Hull vs Portsmouth
Which is better to live in? (2026)
Hull (Yorkshire and The Humber) and Portsmouth (South East) are two UK areas home buyers and renters frequently weigh against each other. On our overall Area Score, Hull rates 51/100 (grade D) and Portsmouth rates 50/100 (grade D). Hull is the safer of the two on crime (48/100 versus 25/100). Portsmouth has the stronger schools, with 53% of nearby schools rated Good or Outstanding by Ofsted. Hull works out cheaper for typical monthly household bills (~£423 versus ~£427). 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.
Hull vs Portsmouth: Category Comparison
Our Verdict
Portsmouth leads in 5 of 8 categories, scoring higher for schools, transport, broadband. That said, Hull has the edge in crime safety, making it a strong option depending on what matters most to you.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Hull or Portsmouth better to live in?
Portsmouth leads in 5 of 8 categories, scoring higher for schools, transport, broadband. That said, Hull has the edge in crime safety, making it a strong option depending on what matters most to you.
Is Hull safer than Portsmouth?
Hull scores higher for crime safety (48/100) compared to Portsmouth (25/100). Scores are based on the Index of Multiple Deprivation crime domain.
Which has better schools, Hull or Portsmouth?
Hull has 15 schools within 3km, with 47% rated Good or Outstanding by Ofsted. Portsmouth has 15 schools nearby, with 53% rated Good or Outstanding.
Is it cheaper to live in Hull or Portsmouth?
Estimated monthly bills are lower in Hull (~£423/month) compared to Portsmouth (~£427/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.