Norwich vs Salisbury

Which is better to live in? (2026)

61

Norwich

East of England

Grade CHigher Overall
59

Salisbury

South West

Grade C
Norwich: 6 wins|Salisbury: 2 wins

Norwich (East of England) and Salisbury (South West) 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 Salisbury rates 59/100 (grade C). Norwich is the safer of the two on crime (48/100 versus 33/100). Norwich has the stronger schools, with 53% of nearby schools rated Good or Outstanding by Ofsted. Norwich works out cheaper for typical monthly household bills (~£446 versus ~£455). 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 Salisbury: Category Comparison

Norwich
Category
Salisbury
61/100BETTER
🏆Overall Score
59/100
48/100BETTER
🔒Crime Safety
33/100
53% Good/OutstandingBETTER
🎓Schools
47% Good/Outstanding
86/100
🚆Transport
86/100
72/100
💷Affordability
BETTER87/100
~£446/moBETTER
🧾Monthly Bills
~£455/mo
72/100BETTER
📶Broadband
65/100
41/100BETTER
🌿Environment
33/100
48/100
🏥Healthcare
BETTER64/100

Our Verdict

Norwich comes out ahead in 5 of 8 categories, with particular strengths in crime safety, schools, broadband. However, Salisbury performs better in affordability and healthcare, so the best choice depends on your priorities.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Norwich or Salisbury better to live in?

Norwich comes out ahead in 5 of 8 categories, with particular strengths in crime safety, schools, broadband. However, Salisbury performs better in affordability and healthcare, so the best choice depends on your priorities.

Is Norwich safer than Salisbury?

Norwich scores higher for crime safety (48/100) compared to Salisbury (33/100). Scores are based on the Index of Multiple Deprivation crime domain.

Which has better schools, Norwich or Salisbury?

Norwich has 15 schools within 3km, with 53% rated Good or Outstanding by Ofsted. Salisbury has 15 schools nearby, with 47% rated Good or Outstanding.

Is it cheaper to live in Norwich or Salisbury?

Estimated monthly bills are lower in Norwich (~£446/month) compared to Salisbury (~£455/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.