Chester vs Leicester

Which is better to live in? (2026)

60

Chester

North West

Grade CHigher Overall
49

Leicester

East Midlands

Grade D
Chester: 6 wins|Leicester: 1 wins

Category Comparison

Chester
Category
Leicester
60/100BETTER
๐Ÿ†Overall Score
49/100
25/100
๐Ÿ”’Crime Safety
25/100
73% Good/OutstandingBETTER
๐ŸŽ“Schools
47% Good/Outstanding
87/100
๐Ÿš†Transport
BETTER91/100
79/100BETTER
๐Ÿ’ทAffordability
41/100
~ยฃ407/moBETTER
๐ŸงพMonthly Bills
~ยฃ411/mo
74/100BETTER
๐Ÿ“ถBroadband
70/100
33/100
๐ŸŒฟEnvironment
33/100
48/100BETTER
๐ŸฅHealthcare
33/100

Our Verdict

Chester comes out ahead in 4 of 8 categories, with particular strengths in schools, affordability, broadband. However, Leicester performs better in transport and energy efficiency, so the best choice depends on your priorities.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Chester or Leicester better to live in?

Chester comes out ahead in 4 of 8 categories, with particular strengths in schools, affordability, broadband. However, Leicester performs better in transport and energy efficiency, so the best choice depends on your priorities.

Is Chester safer than Leicester?

Chester and Leicester have similar crime safety scores (25/100). Scores are based on the Index of Multiple Deprivation crime domain.

Which has better schools, Chester or Leicester?

Chester has 15 schools within 3km, with 73% rated Good or Outstanding by Ofsted. Leicester has 15 schools nearby, with 47% rated Good or Outstanding.

Is it cheaper to live in Chester or Leicester?

Estimated monthly bills are lower in Chester (~ยฃ407/month) compared to Leicester (~ยฃ411/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.