Northampton vs Wolverhampton
Which is better to live in? (2026)
Northampton (East Midlands) and Wolverhampton (West Midlands) are two UK areas home buyers and renters frequently weigh against each other. On our overall Area Score, Northampton rates 54/100 (grade C) and Wolverhampton rates 47/100 (grade D). Northampton has the stronger schools, with 53% of nearby schools rated Good or Outstanding by Ofsted. Northampton works out cheaper for typical monthly household bills (~£436 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.
Northampton vs Wolverhampton: Category Comparison
Our Verdict
Northampton comes out ahead in 5 of 8 categories, with particular strengths in schools, affordability, environment. However, Wolverhampton performs better in broadband, so the best choice depends on your priorities.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Northampton or Wolverhampton better to live in?
Northampton comes out ahead in 5 of 8 categories, with particular strengths in schools, affordability, environment. However, Wolverhampton performs better in broadband, so the best choice depends on your priorities.
Is Northampton safer than Wolverhampton?
Northampton and Wolverhampton have similar crime safety scores (25/100). Scores are based on the Index of Multiple Deprivation crime domain.
Which has better schools, Northampton or Wolverhampton?
Northampton has 15 schools within 3km, with 53% rated Good or Outstanding by Ofsted. Wolverhampton has 15 schools nearby, with 40% rated Good or Outstanding.
Is it cheaper to live in Northampton or Wolverhampton?
Estimated monthly bills are lower in Northampton (~£436/month) compared to Wolverhampton (~£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.