Milton Keynes vs Plymouth
Which is better to live in? (2026)
Milton Keynes (South East) and Plymouth (South West) 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 Plymouth rates 52/100 (grade D). Plymouth is the safer of the two on crime (33/100 versus 25/100). Milton Keynes has the stronger schools, with 53% of nearby schools rated Good or Outstanding by Ofsted. Milton Keynes works out cheaper for typical monthly household bills (~£434 versus ~£445). 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 Plymouth: Category Comparison
Our Verdict
Milton Keynes comes out ahead in 5 of 8 categories, with particular strengths in schools, broadband, environment. However, Plymouth performs better in crime safety and transport, so the best choice depends on your priorities.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Milton Keynes or Plymouth better to live in?
Milton Keynes comes out ahead in 5 of 8 categories, with particular strengths in schools, broadband, environment. However, Plymouth performs better in crime safety and transport, so the best choice depends on your priorities.
Is Milton Keynes safer than Plymouth?
Plymouth scores higher for crime safety (33/100) compared to Milton Keynes (25/100). Scores are based on the Index of Multiple Deprivation crime domain.
Which has better schools, Milton Keynes or Plymouth?
Milton Keynes has 15 schools within 3km, with 53% rated Good or Outstanding by Ofsted. Plymouth has 15 schools nearby, with 47% rated Good or Outstanding.
Is it cheaper to live in Milton Keynes or Plymouth?
Estimated monthly bills are lower in Milton Keynes (~£434/month) compared to Plymouth (~£445/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.