Cambridge (East of England) and Ipswich (East of England) 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 Ipswich rates 59/100 (grade C). Cambridge is the safer of the two on crime (95/100 versus 41/100). Ipswich has the stronger schools, with 67% of nearby schools rated Good or Outstanding by Ofsted. 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 Ipswich: Category Comparison
Our Verdict
Cambridge comes out ahead in 4 of 8 categories, with particular strengths in crime safety, transport, affordability. However, Ipswich performs better in schools and environment, so the best choice depends on your priorities.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Cambridge or Ipswich better to live in?
Cambridge comes out ahead in 4 of 8 categories, with particular strengths in crime safety, transport, affordability. However, Ipswich performs better in schools and environment, so the best choice depends on your priorities.
Is Cambridge safer than Ipswich?
Cambridge scores higher for crime safety (95/100) compared to Ipswich (41/100). Scores are based on the Index of Multiple Deprivation crime domain.
Which has better schools, Cambridge or Ipswich?
Cambridge 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 Cambridge or Ipswich?
Monthly bills are similar in both areas (~£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.