Carlisle (North West) and Plymouth (South West) 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 Plymouth rates 52/100 (grade D). Plymouth is the safer of the two on crime (33/100 versus 25/100). Carlisle has the stronger schools, with 53% of nearby schools rated Good or Outstanding by Ofsted. Carlisle works out cheaper for typical monthly household bills (~£444 versus ~£445). 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 Plymouth: Category Comparison
Our Verdict
Carlisle and Plymouth are closely matched overall. Carlisle performs better in schools and affordability, while Plymouth has the advantage in crime safety and transport. Your ideal choice depends on which factors matter most to your lifestyle.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Carlisle or Plymouth better to live in?
Carlisle and Plymouth are closely matched overall. Carlisle performs better in schools and affordability, while Plymouth has the advantage in crime safety and transport. Your ideal choice depends on which factors matter most to your lifestyle.
Is Carlisle safer than Plymouth?
Plymouth scores higher for crime safety (33/100) compared to Carlisle (25/100). Scores are based on the Index of Multiple Deprivation crime domain.
Which has better schools, Carlisle or Plymouth?
Carlisle has 15 schools within 3km, with 53% rated Good or Outstanding by Ofsted. Plymouth has 15 schools nearby, with 47% rated Good or Outstanding.
Is it cheaper to live in Carlisle or Plymouth?
Estimated monthly bills are lower in Carlisle (~£444/month) compared to Plymouth (~£445/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.