Norwich vs Nottingham
Which is better to live in? (2026)
Norwich (East of England) and Nottingham (East Midlands) are two UK areas home buyers and renters frequently weigh against each other. On our overall Area Score, Norwich rates 61/100 (grade C) and Nottingham rates 57/100 (grade C). Norwich is the safer of the two on crime (48/100 versus 25/100). Nottingham has the stronger schools, with 73% of nearby schools rated Good or Outstanding by Ofsted. Norwich works out cheaper for typical monthly household bills (~£446 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.
Norwich vs Nottingham: Category Comparison
Our Verdict
Norwich comes out ahead in 6 of 8 categories, with particular strengths in crime safety, affordability, broadband. However, Nottingham performs better in schools and transport, so the best choice depends on your priorities.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Norwich or Nottingham better to live in?
Norwich comes out ahead in 6 of 8 categories, with particular strengths in crime safety, affordability, broadband. However, Nottingham performs better in schools and transport, so the best choice depends on your priorities.
Is Norwich safer than Nottingham?
Norwich scores higher for crime safety (48/100) compared to Nottingham (25/100). Scores are based on the Index of Multiple Deprivation crime domain.
Which has better schools, Norwich or Nottingham?
Norwich 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 Norwich or Nottingham?
Estimated monthly bills are lower in Norwich (~£446/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.