Gloucester vs Sheffield
Which is better to live in? (2026)
Gloucester (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, Gloucester rates 53/100 (grade D) and Sheffield rates 57/100 (grade C). 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 ~£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.
Gloucester vs Sheffield: Category Comparison
Our Verdict
Sheffield leads in 3 of 8 categories, scoring higher for transport, affordability, broadband. That said, Gloucester has the edge in schools and energy efficiency, making it a strong option depending on what matters most to you.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Gloucester or Sheffield better to live in?
Sheffield leads in 3 of 8 categories, scoring higher for transport, affordability, broadband. That said, Gloucester has the edge in schools and energy efficiency, making it a strong option depending on what matters most to you.
Is Gloucester safer than Sheffield?
Gloucester and Sheffield have similar crime safety scores (25/100). Scores are based on the Index of Multiple Deprivation crime domain.
Which has better schools, Gloucester or Sheffield?
Gloucester has 15 schools within 3km, with 80% rated Good or Outstanding by Ofsted. Sheffield has 15 schools nearby, with 67% rated Good or Outstanding.
Is it cheaper to live in Gloucester or Sheffield?
Estimated monthly bills are lower in Gloucester (~£437/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.