Newcastle upon Tyne vs Nottingham
Which is better to live in? (2026)
Newcastle upon Tyne (North East) and Nottingham (East Midlands) are two UK areas home buyers and renters frequently weigh against each other. On our overall Area Score, Newcastle upon Tyne rates 51/100 (grade D) and Nottingham rates 57/100 (grade C). Newcastle upon Tyne is the safer of the two on crime (33/100 versus 25/100). Nottingham has the stronger schools, with 73% of nearby schools rated Good or Outstanding by Ofsted. Newcastle upon Tyne works out cheaper for typical monthly household bills (~£444 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.
Newcastle upon Tyne vs Nottingham: Category Comparison
Our Verdict
Nottingham leads in 4 of 8 categories, scoring higher for schools, broadband, healthcare. That said, Newcastle upon Tyne has the edge in crime safety, making it a strong option depending on what matters most to you.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Newcastle upon Tyne or Nottingham better to live in?
Nottingham leads in 4 of 8 categories, scoring higher for schools, broadband, healthcare. That said, Newcastle upon Tyne has the edge in crime safety, making it a strong option depending on what matters most to you.
Is Newcastle upon Tyne safer than Nottingham?
Newcastle upon Tyne scores higher for crime safety (33/100) compared to Nottingham (25/100). Scores are based on the Index of Multiple Deprivation crime domain.
Which has better schools, Newcastle upon Tyne or Nottingham?
Newcastle upon Tyne has 15 schools within 3km, with 40% rated Good or Outstanding by Ofsted. Nottingham has 15 schools nearby, with 73% rated Good or Outstanding.
Is it cheaper to live in Newcastle upon Tyne or Nottingham?
Estimated monthly bills are lower in Newcastle upon Tyne (~£444/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.