Ipswich (East of England) and Lancaster (North West) are two UK areas home buyers and renters frequently weigh against each other. On our overall Area Score, Ipswich rates 59/100 (grade C) and Lancaster rates 57/100 (grade C). Ipswich is the safer of the two on crime (41/100 versus 33/100). Ipswich works out cheaper for typical monthly household bills (~£443 versus ~£444). 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.
Ipswich vs Lancaster: Category Comparison
Our Verdict
Ipswich comes out ahead in 4 of 8 categories, with particular strengths in crime safety, environment, healthcare. However, Lancaster performs better in transport and affordability, so the best choice depends on your priorities.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Ipswich or Lancaster better to live in?
Ipswich comes out ahead in 4 of 8 categories, with particular strengths in crime safety, environment, healthcare. However, Lancaster performs better in transport and affordability, so the best choice depends on your priorities.
Is Ipswich safer than Lancaster?
Ipswich scores higher for crime safety (41/100) compared to Lancaster (33/100). Scores are based on the Index of Multiple Deprivation crime domain.
Which has better schools, Ipswich or Lancaster?
Ipswich has 15 schools within 3km, with 67% rated Good or Outstanding by Ofsted. Lancaster has 15 schools nearby, with 67% rated Good or Outstanding.
Is it cheaper to live in Ipswich or Lancaster?
Estimated monthly bills are lower in Ipswich (~£443/month) compared to Lancaster (~£444/month). Bills include council tax, energy, water, broadband, and insurance estimates.
Related Comparisons
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.