Colchester vs Nottingham
Which is better to live in? (2026)
Colchester (East of England) and Nottingham (East Midlands) are two UK areas home buyers and renters frequently weigh against each other. On our overall Area Score, Colchester rates 54/100 (grade C) and Nottingham rates 57/100 (grade C). Nottingham has the stronger schools, with 73% of nearby schools rated Good or Outstanding by Ofsted. Colchester works out cheaper for typical monthly household bills (~£427 versus ~£459). 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.
Colchester vs Nottingham: Category Comparison
Our Verdict
Colchester and Nottingham are closely matched overall. Colchester performs better in broadband and environment, while Nottingham has the advantage in schools and transport. Your ideal choice depends on which factors matter most to your lifestyle.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Colchester or Nottingham better to live in?
Colchester and Nottingham are closely matched overall. Colchester performs better in broadband and environment, while Nottingham has the advantage in schools and transport. Your ideal choice depends on which factors matter most to your lifestyle.
Is Colchester safer than Nottingham?
Colchester and Nottingham have similar crime safety scores (25/100). Scores are based on the Index of Multiple Deprivation crime domain.
Which has better schools, Colchester or Nottingham?
Colchester has 15 schools within 3km, with 53% rated Good or Outstanding by Ofsted. Nottingham has 15 schools nearby, with 73% rated Good or Outstanding.
Is it cheaper to live in Colchester or Nottingham?
Estimated monthly bills are lower in Colchester (~£427/month) compared to Nottingham (~£459/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.