Lancaster (North West) and Plymouth (South West) are two UK areas home buyers and renters frequently weigh against each other. On our overall Area Score, Lancaster rates 57/100 (grade C) and Plymouth rates 52/100 (grade D). Lancaster has the stronger schools, with 67% of nearby schools rated Good or Outstanding by Ofsted. Lancaster works out cheaper for typical monthly household bills (~£444 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.
Lancaster vs Plymouth: Category Comparison
Our Verdict
Lancaster comes out ahead in 4 of 8 categories, with particular strengths in schools, affordability, broadband. However, Plymouth performs better in environment and energy efficiency, so the best choice depends on your priorities.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Lancaster or Plymouth better to live in?
Lancaster comes out ahead in 4 of 8 categories, with particular strengths in schools, affordability, broadband. However, Plymouth performs better in environment and energy efficiency, so the best choice depends on your priorities.
Is Lancaster safer than Plymouth?
Lancaster and Plymouth have similar crime safety scores (33/100). Scores are based on the Index of Multiple Deprivation crime domain.
Which has better schools, Lancaster or Plymouth?
Lancaster 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 Lancaster or Plymouth?
Estimated monthly bills are lower in Lancaster (~£444/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.