Derby (East Midlands) and Sheffield (Yorkshire and The Humber) are two UK areas home buyers and renters frequently weigh against each other. On our overall Area Score, Derby rates 49/100 (grade D) and Sheffield rates 57/100 (grade C). Sheffield has the stronger schools, with 67% of nearby schools rated Good or Outstanding by Ofsted. Derby works out cheaper for typical monthly household bills (~£421 versus ~£441). 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.
Derby vs Sheffield: Category Comparison
Our Verdict
Derby and Sheffield are closely matched overall. Derby performs better in environment and energy efficiency, while Sheffield has the advantage in schools and affordability. Your ideal choice depends on which factors matter most to your lifestyle.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Derby or Sheffield better to live in?
Derby and Sheffield are closely matched overall. Derby performs better in environment and energy efficiency, while Sheffield has the advantage in schools and affordability. Your ideal choice depends on which factors matter most to your lifestyle.
Is Derby safer than Sheffield?
Derby and Sheffield have similar crime safety scores (25/100). Scores are based on the Index of Multiple Deprivation crime domain.
Which has better schools, Derby or Sheffield?
Derby has 15 schools within 3km, with 40% rated Good or Outstanding by Ofsted. Sheffield has 15 schools nearby, with 67% rated Good or Outstanding.
Is it cheaper to live in Derby or Sheffield?
Estimated monthly bills are lower in Derby (~£421/month) compared to Sheffield (~£441/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.