Nottingham vs Sheffield
Which is better to live in? (2026)
Nottingham (East Midlands) and Sheffield (Yorkshire and The Humber) 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 Sheffield rates 57/100 (grade C). Nottingham has the stronger schools, with 73% of nearby schools rated Good or Outstanding by Ofsted. Sheffield works out cheaper for typical monthly household bills (~£441 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 Sheffield: Category Comparison
Our Verdict
Nottingham comes out ahead in 3 of 8 categories, with particular strengths in schools, healthcare, energy efficiency. However, Sheffield performs better in transport and affordability, so the best choice depends on your priorities.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Nottingham or Sheffield better to live in?
Nottingham comes out ahead in 3 of 8 categories, with particular strengths in schools, healthcare, energy efficiency. However, Sheffield performs better in transport and affordability, so the best choice depends on your priorities.
Is Nottingham safer than Sheffield?
Nottingham and Sheffield have similar crime safety scores (25/100). Scores are based on the Index of Multiple Deprivation crime domain.
Which has better schools, Nottingham or Sheffield?
Nottingham has 15 schools within 3km, with 73% rated Good or Outstanding by Ofsted. Sheffield has 15 schools nearby, with 67% rated Good or Outstanding.
Is it cheaper to live in Nottingham or Sheffield?
Estimated monthly bills are lower in Sheffield (~£441/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.