Gloucester vs Portsmouth
Which is better to live in? (2026)
Gloucester (South West) and Portsmouth (South East) 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 Portsmouth rates 50/100 (grade D). Gloucester has the stronger schools, with 80% of nearby schools rated Good or Outstanding by Ofsted. Portsmouth works out cheaper for typical monthly household bills (~£427 versus ~£437). 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 Portsmouth: Category Comparison
Our Verdict
Portsmouth leads in 3 of 8 categories, scoring higher for transport, broadband, energy efficiency. That said, Gloucester has the edge in schools and affordability, making it a strong option depending on what matters most to you.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Gloucester or Portsmouth better to live in?
Portsmouth leads in 3 of 8 categories, scoring higher for transport, broadband, energy efficiency. That said, Gloucester has the edge in schools and affordability, making it a strong option depending on what matters most to you.
Is Gloucester safer than Portsmouth?
Gloucester and Portsmouth have similar crime safety scores (25/100). Scores are based on the Index of Multiple Deprivation crime domain.
Which has better schools, Gloucester or Portsmouth?
Gloucester has 15 schools within 3km, with 80% rated Good or Outstanding by Ofsted. Portsmouth has 15 schools nearby, with 53% rated Good or Outstanding.
Is it cheaper to live in Gloucester or Portsmouth?
Estimated monthly bills are lower in Portsmouth (~£427/month) compared to Gloucester (~£437/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.