Lincoln (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, Lincoln rates 57/100 (grade C) and Sheffield rates 57/100 (grade C). Lincoln is the safer of the two on crime (41/100 versus 25/100). Lincoln works out cheaper for typical monthly household bills (~£423 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.
Lincoln vs Sheffield: Category Comparison
Our Verdict
Lincoln comes out ahead in 3 of 8 categories, with particular strengths in crime safety, healthcare, energy efficiency. However, Sheffield performs better in transport and affordability, so the best choice depends on your priorities.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Lincoln or Sheffield better to live in?
Lincoln comes out ahead in 3 of 8 categories, with particular strengths in crime safety, healthcare, energy efficiency. However, Sheffield performs better in transport and affordability, so the best choice depends on your priorities.
Is Lincoln safer than Sheffield?
Lincoln scores higher for crime safety (41/100) compared to Sheffield (25/100). Scores are based on the Index of Multiple Deprivation crime domain.
Which has better schools, Lincoln or Sheffield?
Lincoln has 15 schools within 3km, with 67% rated Good or Outstanding by Ofsted. Sheffield has 15 schools nearby, with 67% rated Good or Outstanding.
Is it cheaper to live in Lincoln or Sheffield?
Estimated monthly bills are lower in Lincoln (~£423/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.