Leicester (East Midlands) and Sheffield (Yorkshire and The Humber) are two UK areas home buyers and renters frequently weigh against each other. On our overall Area Score, Leicester rates 49/100 (grade D) and Sheffield rates 57/100 (grade C). Sheffield has the stronger schools, with 67% of nearby schools rated Good or Outstanding by Ofsted. Leicester works out cheaper for typical monthly household bills (~£440 versus ~£441). 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.
Leicester vs Sheffield: Category Comparison
Our Verdict
Leicester comes out ahead in 3 of 8 categories, with particular strengths in transport, healthcare, energy efficiency. However, Sheffield performs better in schools and affordability, so the best choice depends on your priorities.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Leicester or Sheffield better to live in?
Leicester comes out ahead in 3 of 8 categories, with particular strengths in transport, healthcare, energy efficiency. However, Sheffield performs better in schools and affordability, so the best choice depends on your priorities.
Is Leicester safer than Sheffield?
Leicester and Sheffield have similar crime safety scores (25/100). Scores are based on the Index of Multiple Deprivation crime domain.
Which has better schools, Leicester or Sheffield?
Leicester has 15 schools within 3km, with 47% rated Good or Outstanding by Ofsted. Sheffield has 15 schools nearby, with 67% rated Good or Outstanding.
Is it cheaper to live in Leicester or Sheffield?
Estimated monthly bills are lower in Leicester (~£440/month) compared to Sheffield (~£441/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.