Carlisle (North West) and Lincoln (East Midlands) are two UK areas home buyers and renters frequently weigh against each other. On our overall Area Score, Carlisle rates 54/100 (grade C) and Lincoln rates 57/100 (grade C). Lincoln is the safer of the two on crime (41/100 versus 25/100). Lincoln has the stronger schools, with 67% of nearby schools rated Good or Outstanding by Ofsted. Lincoln works out cheaper for typical monthly household bills (~£423 versus ~£444). 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.
Carlisle vs Lincoln: Category Comparison
Our Verdict
Lincoln leads in 6 of 8 categories, scoring higher for crime safety, schools, transport. That said, Carlisle has the edge in affordability and broadband, making it a strong option depending on what matters most to you.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Carlisle or Lincoln better to live in?
Lincoln leads in 6 of 8 categories, scoring higher for crime safety, schools, transport. That said, Carlisle has the edge in affordability and broadband, making it a strong option depending on what matters most to you.
Is Carlisle safer than Lincoln?
Lincoln scores higher for crime safety (41/100) compared to Carlisle (25/100). Scores are based on the Index of Multiple Deprivation crime domain.
Which has better schools, Carlisle or Lincoln?
Carlisle has 15 schools within 3km, with 53% rated Good or Outstanding by Ofsted. Lincoln has 15 schools nearby, with 67% rated Good or Outstanding.
Is it cheaper to live in Carlisle or Lincoln?
Estimated monthly bills are lower in Lincoln (~£423/month) compared to Carlisle (~£444/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.