools
60% Good/Outstanding
84/100
🚆Transport
BETTER90/100
87/100BETTER
💷Affordability
48/100
~£443/mo
🧾Monthly Bills
BETTER~£439/mo
72/100
📶Broadband
72/100
33/100BETTER
🌿Environment
25/100
95/100BETTER
🏥Healthcare
25/100

Our Verdict

Cambridge comes out ahead in 5 of 8 categories, with particular strengths in crime safety, affordability, environment. However, Coventry performs better in transport, so the best choice depends on your priorities.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Cambridge or Coventry better to live in?

Cambridge comes out ahead in 5 of 8 categories, with particular strengths in crime safety, affordability, environment. However, Coventry performs better in transport, so the best choice depends on your priorities.

Is Cambridge safer than Coventry?

Cambridge scores higher for crime safety (95/100) compared to Coventry (25/100). Scores are based on the Index of Multiple Deprivation crime domain.

Which has better schools, Cambridge or Coventry?

Cambridge has 15 schools within 3km, with 60% rated Good or Outstanding by Ofsted. Coventry has 15 schools nearby, with 60% rated Good or Outstanding.

Is it cheaper to live in Cambridge or Coventry?

Estimated monthly bills are lower in Coventry (~£439/month) compared to Cambridge (~£443/month). Bills include council tax, energy, water, broadband, and insurance estimates.

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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.