Nottingham vs Swansea
Which is better to live in? (2026)
Nottingham (East Midlands) and Swansea () 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 Swansea rates 76/100 (grade B). Swansea is the safer of the two on crime (72/100 versus 25/100). Nottingham has the stronger schools, with 73% of nearby schools rated Good or Outstanding by Ofsted. Swansea works out cheaper for typical monthly household bills (~£386 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 Swansea: Category Comparison
Our Verdict
Swansea leads in 6 of 8 categories, scoring higher for crime safety, schools, affordability. That said, Nottingham has the edge in transport, making it a strong option depending on what matters most to you.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Nottingham or Swansea better to live in?
Swansea leads in 6 of 8 categories, scoring higher for crime safety, schools, affordability. That said, Nottingham has the edge in transport, making it a strong option depending on what matters most to you.
Is Nottingham safer than Swansea?
Swansea scores higher for crime safety (72/100) compared to Nottingham (25/100). Scores are based on the Index of Multiple Deprivation crime domain.
Which has better schools, Nottingham or Swansea?
Nottingham has 15 schools within 3km, with 73% rated Good or Outstanding by Ofsted. Swansea has 0 schools nearby, with 0% rated Good or Outstanding.
Is it cheaper to live in Nottingham or Swansea?
Estimated monthly bills are lower in Swansea (~£386/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.