Ipswich vs Plymouth

Which is better to live in? (2026)

59

Ipswich

East of England

Grade CHigher Overall
52

Plymouth

South West

Grade D
Ipswich: 7 wins|Plymouth: 1 wins

Category Comparison

Ipswich
Category
Plymouth
59/100BETTER
๐Ÿ†Overall Score
52/100
41/100BETTER
๐Ÿ”’Crime Safety
33/100
67% Good/OutstandingBETTER
๐ŸŽ“Schools
47% Good/Outstanding
82/100
๐Ÿš†Transport
BETTER89/100
48/100
๐Ÿ’ทAffordability
48/100
~ยฃ417/moBETTER
๐ŸงพMonthly Bills
~ยฃ426/mo
72/100BETTER
๐Ÿ“ถBroadband
65/100
56/100BETTER
๐ŸŒฟEnvironment
48/100
48/100BETTER
๐ŸฅHealthcare
25/100

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 (~ยฃ417/month) compared to Plymouth (~ยฃ426/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.