Edinburgh vs York

Which is better to live in? (2026)

72

Edinburgh

Grade BHigher Overall
60

York

Yorkshire and The Humber

Grade C
Edinburgh: 7 wins|York: 2 wins

Category Comparison

Edinburgh
Category
York
72/100BETTER
๐Ÿ†Overall Score
60/100
72/100BETTER
๐Ÿ”’Crime Safety
25/100
0% Good/OutstandingBETTER
๐ŸŽ“Schools
67% Good/Outstanding
60/100
๐Ÿš†Transport
BETTER88/100
72/100
๐Ÿ’ทAffordability
BETTER79/100
~ยฃ405/moBETTER
๐ŸงพMonthly Bills
~ยฃ407/mo
75/100BETTER
๐Ÿ“ถBroadband
70/100
87/100BETTER
๐ŸŒฟEnvironment
41/100
72/100BETTER
๐ŸฅHealthcare
56/100

Our Verdict

Edinburgh comes out ahead in 6 of 8 categories, with particular strengths in crime safety, schools, broadband. However, York performs better in transport and affordability, so the best choice depends on your priorities.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Edinburgh or York better to live in?

Edinburgh comes out ahead in 6 of 8 categories, with particular strengths in crime safety, schools, broadband. However, York performs better in transport and affordability, so the best choice depends on your priorities.

Is Edinburgh safer than York?

Edinburgh scores higher for crime safety (72/100) compared to York (25/100). Scores are based on the Index of Multiple Deprivation crime domain.

Which has better schools, Edinburgh or York?

Edinburgh has 0 schools within 3km, with 0% rated Good or Outstanding by Ofsted. York has 15 schools nearby, with 67% rated Good or Outstanding.

Is it cheaper to live in Edinburgh or York?

Estimated monthly bills are lower in Edinburgh (~ยฃ405/month) compared to York (~ยฃ407/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.