Nottingham vs Plymouth
Which is better to live in? (2026)
Nottingham (East Midlands) and Plymouth (South West) are two UK areas home buyers and renters frequently weigh against each other. On our overall Area Score, Nottingham rates 57/100 (grade C) and Plymouth rates 52/100 (grade D). Plymouth 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. Plymouth works out cheaper for typical monthly household bills (~£445 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.
Nottingham vs Plymouth: Category Comparison
Our Verdict
Nottingham comes out ahead in 4 of 8 categories, with particular strengths in schools, affordability, broadband. However, Plymouth performs better in crime safety and environment, so the best choice depends on your priorities.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Nottingham or Plymouth better to live in?
Nottingham comes out ahead in 4 of 8 categories, with particular strengths in schools, affordability, broadband. However, Plymouth performs better in crime safety and environment, so the best choice depends on your priorities.
Is Nottingham safer than Plymouth?
Plymouth 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, Nottingham or Plymouth?
Nottingham has 15 schools within 3km, with 73% rated Good or Outstanding by Ofsted. Plymouth has 15 schools nearby, with 47% rated Good or Outstanding.
Is it cheaper to live in Nottingham or Plymouth?
Estimated monthly bills are lower in Plymouth (~£445/month) compared to Nottingham (~£459/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.