Norwich vs Sunderland

Which is better to live in? (2026)

61

Norwich

East of England

Grade CHigher Overall
57

Sunderland

North East

Grade C
Norwich: 7 wins|Sunderland: 2 wins

Category Comparison

Norwich
Category
Sunderland
61/100BETTER
๐Ÿ†Overall Score
57/100
48/100BETTER
๐Ÿ”’Crime Safety
41/100
53% Good/Outstanding
๐ŸŽ“Schools
BETTER73% Good/Outstanding
86/100BETTER
๐Ÿš†Transport
85/100
72/100BETTER
๐Ÿ’ทAffordability
64/100
~ยฃ417/mo
๐ŸงพMonthly Bills
BETTER~ยฃ406/mo
72/100BETTER
๐Ÿ“ถBroadband
68/100
41/100BETTER
๐ŸŒฟEnvironment
25/100
48/100BETTER
๐ŸฅHealthcare
33/100

Our Verdict

Norwich comes out ahead in 7 of 8 categories, with particular strengths in crime safety, transport, affordability. However, Sunderland performs better in schools, so the best choice depends on your priorities.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Norwich or Sunderland better to live in?

Norwich comes out ahead in 7 of 8 categories, with particular strengths in crime safety, transport, affordability. However, Sunderland performs better in schools, so the best choice depends on your priorities.

Is Norwich safer than Sunderland?

Norwich scores higher for crime safety (48/100) compared to Sunderland (41/100). Scores are based on the Index of Multiple Deprivation crime domain.

Which has better schools, Norwich or Sunderland?

Norwich has 15 schools within 3km, with 53% rated Good or Outstanding by Ofsted. Sunderland has 15 schools nearby, with 73% rated Good or Outstanding.

Is it cheaper to live in Norwich or Sunderland?

Estimated monthly bills are lower in Sunderland (~ยฃ406/month) compared to Norwich (~ยฃ417/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.