Ipswich (East of England) and Plymouth (South 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 Plymouth rates 52/100 (grade D). Ipswich is the safer of the two on crime (41/100 versus 33/100). Ipswich has the stronger schools, with 67% of nearby schools rated Good or Outstanding by Ofsted. Ipswich works out cheaper for typical monthly household bills (~£443 versus ~£445). 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 Plymouth: Category Comparison
Our Verdict
Ipswich comes out ahead in 6 of 8 categories, with particular strengths in crime safety, schools, broadband. However, Plymouth performs better in transport, so the best choice depends on your priorities.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Ipswich or Plymouth better to live in?
Ipswich comes out ahead in 6 of 8 categories, with particular strengths in crime safety, schools, broadband. However, Plymouth performs better in transport, so the best choice depends on your priorities.
Is Ipswich safer than Plymouth?
Ipswich scores higher for crime safety (41/100) compared to Plymouth (33/100). Scores are based on the Index of Multiple Deprivation crime domain.
Which has better schools, Ipswich or Plymouth?
Ipswich has 15 schools within 3km, with 67% rated Good or Outstanding by Ofsted. Plymouth has 15 schools nearby, with 47% rated Good or Outstanding.
Is it cheaper to live in Ipswich or Plymouth?
Estimated monthly bills are lower in Ipswich (~£443/month) compared to Plymouth (~£445/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.