Leicester (East Midlands) and Swansea () 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 Swansea rates 76/100 (grade B). Swansea is the safer of the two on crime (72/100 versus 25/100). Leicester has the stronger schools, with 47% of nearby schools rated Good or Outstanding by Ofsted. Swansea works out cheaper for typical monthly household bills (~£386 versus ~£440). 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 Swansea: Category Comparison
Our Verdict
Swansea leads in 6 of 8 categories, scoring higher for crime safety, schools, affordability. That said, Leicester has the edge in transport, making it a strong option depending on what matters most to you.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Leicester or Swansea better to live in?
Swansea leads in 6 of 8 categories, scoring higher for crime safety, schools, affordability. That said, Leicester has the edge in transport, making it a strong option depending on what matters most to you.
Is Leicester safer than Swansea?
Swansea scores higher for crime safety (72/100) compared to Leicester (25/100). Scores are based on the Index of Multiple Deprivation crime domain.
Which has better schools, Leicester or Swansea?
Leicester has 15 schools within 3km, with 47% rated Good or Outstanding by Ofsted. Swansea has 0 schools nearby, with 0% rated Good or Outstanding.
Is it cheaper to live in Leicester or Swansea?
Estimated monthly bills are lower in Swansea (~£386/month) compared to Leicester (~£440/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.