Milton Keynes vs Nottingham
Which is better to live in? (2026)
Milton Keynes (South East) and Nottingham (East Midlands) are two UK areas home buyers and renters frequently weigh against each other. On our overall Area Score, Milton Keynes rates 55/100 (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. Milton Keynes works out cheaper for typical monthly household bills (~£434 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.
Milton Keynes vs Nottingham: Category Comparison
Our Verdict
Nottingham leads in 4 of 8 categories, scoring higher for schools, transport, affordability. That said, Milton Keynes has the edge in broadband and environment, making it a strong option depending on what matters most to you.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Milton Keynes or Nottingham better to live in?
Nottingham leads in 4 of 8 categories, scoring higher for schools, transport, affordability. That said, Milton Keynes has the edge in broadband and environment, making it a strong option depending on what matters most to you.
Is Milton Keynes safer than Nottingham?
Milton Keynes and Nottingham have similar crime safety scores (25/100). Scores are based on the Index of Multiple Deprivation crime domain.
Which has better schools, Milton Keynes or Nottingham?
Milton Keynes 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 Milton Keynes or Nottingham?
Estimated monthly bills are lower in Milton Keynes (~£434/month) compared to Nottingham (~£459/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.