Exeter (South West) and Sheffield (Yorkshire and The Humber) are two UK areas home buyers and renters frequently weigh against each other. On our overall Area Score, Exeter rates 53/100 (grade D) and Sheffield rates 57/100 (grade C). Sheffield works out cheaper for typical monthly household bills (~£441 versus ~£449). 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.
Exeter vs Sheffield: Category Comparison
Our Verdict
Sheffield leads in 3 of 8 categories, scoring higher for transport, affordability, broadband. That said, Exeter has the edge in environment and energy efficiency, making it a strong option depending on what matters most to you.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Exeter or Sheffield better to live in?
Sheffield leads in 3 of 8 categories, scoring higher for transport, affordability, broadband. That said, Exeter has the edge in environment and energy efficiency, making it a strong option depending on what matters most to you.
Is Exeter safer than Sheffield?
Exeter and Sheffield have similar crime safety scores (25/100). Scores are based on the Index of Multiple Deprivation crime domain.
Which has better schools, Exeter or Sheffield?
Exeter has 15 schools within 3km, with 67% rated Good or Outstanding by Ofsted. Sheffield has 15 schools nearby, with 67% rated Good or Outstanding.
Is it cheaper to live in Exeter or Sheffield?
Estimated monthly bills are lower in Sheffield (~£441/month) compared to Exeter (~£449/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.