Gloucester vs Sunderland
Which is better to live in? (2026)
Gloucester (South West) and Sunderland (North 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 Sunderland rates 57/100 (grade C). Sunderland is the safer of the two on crime (41/100 versus 25/100). Gloucester has the stronger schools, with 80% of nearby schools rated Good or Outstanding by Ofsted. Sunderland works out cheaper for typical monthly household bills (~£415 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 Sunderland: Category Comparison
Our Verdict
Gloucester and Sunderland are closely matched overall. Gloucester performs better in schools and transport, while Sunderland has the advantage in crime safety and affordability. Your ideal choice depends on which factors matter most to your lifestyle.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Gloucester or Sunderland better to live in?
Gloucester and Sunderland are closely matched overall. Gloucester performs better in schools and transport, while Sunderland has the advantage in crime safety and affordability. Your ideal choice depends on which factors matter most to your lifestyle.
Is Gloucester safer than Sunderland?
Sunderland scores higher for crime safety (41/100) compared to Gloucester (25/100). Scores are based on the Index of Multiple Deprivation crime domain.
Which has better schools, Gloucester or Sunderland?
Gloucester has 15 schools within 3km, with 80% rated Good or Outstanding by Ofsted. Sunderland has 15 schools nearby, with 73% rated Good or Outstanding.
Is it cheaper to live in Gloucester or Sunderland?
Estimated monthly bills are lower in Sunderland (~£415/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.