Cambridge (East of England) and Swansea () 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 Swansea rates 76/100 (grade B). Cambridge is the safer of the two on crime (95/100 versus 72/100). Cambridge has the stronger schools, with 60% of nearby schools rated Good or Outstanding by Ofsted. Swansea works out cheaper for typical monthly household bills (~£386 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 Swansea: Category Comparison
Our Verdict
Cambridge and Swansea are closely matched overall. Cambridge performs better in crime safety and affordability, while Swansea has the advantage in schools and transport. Your ideal choice depends on which factors matter most to your lifestyle.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Cambridge or Swansea better to live in?
Cambridge and Swansea are closely matched overall. Cambridge performs better in crime safety and affordability, while Swansea has the advantage in schools and transport. Your ideal choice depends on which factors matter most to your lifestyle.
Is Cambridge safer than Swansea?
Cambridge scores higher for crime safety (95/100) compared to Swansea (72/100). Scores are based on the Index of Multiple Deprivation crime domain.
Which has better schools, Cambridge or Swansea?
Cambridge has 15 schools within 3km, with 60% rated Good or Outstanding by Ofsted. Swansea has 0 schools nearby, with 0% rated Good or Outstanding.
Is it cheaper to live in Cambridge or Swansea?
Estimated monthly bills are lower in Swansea (~£386/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.