Nottingham vs Portsmouth
Which is better to live in? (2026)
Nottingham (East Midlands) and Portsmouth (South East) 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 Portsmouth rates 50/100 (grade D). Nottingham has the stronger schools, with 73% of nearby schools rated Good or Outstanding by Ofsted. Portsmouth works out cheaper for typical monthly household bills (~£427 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 Portsmouth: Category Comparison
Our Verdict
Nottingham and Portsmouth are closely matched overall. Nottingham performs better in schools and affordability, while Portsmouth has the advantage in transport and broadband. Your ideal choice depends on which factors matter most to your lifestyle.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Nottingham or Portsmouth better to live in?
Nottingham and Portsmouth are closely matched overall. Nottingham performs better in schools and affordability, while Portsmouth has the advantage in transport and broadband. Your ideal choice depends on which factors matter most to your lifestyle.
Is Nottingham safer than Portsmouth?
Nottingham and Portsmouth have similar crime safety scores (25/100). Scores are based on the Index of Multiple Deprivation crime domain.
Which has better schools, Nottingham or Portsmouth?
Nottingham has 15 schools within 3km, with 73% rated Good or Outstanding by Ofsted. Portsmouth has 15 schools nearby, with 53% rated Good or Outstanding.
Is it cheaper to live in Nottingham or Portsmouth?
Estimated monthly bills are lower in Portsmouth (~£427/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.