Manchester vs Nottingham
Which is better to live in? (2026)
Manchester (North West) and Nottingham (East Midlands) are two UK areas home buyers and renters frequently weigh against each other. On our overall Area Score, Manchester rates 54/100 (grade C) and Nottingham rates 57/100 (grade C). Nottingham has the stronger schools, with 73% of nearby schools rated Good or Outstanding by Ofsted. Manchester works out cheaper for typical monthly household bills (~£428 versus ~£459). 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.
Manchester vs Nottingham: Category Comparison
Our Verdict
Manchester and Nottingham are closely matched overall. Manchester performs better in transport and broadband, while Nottingham has the advantage in schools and healthcare. Your ideal choice depends on which factors matter most to your lifestyle.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Manchester or Nottingham better to live in?
Manchester and Nottingham are closely matched overall. Manchester performs better in transport and broadband, while Nottingham has the advantage in schools and healthcare. Your ideal choice depends on which factors matter most to your lifestyle.
Is Manchester safer than Nottingham?
Manchester and Nottingham have similar crime safety scores (25/100). Scores are based on the Index of Multiple Deprivation crime domain.
Which has better schools, Manchester or Nottingham?
Manchester has 15 schools within 3km, with 53% rated Good or Outstanding by Ofsted. Nottingham has 15 schools nearby, with 73% rated Good or Outstanding.
Is it cheaper to live in Manchester or Nottingham?
Estimated monthly bills are lower in Manchester (~£428/month) compared to Nottingham (~£459/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.