Gloucester vs Plymouth
Which is better to live in? (2026)
Gloucester (South West) and Plymouth (South West) are two UK areas home buyers and renters frequently weigh against each other. On our overall Area Score, Gloucester rates 53/100 (grade D) and Plymouth rates 52/100 (grade D). Plymouth is the safer of the two on crime (33/100 versus 25/100). Gloucester has the stronger schools, with 80% of nearby schools rated Good or Outstanding by Ofsted. Gloucester works out cheaper for typical monthly household bills (~£437 versus ~£445). 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.
Gloucester vs Plymouth: Category Comparison
Our Verdict
Plymouth leads in 3 of 8 categories, scoring higher for crime safety, transport, environment. That said, Gloucester has the edge in schools, making it a strong option depending on what matters most to you.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Gloucester or Plymouth better to live in?
Plymouth leads in 3 of 8 categories, scoring higher for crime safety, transport, environment. That said, Gloucester has the edge in schools, making it a strong option depending on what matters most to you.
Is Gloucester safer than Plymouth?
Plymouth scores higher for crime safety (33/100) compared to Gloucester (25/100). Scores are based on the Index of Multiple Deprivation crime domain.
Which has better schools, Gloucester or Plymouth?
Gloucester has 15 schools within 3km, with 80% rated Good or Outstanding by Ofsted. Plymouth has 15 schools nearby, with 47% rated Good or Outstanding.
Is it cheaper to live in Gloucester or Plymouth?
Estimated monthly bills are lower in Gloucester (~£437/month) compared to Plymouth (~£445/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.