Nottingham vs Southampton
Which is better to live in? (2026)
Category Comparison
Our Verdict
Nottingham and Southampton are closely matched overall. Nottingham performs better in schools and transport, while Southampton has the advantage in broadband and environment. Your ideal choice depends on which factors matter most to your lifestyle.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Nottingham or Southampton better to live in?
Nottingham and Southampton are closely matched overall. Nottingham performs better in schools and transport, while Southampton has the advantage in broadband and environment. Your ideal choice depends on which factors matter most to your lifestyle.
Is Nottingham safer than Southampton?
Nottingham and Southampton have similar crime safety scores (25/100). Scores are based on the Index of Multiple Deprivation crime domain.
Which has better schools, Nottingham or Southampton?
Nottingham has 15 schools within 3km, with 73% rated Good or Outstanding by Ofsted. Southampton has 15 schools nearby, with 67% rated Good or Outstanding.
Is it cheaper to live in Nottingham or Southampton?
Estimated monthly bills are lower in Nottingham (~£411/month) compared to Southampton (~£418/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.