Lincoln vs Manchester

Which is better to live in? (2026)

57

Lincoln

East Midlands

Grade CHigher Overall
54

Manchester

North West

Grade C
Lincoln: 4 wins|Manchester: 5 wins

Category Comparison

Lincoln
Category
Manchester
57/100BETTER
๐Ÿ†Overall Score
54/100
41/100BETTER
๐Ÿ”’Crime Safety
25/100
67% Good/OutstandingBETTER
๐ŸŽ“Schools
53% Good/Outstanding
84/100
๐Ÿš†Transport
BETTER91/100
56/100
๐Ÿ’ทAffordability
BETTER64/100
~ยฃ411/mo
๐ŸงพMonthly Bills
BETTER~ยฃ407/mo
70/100
๐Ÿ“ถBroadband
BETTER74/100
33/100
๐ŸŒฟEnvironment
BETTER41/100
41/100BETTER
๐ŸฅHealthcare
33/100

Our Verdict

Lincoln and Manchester are closely matched overall. Lincoln performs better in crime safety and schools, while Manchester has the advantage in transport and affordability. Your ideal choice depends on which factors matter most to your lifestyle.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Lincoln or Manchester better to live in?

Lincoln and Manchester are closely matched overall. Lincoln performs better in crime safety and schools, while Manchester has the advantage in transport and affordability. Your ideal choice depends on which factors matter most to your lifestyle.

Is Lincoln safer than Manchester?

Lincoln scores higher for crime safety (41/100) compared to Manchester (25/100). Scores are based on the Index of Multiple Deprivation crime domain.

Which has better schools, Lincoln or Manchester?

Lincoln has 15 schools within 3km, with 67% rated Good or Outstanding by Ofsted. Manchester has 15 schools nearby, with 53% rated Good or Outstanding.

Is it cheaper to live in Lincoln or Manchester?

Estimated monthly bills are lower in Manchester (~ยฃ407/month) compared to Lincoln (~ยฃ411/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.