Lincoln vs Northampton
Which is better to live in? (2026)
Lincoln (East Midlands) and Northampton (East Midlands) are two UK areas home buyers and renters frequently weigh against each other. On our overall Area Score, Lincoln rates 57/100 (grade C) and Northampton rates 54/100 (grade C). Lincoln is the safer of the two on crime (41/100 versus 25/100). Lincoln has the stronger schools, with 67% of nearby schools rated Good or Outstanding by Ofsted. Lincoln works out cheaper for typical monthly household bills (~£423 versus ~£436). 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.
Lincoln vs Northampton: Category Comparison
Our Verdict
Lincoln and Northampton are closely matched overall. Lincoln performs better in crime safety and schools, while Northampton has the advantage in transport and environment. Your ideal choice depends on which factors matter most to your lifestyle.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Lincoln or Northampton better to live in?
Lincoln and Northampton are closely matched overall. Lincoln performs better in crime safety and schools, while Northampton has the advantage in transport and environment. Your ideal choice depends on which factors matter most to your lifestyle.
Is Lincoln safer than Northampton?
Lincoln scores higher for crime safety (41/100) compared to Northampton (25/100). Scores are based on the Index of Multiple Deprivation crime domain.
Which has better schools, Lincoln or Northampton?
Lincoln has 15 schools within 3km, with 67% rated Good or Outstanding by Ofsted. Northampton has 15 schools nearby, with 53% rated Good or Outstanding.
Is it cheaper to live in Lincoln or Northampton?
Estimated monthly bills are lower in Lincoln (~£423/month) compared to Northampton (~£436/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.